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But it proved very difficult to ignore. For while they were dancing, she could not exactly hear what the other revelers were saying about her, but she did feel the way others tensed when they had to become her partner. Gentlemen she had danced with dozens of times over the years stiffened at the sight of her and looked away quickly as though they’d been told to do so by their partner. Once the dance mercifully ended, Leticia marched away, leaving Harry long forgotten behind her.
She went straight to the refreshment table now and picked up one of the delicate pink macarons. She nibbled at the edges of it then she felt someone drift toward her side.
“Oh, hello, Lady Redbourne.” She glanced aside to see one of her oldest acquaintances. Lady Redbourne had come out when Leticia did, and when she made friends with Eliza, the ladies had become a bit of a trio, going to teas together and spending time talking at balls and other soirees. While Leticia had not been as close with Lady Redbourne as she had been with Eliza, she still considered the lady her friend and took comfort in seeing her at her elbow now. “Are you enjoying yourself this evening?”
Lady Redbourne was just an inch or so taller than Leticia, but she pulled herself up to her full height and looked down at Leticia as though she were an insect crawling about the earth. “I imagine not as much as you are.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Leticia asked as she dropped the macaron she’d been eating.
Instead of answering the question, Lady Redbourne pivoted and gave Leticia the cold shoulder. For a moment, Leticia just stood there, trying to discern what she could have possibly done that would prompt Lady Redbourne to treat her in such a cold manner, but then, when she couldn’t think of a single thing, she huffed in frustration. “I know we have not seen each other in a while,” she said as she stepped around the lady and came to stand in front of her once more, “but I hardly think that is an excuse for such behavior. Pray tell me why you are acting in such a way.”
Lady Redbourne chewed on the lower corner of her lip then she turned once more, but this time Leticia moved with her. Now, both ladies stood fully facing the refreshment table with their backs to the dancing and other festivities. “Here,” Lady Redbourne whispered as she opened her reticule and pulled a piece of rolled-up paper from it. “I assume you have not read today’sGossip Mill.”
“No, that abomination?” Leticia shook her head. “I can’t stand it.”
Lady Redbourne sniffed. “If I were you, I’d probably say the same thing, but take a moment to read it.”
“What does it say?” Leticia asked, taking the paper from Lady Redbourne.
“Nothing that I should like to repeat.” Lady Redbourne cinched her reticule once more and leaned closer so that they might whisper. “I knew you many years ago, Leticia, and so, I would like to think the account given in theGossip Millis nothing but conjecture, but—”
“But what?” Leticia prompted.
“I understand you broke up the Duke of Braxton’s wedding and—”
“I—” she started to interject, so she could explain the situation.
“No,” Lady Redbourne cut her off, “I am not sure exactly what happened that day, and I am not certain it is my place to know, either, but as someone who once considered herself a friend of yours, I must tell you that I was appalled.” She gave a shudder then continued. “We must part now as it is not in my best interest or that of my husband for the two of us to be seen talking together.”
“I do not know what you mean,” Leticia replied. “I am not a threat to you or Lord Redbourne.”
“No,” Lady Redbourne said as she gave Leticia a sad smile, “but I should not like for our reputations to be tarnished along with yours.” With that, she turned away from Leticia and the refreshment table and walked all the way to the other side of the room.
She can’t get far enough away from me. What could I possibly have done?
Quickly, she unrolled the newspaper Lady Redbourne had given her. She scanned the page, searching for her name, but she didn’t have to look for very long. Lady Leticia Hudson was mentioned no less than three times in the very first paragraph.
It should be unlawful to print my name in such a manner.
She read the libelous claims, knowing there was no proof of her misdeeds and that all the gossip columnists did was report on situations that they heard about second and third hand. But as she absorbed the words, the whispers she’d heard tonight made more sense.
People are comparing me to my mother and aunt. They are saying, we treat our men as if they are interchangeable and…bah!
She was disgusted by the mere idea. Leticia glanced up then to see Miss Loery. She was only several feet away, so Leticia could see the glare in her cool blue eyes.
She told me I would regret stealing her betrothed. Well…I won’t let her get away with this. She cannot smear my good name just because it suits her.
Leticia stood there for a moment trying to decide what to say, how to defend herself, but then, she watched as Lady Redbourne approached Miss Loery. The two women leaned close to one another and whispered then Miss Loery tilted her chin upward and gave a perky laugh. There was no malice in the action, but for Leticia, it was the final straw.
Tears sprung to Leticia’s eyes, and she fled the ballroom.
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
“Leticia…where are you going?” Richard had been just a few steps away from her. He spied her dancing with Harry and saw her head toward the refreshment table just a few moments before. He moved this way, planning to ask her to join him for the next dance, but before he could reach her side, she sprinted out of the room.
Richard was not entirely certain what to do in this instance. He knew that the gossip columnists had printed dreadful things about himself and Leticia earlier in the week, and, according to Harry, she had suffered greatly at the most recent events. But to go after her now…if she and Richard were to be caught outside of this ballroom together, people would only whisper more furiously.
He gave a surreptitious glance over his shoulder, just to make sure no one was looking in his direction, then he walked quickly toward the exit where Leticia had headed.
