Page 25 of Scandal’s Daughter

Chapter 12

“Wherein truths are uncovered.”

Once alone Georgiana stood and faced her uncle. She did not know what it was he wanted from her but the sooner she discovered his purpose the sooner they could be rid of him and that, currently, was her only objective.

“Well then,” her uncle said, clearly as eager to conclude his business as she was for him to be gone. “I’ll make things nice and simple for you. Your father and my own wife’s brother were very dear friends and it was his wish that you marry my brother-in-law’s son, Swithin Rufford. You were, in fact, betrothed at birth. Personally, I think the fellow is getting a bad bargain. But it was my brother’s dearest wish and I mean to see it is carried out now that, thanks to your mother’s wickedness, he is no longer here to do so.”

Georgiana grasped the back of the chair she stood beside and prayed she didn’t do something as lowering as falling into a swoon. Though she felt that if anyone was due a swoon after everything she had endured over the past weeks, it was her.

“But I am only nineteen. I am not yet of age,” she replied, astonished that she spoke the words without stammering, and grasping at whatever straw she could bring to mind.

“No. But I am your legal guardian and I consent to the match.”

“But I do not!” she replied, staring at this already hated figure of a man and vowing to never do anything that he desired her to do. “I have not the least intention of marrying a man I have never even heard of before this day, just because my long-dead father wished it!”

She was bestowed with a look of such frigid disdain that her nerve quailed for a moment, but she held his icy gaze, though her fingers were white where they held tight to the chair.

“No,” he said, every nuance of that one word dripping with scorn. “I never imagined you would do anything to oblige your father. Indeed, I find myself correct in supposing you would be every bit as capricious and flighty as your mother was. Bad blood will out,” he added.

“If you have quite finished insulting myself and my family, I would request that you leave now, sir. For I certainly have nothing further to say to you.”

“Oh, but I have not yet concluded my business with you.” He took a step closer to her and she could see the implacable nature of the man burning in his eyes. This was not a man used to being thwarted and he didn’t expect to come away from this meeting without getting what he wanted. “I will make myself plain.”

“Upon my word, sir. If you haven’t already been doing that I wonder if my poor feminine sensibilities can bear the strain,” she retorted, narrowing her eyes at him.

He gave a snort, looking ever more disgusted. “You will never lead me to believe there is anything approaching feminine morals or sensibility about you. You are the daughter of a woman who was known to be a common flirt.”

Fury brought colour burning to her cheeks as she raged at him in return. “Then I wonder that you would be so eager to pursue a match between one such as me and a man you apparently hold in some regard.”

“Aye, and I wonder at it too!” he shouted. “But Rufford wants to wed you and I gave my word and the marriage will go ahead. I have arranged for you to meet Mr Rufford on Sunday next, at which time he will make his proposal, and you will accept him.”

Georgiana gathered her strength and held on to the towering rage which seemed to be the only thing keeping her on her feet.

“You have spoken plain, sir, and now I will repay you in kind. There is nothing on this earth that would induce me to do anything of the sort. If and when I marry it will not be to someone who has been chosen by either a dead man or someone I hold in utter contempt.”

For a moment she wondered if she had gone too far as she saw his fists clench and he took a step towards her. He froze at the last moment, but she was left in no doubt at all that if she ever allowed herself to come under this man’s power she would be in very grave danger.

“Georgiana,” he said, the words full of cold rage. “Your mother was a whore and the scandal she wrought is talked about to this day. I have only to utter one word about your true parentage and you will be ruined. And you may rest assured that I will not utter just one word, I will destroy you. No man will ever touch you unless they paid coin for your services, no polite society will ever welcome you. You will be a pariah, belonging nowhere and to no one.”

“So be it,” she flung back at him, barely holding back her tears but determined not to crumble before this hateful man. “I’d rather die an old maid than oblige a despicable and vicious man like you!”

“Then it seems there is no more left to say. I will be here on Sunday with Mr Rufford. I trust after you have taken the time to look at your circumstances you will have a change of heart, for in a very short matter of time you will find those people here who were your friends will no longer wish to receive you. Good day, Georgiana

She waited until she heard the front door close until her trembling knees gave out and she sank to the floor, crying and shaking, and wishing with all her heart that Beau could save her from such an ignominious fate. But Beau had gone and was never going to be able to save her, and if he ever discovered the truth, perhaps he would no longer wish he could.

She would simply have to manage and find a way to survive that wouldn’t bring disgrace to her aunt and uncle.

For a moment visions of nunneries and of fleeing abroad filled her head until she could scold herself away from such fanciful notions and get a firm grip on the real world. The first thing she must do was check on Aunt Jane, and then she must find her uncle. Between them, they would find a way.

Between them they had to.

***

The next morning Georgiana sat at the breakfast table turning an untouched piece of toast in her hands and awaiting her uncle’s return. Her aunt was still abed, too traumatised by the previous day’s events to be able to face getting up. Georgiana didn’t blame her. She had wanted nothing more than to bury her head under the covers and pretend it all away. But that was never going to happen.

On returning late yesterday afternoon and finding the household in hysterics, it had taken her uncle some considerable time to calm her aunt and get the facts of the matter from Georgiana. He had not denied any of the events involving her parents, as some childish part of her had hoped he may, but he’d been furious at her uncle Dalton’s behaviour. Indeed, she had never seen her kindly Uncle Joseph in such a towering rage once he’d vented his spleen.

But the only way to fight fire, her uncle said, was with fire. And to that end he had gone to pay a call upon the Earl of Falmouth. What Falmouth could do for her, Georgiana could not for one moment imagine. As far as she knew the man had a very black character and was a confirmed rake. Though she had seen notice of his marriage in the papers some weeks earlier, so perhaps he had reformed.