Page 80 of Rogue Lyon

‘Stupendous scandal.’ Oh, Lord. That didn’t sound good.

Meredith ducked her head and linked her fingers. Her cheeks flushed with shame.

“I hope you are both aware of the gossip flying around the Lyon’s Den right now? It will be in every corner of the ton by this time tomorrow.”

Meredith nodded.

Jules was silent.

“Gossip that you pretended to be wed whilst on a trip to Paris. A trip that I hadn’t even given my permission for.” She paused. “You lied to me, Miss Jones.”

“I am so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.” Meredith fought to control the tears.

“You weren’t thinking about your reputation, not for one second, that much is clear. I was under the impression that you wanted to marry a gentleman of London. How on earth can that happen now?”

“Yes, I do, I did, but… But that wasn’t going so well and I—”

“Decided to do a hop, skip, and a jump over the water to Paris with Mr. Habsburg here, about whom I am sure you were warned by many of my girls.”

Meredith nodded and squeezed her eyes closed. She pinched the bridge of her nose until it hurt.

“This really is all my fault,” Jules said firmly. “I persuaded her, tricked her, even, with the promise of learning about art, something Mered… Miss Jones is very interested in and dare I say is showing a talent for. There could be quite a future for her in the industry.”

Meredith looked up at him. His jaw was set tight and his chin held high.

Why was he defending her when he could walk away from all of this without consequence?

But herself? Not a chance. She would be left with a reputation in tatters and a swelling belly.

“And I also dissuaded her from having a chaperone, Miss Dove-Lyon. That was also my fault and I regret it deeply. It would have saved us a lot of reproach.”

Mrs. Dove-Lyon nodded. “That it would have. And the lie about being married, specifically to Mr. Delaware, tells me more about that little gem of deceit.”

“Again, entirely my fault.” Jules set one hand on his hip and with the other gestured at Meredith. “It was a ruse so we could be seen out in public together without drawing suspicion. My idea again. We were in a hotel. We wanted to dine at the restaurant, go to cafés. It was simply to avoid gossip.”

“Yet we brought it to our doorstep,” Meredith added. “Your doorstep, Mrs. Dove-Lyon. I really am sorry. It was a foolish thing to do.”

“It was, incredibly so.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon stood and set her hands on the desk. She leaned forward. “But the question now is: what are you going to do about it? This marriage lie?”

Meredith shook her head. “I suppose I should leave, go back to Wales.” She could only hope her mother would have her over the doorstep when she found out about all of this.

“No, no, that will never do.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon straightened. “You are bound together by this scandal. You must rise above it together.”

“But how?” Meredith asked. “There is no way out.”

“I believe there is one.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon looked at Jules. “And so does the man at your side.”

Meredith turned to him. Confusion swarmed within her. What was Mrs. Dove-Lyon talking about?

“I do?” Jules said.

“Yes, Mr. Habsburg, you most certainly do. Now I suggest you get on with it. Time is of the essence in case you hadn’t noticed.”

“Oh. Well I…” He frowned.

“Now,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon said. “No time like the present and it is rather late.”

“Meredith,” Jules said. Then he cleared his throat.