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She dropped into a deep curtsy—there was still enough actress in her to want to make a grand exit—and then she left the drawing room. She took the stairs with all the dignity of Joan of Arc, knowing she would fall apart the moment she reached her room. Lucas’s siblings would be hearing what had happened soon enough from Lucas and his parents, and Lavinia was relieved that she would at least be spared from seeing the shock and dismay on their faces.
Oh, Lucas.
Her heart was broken. He hadn’t defended her, hadn’t pursued her after she’d left the drawing room—that was what hurt the most. She’d told him more about herself and her past than she’d told anyone, save Hannah—the onlymanshe’d told, certainly.
It only went to prove what she’d known her entire life, she reflected as she entered the safety of her bedroom and began packing her belongings into her trunk—that trust was a hard-earned thing, a rare commodity. Perhaps she hadn’t told Lucas about her past as Ruby Chadwick, but he’d betrayed her by accepting the Earl of Cosgrove’s distorted version of the truth so readily.
She sat on the bed and covered her face with her hands, unable to hold back the flood of tears any longer.
* * *
It took all of Lucas’s fortitude not to dash after Lavinia, pull her into his arms, apologize profusely for his momentary shock, and tell her how brilliant she’d been in confronting the Earl of Cosgrove—she’d thoroughly outranked the man with her magnificent, virtuous defiance of him. She’d been a duchess, a queen.
He would go to her soon. He must tell her how proud he was of her and how much he loved her—for hedidlove her, thoroughly and completely.
There was still the Earl of Cosgrove to deal with, however, not to mention a significant amount of explaining he owed his parents and siblings, who were currently gathering in the entrance hall and looking on with curiosity.
“It would seem one particular young lady is not for sale this evening,” Lucas told Lord Cosgrove.
“Nor would it ever have been allowed, not in my house,” his father added. “You have worn out your welcome, Lord Cosgrove. Good evening to you.”
“Allow me to escort you from the premises,” Lucas said, gesturing toward the door.
But with his family gathered in the entrance hall, it immediately became apparent that the earl wasn’t about to leave quietly when he had an audience at his disposal.
“What a fine group we have here, Mr. Jennings,” Cosgrove said. “Siblings, I presume? I’m sure your parents are as pleased as punch with the lot of you. Which one is Simon, pray?”
Everyone turned in surprised unison to look at Simon, who looked like a trapped animal seeking escape at the earl’s words.
“Ah, Simon—mayI call you Simon? I had planned on giving you two hundred fifty pounds tonight—half of the reward I’d offered for information leading to the whereabouts of Ruby Chadwick. I already gave the other half to your friend—what was his name? Woodhouse, Woodhull, something like that. Anyway, the one who showed me your letter.”
“George Wootton,” Simon mumbled.
“That’s it. Wootton. Well, I was close.”
“I don’t want any money.”
“That’s good to hear, Simon, because I don’t intend to give you any. Since I already paid two hundred fifty quid to your friend Mr. Woodley, not to mention incurring the added expense of traveling all the way to Lincolnshire, of all places, only to discover that my little bird of paradise refuses to return with me—”
“Bird of paradise?” James asked.
“You will cease referring to her in such terms,” Lucas hissed at Cosgrove.
“She has found herself a champion, it seems.” Cosgrove pulled on his gloves and took up his hat and cane from the table nearby. “Sadly, I have no intention of battling you to the death or any other such nonsense over a mere female, Mr. Jennings, no matter how delectable she may be. I have wasted enough time and money on her already.” He tapped his hat into place. “I bid you all a good evening and her a good riddance. Enjoy the scandal that is about to erupt in your midst. May it provide you hours of entertainment.”
Lucas followed Cosgrove to the door and then outside as a gathering fury built within him. He had no intention of letting the earl have the final word. “A moment, Cosgrove, if you please.”
The earl’s coach stood nearby, the groom ready to open the carriage door.
Lucas approached Cosgrove until he stood toe-to-toe with the man. “Allow us to understand each other: Ruby Chadwick is no more. The disappearance of the actress who was the so-called Darling of Drury Lane is a mystery that will remain unsolved. Do you take my meaning?”
“Jennings, you are an utter bore. I cannot imagine what she sees in you.”
“Do you take my meaning?” Lucas growled, leaning menacingly into the earl’s face. Only the discipline instilled in him during his years in the army kept him from wrapping his hands around the man’s throat and choking him to extinction.
“Perfectly,” Cosgrove drawled.
Lucas watched the earl enter his coach and continued watching until the coach had traveled down Alderwood’s private lane to the road and disappeared from sight before he turned and entered the house. There were questions to answer and discussions to be had.
