Chapter Eighteen
Winsome and hersisters had surrounded Lord St. John. She was determined to pry answers out of him and her sisters appeared equally steadfast in the effort. Even Serenity, who would likely prefer to flee and cover her eyes, put a good face on it.
“How is it a gentleman comes to your house and yet you do not have conversation?” Winsome asked. “That does not ring true.”
Lord St. John nodded vigorously. “I really did not say anything to him. Except that I was busy.”
“Why should we believe you?” Verity asked.
“Believe me? Why would you not?” Lord St. John asked.
“I would not because I believe you to be the author of this terrible rumor about me having been compromised. I believe you are the one that locked me in the ladies’ retiring room, then you took advantage of Lord Landry’s absence from the party too, and invented a ridiculous story. I believe you did all of that because you were after my dowry. Now I think you’ve said some new outrage to drive him off, which is why he does not appear.”
“Or worse,” Verity said.
Winsome turned to Verity. “Worse? Do you think this rogue would have done something to Lord Manderbey?”
“I do not believe we can put anything beyond Lord St. John at this point,” Felicity said.
“He has proved himself to be a villain,” Grace added. “Who knowswhat a villain might do.”
“Winsome will know better than anybody,” Verity pointed out. “From her novels.”
“We ought to beat the truth out of him,” Patience said, as they all moved closer to him.
“I do not generally approve of violence, but I will avert my eyes,” Serenity said.
Winsome leaned close to Lord St. John. “Where is he? What have you done with Lord Manderbey? If you do not tell me this minute, I will make certain that my father involves himself in your life. He will see to it that you are stripped of the ambassadorship, every bit of your villainy will be widely known, and you will be drummed out of society. You will have no chance whatsoever of recovering your finances, which is the only thing you have ever cared for. No mama would allow a daughter within a mile of you so that avenue will be cut off. We will utterly ruin you.”
Her sisters closed the circle round Lord St. John tighter. “Ruin you,” the sisters all whispered.
“Stop it!” Lord St. John cried. “I don’t know what happened to him.”
“When did he leave your house?”
The guilt that passed over Lord St. John’s features at that moment gave Winsome the idea that Lord Manderbey might not have left the house at all. “What did you do? Have you locked him your cellars? Have you injured him in some way?”
Lord St. John took that moment to break free. He knocked Serenity to the ground and ran from the ballroom.
Patience pulled Serenity to her feet as onlookers stared.
“We must go there,” Winsome said. “We must discover if Lord St. John has done something.”
“He must have,” Verity said. “He was terrified that we wanted to know when the lord left his house.”
The duke pushed in and said, “What was that all about? Are you girls handing out the what-fors to our hapless lothario?”
“Papa,” Winsome said, “Lord St. John has done something, but we do not know what. Lord Manderbey went to his house this evening and has not been seen since. Lord St. John refuses to confirm that he spoke to him or if he even left.”
“And Papa,” Felicity said, “he was very pushy about wanting to talk to Winsome and mentioned what he called ‘the circumstances’ and hinted she ought to connect herself to him, as he’s now ambassador to Portugal.”
“My instincts tell me he’s done something,” Verity said. “This evening was his last try to convince Winsome to wed, and he wished for Lord Manderbey out of the way.”
“Agreed,” Grace said.
“I do not like to accuse,” Serenity said, “but I agree too.”
The dowager, who had followed the duke at a bit of a slower pace due to the drag of a heavy beaver coat, arrived to the party. “Why has St. John run out as if his hair is on fire? Lady Winsome, you did not refuse him? I am sorry to say I believe that unwise.”
