Page 106 of Rescued from Betrayal
“Lady Jane is no lady. And if Aggie would have listened, she’d not have gotten hurt. But her silly little feelings got in the way. I did her a favor, you know. Poor weak woman would have gotten her heart trampled on by a man who could never love a mouse like her.”
“Do not pretend to goodness. You ruined all her prospects, probably for life. How can you be so callous? She was your friend. I was your friend.”
Edith sneered. “You were never my friend. One must harden their resolve and focus on their goals if they wish to rise to some level of importance in Society. No one can stand in the way. Not my scoundrel father who wasted our family’s money, not a weak-willed friend, and most definitely not the woman who treated me more like her lady’s maid than her equal. Mark my words. Lord Carawaywillmarry me and he will do so within the week, no matter who I have to ruin.”
The wooden panel between the rooms slid open and Melior’s stomach threatened to revolt. She did not want to see Nathaniel’s disappointment, his disgust in her, but it was Lord Caraway who stepped through the opening.
Edith’s eyes brightened at his appearance. With one hand she gestured for Melior to leave, as if she could spew a hoard of insults and still expect Melior to obey her.
“I do not take kindly to deceitful women.” Lord Caraway braced his feet and crossed his arms. His gaze flicked to Melior.
She retreated a step. “Again, my apologies for everything.”
His steely expression lit with understanding, and he turned his stare on Edith.
“Lord Caraway,” she crooned, “do not be too harsh on Melior. She does not know any better than to follow what her horrible mother orders. Thankfully, I was there to make sure you came to no harm at the Durhams’ ball.”
“Yes.” His eyes narrowed. “By making a bargain with a snake, just like Eve of old.”
Edith’s hands flew to her chest, her mouth dropping open. “No… no, not I.”
“These walls are not as thick as you would assume, Lady Edith. One hears a lot through that partition. I heard it from your own lips. Will you still deny it?”
“You must have misheard. We were not speaking loudly.”
Uncle Percy stepped through the door, followed by Eddie and Algenon. “Are you claiming we all misheard the words you very clearly uttered?”
“N-no… Y-Your… Grace.” Edith’s trembling hands lowered to her midsection before falling to her sides. Her gaze fell to the floor. “I was only trying to save Lord Caraway from a forced marriage.”
“Ha!” Lord Caraway barked. “Do your lies never cease?”
Edith’s features hardened. “What gentleman would dare call a lady a liar?”
“What lady would stoop to such degrading behavior?” he countered.
Red faced, Edith’s eyes narrowed to slits and flicked to Melior.
Melior did not cower but lifted herself to her full stature. She had told the truth, all of it. Edith held no more secrets over her.
“This is your fault, you pompous she-devil.” Edith stalked toward Melior, the billiard table between her and the men. “If you would have stayed in Kent where you belonged, this never would have happened.” The pitch of Edith’s voice grew shrill as she neared.
“Stop where you are,” Eddie warned.
Edith paid him no mind, rushing Melior. Arms outstretched and eyes crazed, she grasped Melior around the throat. Melior tried to pull her hands away, but to no avail.
“Now what am I to do?” she screamed. “How am I to survive?”
Melior fought for breath. Edith had turned into a mad woman.
Algenon and Eddie grabbed Edith’s arms, pulling them away from Melior’s throat. She sucked in life-giving air.
“No! It is not fair. I compensated him. You should have been the one ruined. Not me. You should be the one carrying his child!” Edith’s screams turned into sobs.
Edith’s insistence on timing, her ruthlessness, her fluttering hands at her midsection—they all made sense. Melior’s gaze dropped. That was why she’d stooped to trapping Lord Caraway. She had probably hoped he would be attracted to her on her own merits until she’d discovered she was increasing. Edith had become desperate… and reckless.
When Edith began to sway, Algenon wrapped his arms about her and Eddie helped guide her fainting form to the ground. Everything went quiet. All Melior could hear was her own labored breathing.
“What do we do now?” Lord Caraway finally asked. “I cannot in good conscience bring charges against a woman who is in the family way, nor is there really anything she might be accused of except what might be said of all the marriage-minded females in London.”
