Mama kissed her forehead. “Do not worry about that. Lord Havisham isn’t my only source of income. I have others.”
No, that wasn’t what Angeline meant. “He could go to the police.”
“And say what? That he’s an adulterer who lies to his wife? Lady Havisham is a duke’s daughter. Other women might turn a blind eye to their husbands’ escapades. Not her. She’d ruin him.”
“He could retaliate, though, now that you can’t blackmail him anymore. He could hurt you.”
Mama flashed a sad smile. “Well, that wouldn’t be the first time a man had tried to hurt me. I have survived. I can do it again. I doubt he’ll do anything. Yes, I don’t have the photographs, the letters, and the bills anymore, but if I go to his wife and have a heart-to-heart conversation with her about her husband, she will believe me. I know intimate things about him only a lover can know. Or I can simply spread a rumour about him. Either way, he’s aware I can harm his reputation badly if I want to. He isn’t stupid. He won’t provoke me.”
“I hope you’re right.” She shivered, and Mama covered her with the quilt.
“That awful baron is another matter though. What do you want me to do? Shall I have a word with him? I can easily find a way to make him pay.”
“Oh no, please.” She shivered again at the thought of Mama using Royston to test her drugs. “Leave him alone. He saved my life. I can’t forget that.”
“Who cares? He hurt you, and no one hurts my beautiful daughter without consequences.”
“Yes, but I don’t want revenge. I want to move on.”
She’d take her time to think about what had happened and carry on with her lonely life. Royston had been a lovely dream, but nothing more.
Royston’s moodhadn’t improved from the night of his confrontation with Angeline three days ago.
If he could write a proper letter to her and explain how he felt, he would, but his writing skills were worse than his speech.He’d changed his mind about what to tell her, how to tell her, and when to tell her a dozen times in the past few days.
He wanted to make her understand how important a seat in the House of Lords was, but at the same time, he couldn’t ignore the fact she’d been aware of her mother’s crimes and maybe even her accomplice.
Or maybe Angeline was right. He couldn’t leave his past behind.
The worst part of the situation was that he couldn’t retire to his house to think and stay alone. He had to mingle with London’s society and show himself around since he was going to be a member of the House of Lords soon. Havisham claimed that showing oneself in society was vital to having the seat approved, especially since Royston didn’t come from the nobility.
So here he was in Lord Fountaine’s house for yet another sophisticated event where he didn’t belong. With the Season in full swing, the society seemed to do nothing but dance, drink, and eat. Fountaine’s grand ballroom sparkled with one year’s worth of oil and gas. The chandeliers amplified the glow, bothering his eyes. And the banquet table held enough food to feed a rookery for a month.
He stood in a corner as the young debutantes twirled around in their pretty gowns, smiling. He lowered his gaze and focused on the pattern of the wooden floorboards.
When his mood was as low and troubled as it was now, his bad memories rushed out of the ugly dark corner of his mind where he stashed them. The last thing he needed was an anxiety attack.
A hint of nausea burned the back of his throat. He wished Angeline were here to help him through the darkness. One smile from her, and he’d calm. For someone who was supposed to mingle, he was spending too much time on his own.
He took a tour of the room and scowled when he spotted the infamous North, drinking and laughing with a debutante. Just because Royston had recently had a strained conversation with Angeline, it didn’t mean he’d forgotten what North had done to her.
Judging by how North returned the scowl, he hadn’t forgotten either. But Royston would rather stare into North’s angry face than think about the brothel and his mother or the fact he hadn’t recovered the list of fallen women.
Havisham broke the moment, stopping next to him. “I have news. We must talk.”
“About what?”
If Havisham answered, Royston didn’t hear it; his attention was focused on the set of double doors. Angeline and her mother entered the ballroom, smiling at everyone as the master of ceremonies announced them. Angeline greeted the hosts with a graceful curtsy in a froth of pink silk. When she turned in his direction, their gazes locked. The air between them was charged with energy.
Hot turmoil boiled in his chest. Meeting her was bound to happen sooner or later, but he wasn’t ready for the deep unrest her presence caused him. He should talk to her again. Perhaps she would listen.
Her smile vanished, and she averted her gaze.
“For heaven’s sake,” Havisham muttered. “What is Mrs. Haywood doing here? Will I ever get rid of that woman?”
“You didn’t confront her? She must have realised your documents are missing.”
Royston wasn’t going to inform the earl of his conversation with Angeline. Surely, she’d told her mother.
