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“I don’t believe you,” she whispered as though she was the betrayed lover. “You are lying. You wouldn’t marry a servant. This is all something you have cooked up to try to get the dowager to stop pestering you to get married. That’s all this is. It is a lie.”
She turned to Mrs Kempton, who shook her head slowly; then Rollo, who merely stared piously at her. When she got no help from them, she rounded on Jerry.
“You will be the laughingstock of the ton,” she declared flatly.
“I don’t give a damn what the ton think. This is my life, and I will live it as I see fit,” Aidan bit out.
“We were lovers,” Edwards argued. “Do you really expect me to believe that you went from my bed to marrying that?”
She pointed one long, bony finger at Petal as though she was a stain on the carpet.
“We have only ever been lovers in your imagination,” Aidan declared flatly. “I have never touched you, Edwards, and you know it. Before I arrived here I wasn’t capable of getting out of bed, much less tousle with a woman. It has only been because of the supportive care of the other people gathered in this room that I am standing here today. Without them, especially Petal, I doubt I would even be walking again. At no point during my time here have I ever given you any impression that I am even remotely interested in you, Edwards, and you are a liar for suggesting so.”
“I am the liar!” Her eyes were coldly furious.
“There is only one woman in this room whom I find desirable, and that is my wife,” Aidan countered. “I am not prepared to argue with you over it. That is the fact of the matter; take it or leave it, but I caution you about casting aspersions on my wife from now on. If you do, I shall make sure that the full weight of the law is afforded to you for administering medication to me that I strictly forbade you from giving me. I will make certain that the entirety of the ton know it.”
“I am not here to do what you want,” Edwards protested a little weakly.
“I am – was – the patient. What I want should always count for something,” Aidan countered.
“You wanted me once.”
Aidan wondered if she was in control of all of her faculties. She certainly seemed to be living in some sort of fantasy world that was far removed from reality.
“I am not prepared to argue with you a moment longer,” Aidan declared dismissively.
“What am I to do if I am with child?” She asked after a moment’s hesitation.
The triumphant look she threw at those present died rapidly when Aidan snorted.
“Find the father and force him to marry you but it most certainly isn’t me. Not only would I never be stupid enough to saddle myself with such a harridan as a wife, but I wasn’t capable of engaging in sexual relations with you.”
Aidan stopped when he realised just how close he had come to causing a real scandal. He threw a wary look at Petal’s father but knew from the man’s face that he suspected what had happened already, and that was the reason for the rushed marriage. He was at least well-mannered enough not to raise the issue now that Aidan had made an honest woman out of his daughter.
“Well, you certainly seem fine and dandy to me,” Edwards replied sarcastically. “You are only ignoring what we shared this morning because this stupid creature has connived to get you to marry her; if the wedding is even real.”
“We don’t have to explain anything to you,” Jerry informed her. “The wedding is real alright. I witnessed it myself, and so did Mrs Kempton and Rollo. Now, I do believe my brother has made it perfectly clear you are no longer welcome in this house. You have five minutes to collect your belongings. I will escort you over to the dowager’s house where you can remain until your transportation home is arranged. Your services are no longer required here, although I have to question if they were ever needed at all.”
“They weren’t. She was foisted upon me,” Aidan reported with a pointed stare at his mother. “Petal has been more of help to me than the nurse ever has.”
“Yes, and we all know what kind of bedside services she has been giving you.”
“Get out,” Aidan snarled. “Get out of this house this instant.”
“I am afraid that you have, once again, overstepped the boundaries of manners and respect in this house. Your connections, and money, are no excuse for your rudeness or arrogance, especially while you reside in somebody else’s house,” Petal declared coldly but firmly. She had no idea where this was coming from but felt it needed to be said.
Aware that everyone was watching her, she moved to stand beside her husband. Her confidence was bolstered by the supportive hand he rested in her waist. With her husband’s support, she levelled a hard glare on Edwards.
“I find you ill-bred, offensive, with very little respect for honesty, decency, or integrity. This is my home now. While I am lady of the manor, I shall not accept any such abhorrent behaviour from any of our guests. Whatever you believe is of little consequence. What goes on in this house is a private, family matter. I can assure you that my husband never laid a hand on you. If you refuse to accept that then it is your problem. He is, however, a married man now, so I would caution you to consider the consequences to yourself should you wish to make your fabricated alliance known to anybody outside of this house. Seeing as you find so much at Wenland Lodge disagreeable, I think you would be much happier residing in the dowager’s house and suggest you now go and pack your belongings.”
Silence settled over the room for a moment.
“Well said,” Aidan murmured with quiet pride.
Petal glanced at the staff on the opposite side of the room. Rollo looked a little stunned. Mrs Kempton appeared to be lost in thought, and Aggy just completely confused.
Aidan was so incredibly proud of her. He threw a rueful look at his brother, and saw nothing but admiration on Jerry’s face. They were both incredibly pleased she had, most unreservedly, made her mark upon the house. Everyone now could not question her position within the household, and hope to remain.
