Ursula bit the inside of her cheek. “I don’t understand.”
Mama drew in a deep breath, standing up a little taller.
“I am going to manage this, Ursula. Do as you are told, and we may claw back a little of our footing in Society.”
Without waiting for a response, Mama turned on her heel and trotted off down the hallway. Ursula stared after her, eyes wide.
“Mama?” she called in vain after the disappearing woman. “Mama, what are you going to do?”
***
Diamond Falls From Grace!Screamed a headline, peering up at Graham from his desk. Sighing, he turned the newspaper over.
What nonsense,he thought sourly.Have they nothing else to report upon?
His mother was furious at his involvement, naturally, but it seemed that the key players in this scene were Sir Roderick Black – who had had plenty of scandals of this kind before – and Lady Ursula, Society’s Diamond and darling.
Well, not anymore.
Graham lowered himself into the seat behind the desk, trying and failing to banish the memory from his mind. He’d begun chewing his nails again, a rather unpleasant habit he thought he’d left behind years ago.
I did all that I could,he reminded himself.I am so relieved I didn’t simply walk away. I could not have lived with myself if I had.
He couldn’t quite seem to forget the vision of Lady Ursula, standing in the moonlight with her torn dress and tangled hair, chest heaving and eyes glittering. Swallowing thickly, Graham cleared his throat, shifting in his seat.
I must stop this. The poor woman will be ruined.
A tap on the door made him jump. Morrison peered into the room, looking rather anxious.
“Your lordship, you have a guest. I understand it’s early, but I… I thought I had better admit her.”
Graham winced. “If it’s my mother, please make some excuse. I don’t want to hear her nag at me about the damage I’ve done to my reputation. My reputation barely seems to have taken a knock, as a matter of fact. People have almost forgotten I was there.”
Morrison chewed his lower lip. “It isn’t the Dowager, your lordship.”
Graham blinked, frowning. “Then who?”
Lady Farendale sat straight-backed in a sofa facing the fireplace. She had been shown into the parlour and had not moved a muscle since then.
Graham announced himself with a long, pointed cough, which Lady Farendale gave no indication of having heard.
“What an unexpected pleasure, my lady,” Graham managed, his voice a little hoarse. “Have you been served tea?”
“I was offered it,” the woman responded shortly. “I refused it.”
“I see,” Graham murmured, shifting from foot to foot. Lady Farendale did not get up, and instead only stared up at him thoughtfully.
Is she angry? Does she blame me for… for what happened?
It was hard to believe that this faded, greying woman was Lady Ursula’s mother. Although, on closer inspection, Graham saw more similarities such as the shape of her eyes and even the curve of her chin.
“My daughter tells me that Sir Roderick Black attempted to force himself upon her,” she said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Graham flinched. “Yes, I believe so. I believe he must have accosted her in the woods.”
“The papers are saying that they must have arranged an assignation. What do you say to that?”
I feel as though I’m being interrogated.
