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“Yes.”
For all that it was a one-word answer, that single utterance conveyed a world of unhappiness. She looked at him, marking with suspicion the beet-colored flush spreading across his skin. “Something happened between you, didn’t it?”
“Nothing of any consequence,” he muttered. “Certainly nothing that can be considered positive in terms of mitigating our collective ruination.”
“Tell me anyway.”
“I told her how I felt about her,” he finally admitted. “The truth.”
“And?”
He shrugged. “She rejected me. Most definitively,” he added with a rueful smile. “And then she fainted. I could not rouse her and had no choice but to carry her back to the house. I could not get back through the gate on my own with her and had to call for help. A gardener came and let us in, and then he fetched a footman. I took her to a room downstairs rather than her chamber, as I did not wish to alert the entire house to the situation. After we got her settled, I sent the footman to notify your father and fetch her maid to tend her. I made all involved swear to tell no one.”
Again she snorted. “Yes, well, one of the maids just told me that my sister has been ruined by you. The entire household staff knows by now, and I won’t be surprised if it appears in tomorrow’s papers.”
His face fell even further. “My lady, I wish things had happened differently.”
“So do I. Where is she now?”
“I left her in the care of her maid just down the hall.”
Leaving the men behind, she went down to the salon. Opening the door, she saw her sister stretched out on one of the couches. The fire in the hearth had been stoked to a warming blaze, and blankets had been tucked about her all the way up to her neck. She crept closer and saw that her sister’s eyes were open.
“Well, look who it is,” said Amelia. “You may go, Hannah,” she said, dismissing their maid. When the girl had gone, Amelia again spoke. “If you’ve come to apologize, don’t bother.”
“I didn’t,” Victoria answered softly. “You and I both know that I wouldn’t have had to resort to subterfuge had you been less bent on keeping me beneath your thumb.”
“So you came to gloat?”
“I came because I am concerned for you.”
“Ha!” Amelia wriggled and sat up. “If you were so concerned, you would never have disgraced yourself and our entire family with your recklessness!”
“There is a way to salvage—”
“Salvage? There is no salvaging anything. Your reputation is in shreds, as is mine. Nothing can be done.”
“It can,” Victoria insisted. “I shall take the blame for everything and say that I threw Withington over for Julius. We shall say that I left Withington a note, and that upon hearing the news from him, you became ill and fainted. He has already a
greed. It can work, if you will help us.”
Amelia’s laugh was bitter. “It is far too late for that, I’m afraid. Half the house knows I was drunk when he brought me in.”
“A nip from Papa’s bottle to fortify you after learning of our defection?” Victoria said with a dismissive wave. “Who could blame you?”
“So, Lord Withington has decided to deny his part in your little deception,” said Amelia. “How very noble and courageous of him.”
“No. It isn’t like that,” Victoria said, surprised to see the glitter of tears in her sister’s eyes. “He cares for you and is trying to protect you.”
“He is an opportunistic bastard!” Amelia’s voice shook. “I was a fool to seek him out. I don’t even know why I did it. The point is that I was vulnerable, and he took advantage.”
Victoria held her tongue, not daring to say a word.
“He claimed to love me, you know,” said Amelia, her voice hollow.
“Yes. I know. He told us you rejected him.”
“What else was I to do? Am I to accept a man who would deceive me?” her sister scoffed. “You would have me marry a practiced liar and expect me to be grateful for it. Do you really hate me so much?”
