“Edward,” she hissed. “What are you –”
“Now,” he barked.
“Oh, there is no need for that,” Lord Grundon said cooly, and he clearly took pleasure in how upset he had made Edward. “Your lovely niece and I were merely having a pleasant conversation. She is a beauty, Your Grace. You ought to be proud.”
“You would do well to walk away, Lord Grundon,” Edward snarled. “If you know what is good for you.”
“Edward…” Celestine swept into him and took his arm. “Not here.” She tried to pull him away, but he snatched back his arm.
“Millicent, we are leaving,” he said.
“What? No!”
“Already?” Lord Grundon said with a curt smile. “Whatever is the cause? The day is still young, and I was so hoping to get to know your niece a little better.”
Celestine watched the scene unfold with a sense of impending doom.
Clearly, Lord Grundon was the lord whom Millicent had been so eager about all week, and while she might have agreed with Edward’s reservations, she could not condone the way he behaved. This is exactly what she had been afraid of!
Millicent glared at Edward. She widened her eyes. She looked pleadingly at Celestine for help. Most of all, she did all that she could to maintain composure, even as her eyes welled with tears and her cheeks turned bright pink.
“I was not speaking to you,” Edward snapped at Lord Grundon. “I suggest you leave at once.”
“But I was speaking to you,” Lord Grundon said coolly. “Or rather, of you…” He smirked proudly. “I have heard some rather nasty rumors about you of late, Your Grace. That gaming hellyou own.” He clicked his tongue. “Rumor has it that the patrons that it services are of a rather low character.”
“Careful what you say next,” Edward snarled.
“Merely repeating what I am told,” he said simply. “It was easy to avoid such horrid dispersions of your character when fellow lords spoke highly of you. Alas, most of them now refuse to go anywhere near your establishment. The things they say of you.” He chuckled. “Tragic. So very tragic.”
Edward turned on him. Celestine tried to pull him away, but he stood firm. “I know it is you,” Edward sneered into his face. “That you are the one spreading rumors about me. That you are the cause.”
“Are they rumors if they are true?”
“Edward!” Millicent tried desperately. “Please…” She looked at Lord Grundon. “Lord Grundon, I am so sorry –”
“Do not apologize to him,” Edward snapped at her.
“Edward,” Celestine tried to ease him. “This is not the time.”
The garden party had grown silent. A quick glance dared, and Celestine saw that nearly every single guest was watching the scuffle unfold. People started to whisper. They started to shake their heads. They started to form opinions of what they saw,all of which would surely lay the blame at Edward’s feet… and Millicent’s by default.
“Think of Millicent.” Celestine took his arm again. “Please, Edward. Not here.”
Edward literally shook with rage. His face had turned red. And he bared his teeth at a very calm looking Lord Grundon. Celestine braced herself for the worst…
Thankfully, he seemed to come into himself, a moment where he blinked as if only just realizing what he was doing; that he was the center of unwanted attention.
“Millicent,” he said with forced calm. “We are leaving.”
Thankfully, Millicent did not argue. So embarrassed was she, and so ashamed, that she put her head down and raced from the garden party. And while Celestine did not see them, she knew the young girl was wrecked with tears.
“She is a prize,” Lord Grundon said. “I think I might call on her soon.”
Edward clenched his fists as if he meant to strike Lord Grundon.
“Edward, please.” Celestine held his arm again, pulling gently, forcing him back. That time, he did not fight her. Even if he so clearly wanted to do so.
And then, having embarrassed himself and his niece beyond compare, Edward turned sharply and stormed from the garden party. He rushed past the guests who all quickly parted, and every single one wore a look of abject judgement on their haughty faces.
