Page 8 of Wallflower Whispers
Lady Hastings snorted and rolled her eyes, making her feelings quite clear.
“Is that so?”
“It is,” Hugh replied firmly, though he did not miss the way that Lady Hastings’ eyes narrowed in his direction. “Rumors can be a dreadful thing, Lady Hastings, for even though there is no truth to them, they can still cling with tight fingers to the person in the middle of them. I do not know where such a rumor came from, but I can assure you, I am as honorable a gentleman as you might ever find.”
“I can agree with that,” Lord Elmsford added, quickly, though this did not wipe the scowl from Lady Hastings’ face. “When I first heard the rumor, I must confess that I laughed aloud upon hearing it! It was too ridiculous to believe.”
“Of course it was.” Miss Wilson smiled warmly, though her eyes darted to Lady Hastings, as though fearful of her disapprobation. “Whoever it was that witnessed Miss Simmons leaving whatever townhouse it was must have mistaken your townhouse for that of another.”
The prickling returned to Hugh’s spine.
“I do not think that Miss Simmons –”
“She ought not to be in London,” another lady sniffed. “It is not right.”
“You are quite correct, Lady Joceline,” Lady Galbraith agreed, as her husband nodded silently beside her. “A lady who has done such a thing as that should either be kept back from society and required then to become a companion or some such thing,orshe ought to be married to whoever Lord Grant can find. Thank heavens you did not agree to the betrothal,Lord Blackmore! You would have had to shoulder a substantial burden.”
Hugh shook his head, tension grasping his heart and squeezing it hard.
“I must interrupt you all and state, quite clearly, that–”
“The rumors about my daughter are entirely untrue!”
A deep voice interrupted the conversation before Hugh could say anything and, twisting his head, Hugh looked into the face of Lord Grant, a gentleman he had been introduced to last Season. The man was almost purple with rage, his eyes dark and jumping from one face to the next, though his voice was controlled.
“My daughter did not behave as these rumors state,” he said, his jaw tight. “That is all they are: rumors. I do not know from whence they have come, but I am determined to rid society of them! Lord Blackmore, I am sure, will concede that my daughter did notoncestep foot in his townhouse last Season and certainly did not leave it at such an early hour! As you are all aware, there is no child, there is no wrongdoing, and such shame ought not to be placed upon my daughter’s shoulders any longer. It is entirely unfair.”
Lady Grant put a hand to her husband’s arm though, as she looked around the group, Hugh saw the gentle shimmer in her eyes. Clearly, Lady Grant was as sorrowful, as upset, as her husband on this matter. He could not imagine the suffering they must be enduring at present.
I should have said something before now.
Hugh took a small step forward.
“It was just as I was going to say, Lord Grant,” he said, with a nod to the gentleman. “I was about to suggest to the assembled group that if they are willing to believe my words, that I have done nothing worthy of censure, then they ought to consider the very same as regards Miss Simmons. After all, she states that she has done nothing wrong, that the rumors are simply rumors -but society, it seems, has deemed her guilty. If you are willing to speak with me, associate with me, then why should you not do the same for her?”
Silence fell across the group and, though Hugh tried his best to keep a pleasant expression on his face, he was met with frowns and scowls rather than anyone nodding in agreement or showing the least bit of interest in what he had to say.
His heart sank.
“A young lady is not spoken of in such a way without her having donesomethingakin to what is being whispered about. At least that is my experience.” The Marchioness of Hastings drew herself up to her full height and glared at Lord Grant, perhaps aware that the gentleman was about to retort towards her at once. “You will, of course, believe your daughter, given that she is your daughter and, no doubt, has been able to convince you that she has done no such thing.” With a mocking laugh, the Marchioness waved one hand in Lord and Lady Grant’s direction. “It is not something that you should feel sorrow or regret over for, of course, it is what every parent wishes to do. However, once that has been set aside, once those of us who arenother family have heard of the matter, there is – reasonably, I think – a question in our minds as to the young lady’s character.”
“I can assure you, Lady Hastings–”
“You may assure me as much as you wish, Lady Grant, but I will make my own judgments in this,” the Marchioness interrupted. “Your daughter may not be with child but to my mind, something has taken place that is worthy of censure. Others in society may not have the same opinion as I, and they may be willing to accept her company again. However, I, and my daughter, will do no such thing.”
Hugh rubbed one hand over his jaw, catching the desperate look Lady Grant sent in his direction. It was all so very confusing, and yet he could see the unfairness of it all.
“But you will be in my company, Lady Hastings?”
For whatever reason, her smile spread right across her face and her eyes warmed.
“Yes, Lord Blackmore, I shall be. You are an upstanding gentleman, and do not forget that I was acquainted with your father! Whoever reported on Miss Simmons must have mistaken the townhouse for yours, as Miss Wilson suggested.”
What am I to say to that?Hugh looked back to Lady Grant, lifting his shoulders just a little and then letting them fall again. Lady Grant shook her head but then lifted her gaze and looked directly at Lady Hastings.
“My daughter was with me on the evening that this rumor began,” she said, looking steadily at Lady Hastings. “Unless it is that you think that I am as much of a liar as my daughter.”
Lady Hastings narrowed her gaze just a little.
