Page 66 of Pursued Beyond Treachery
Susannah sucked in her breath. “My father’s debts?” The words were barely audible but must have been loud enough for Aunt Guthrie, for she smiled triumphantly.
“Yes, and if you do not want your brothers and sister to go there as well, you will stay away from Lord Newhurst. My Harriet has taken a liking to him, but you keep throwing yourself at him like a hussy. I have seen the way he looks at you.”
“Like one looks after a sister. You must know we have been acquainted nearly all our lives.”
“No, like one looks at a lover. Tell me, have you tried to seduce him much like your mother did my brother?”
“I beg your pardon.” Red rushed to Susannah’s cheeks at such an accusation, but another part of her heart beat out the same words over and over.A lover, a lover, a lover.Did he really look at her in such a manner? Had she been blind all this time? Mr. Kendall’s words filled her mind.
“You heard me. I order you to stop your dalliances with Lord Newhurst or you shall force my hand.”
“I’ve not—”
“I know what I see, Susannah. Now give me your word, or I shall go to Mr. Guthrie right away and have him contact your father’s creditors.”
She swallowed, tears burning in her eyes. “Lord Newhurst is an intimate friend of the Stanfords. I cannot simply avoid him.”
“You can and you will. If he is over to the house, declare you have a headache.”
John would never understand, but the thought of causing her family so much distress terrified her. There was no way around it. No one would want the contents of their home and they needed every bit of the land to live on. She had no doubt her father’s debts were great indeed, for she’d witnessed the way her parents had economized over the years and Mama’s doctor bills had been no small sum.
Perhaps she could petition her grandfather to intercede. He was not the kindest man, but when his own grandchildren’s living was at risk, surely he’d help. Then again, he’d not even had the decency to attend her mother’s funeral.
She tried a different tactic. “If you ruin my family, it will reflect badly on yours. One knows that if one member falls the rest are found guilty as well.”
The woman’s dark eyes hardened. “I am willing to take that risk. Are you?”
Susannah hung her head.
Aunt Guthrie leaned in, her foul breath puffing in her face. “And do not dare speak a word of this to those friends of yours, nor your family, or I will make sure no man of good standing will ever want you again.”
“That is not possible. I have done nothing worth censure.”
“No, but a woman’s reputation is very brittle. One wrong word from the right source can break it.”
The steady click of a cane on tile brought Mrs. Guthrie’s attention around. Susannah’s eyes widened when Lady Braithwaite stepped out of a nearby alcove and approached.
Her appearance was a timely reminder of how ruthless the Ton could be. In all Susannah’s experiences with the woman, she’d not uncovered any reason for Society’s disdain. And yet, she’d heard whispers of intrigue, seductions, even murder connected to the lady’s name these last few weeks. In Lady Braithwaite’s case, she had enough money to ignore the gossip, but Susannah had none.
Ice formed around her heart.
When Lady Braithwaite stopped before them, gold flecked eyebrows rose over staggering green eyes. “Mrs. Guthrie.” She gripped the top of a gold-handled walking stick. “What brings you to such a secluded area?”
“Nothing of consequence,” Aunt Guthrie crooned. The change in her demeanor was so sudden that Susannah stared at her like she’d grown a second head. “I was merely having a word with my niece. We are incredibly close, as you must know, and I wanted to ascertain how she was enjoying the dancing.”
The woman actually placed an arm around her back and Susannah had to clench her teeth until her jaw hurt to keep from pulling away. Frustration battled with fear. How could the woman claim such intimacy moments after threatening her?
“That must be nice to have such aclose family.But you will have to excuse me, for I am come to collect Miss Wayland and return her to her party.” The slow emphasis and almost imperceptible narrowing of Lady Braithwaite’s eyes indicated she might not believe the woman.
What did Her Ladyship mean by collecting her? Knowing Lady Stanford’s dislike of Lady Braithwaite, she highly doubted she’d employ her to seek her out. Susannah would not contradict HerLadyship, though. Besides, the sooner she escaped her aunt, the sooner the threats would stop.
Aunt Guthrie threaded her arm through hers. “Do not trouble yourself, Lady Braithwaite. I can return my niece.”
Was Susannah imagining things, or had Lady Braithwaite’s nostrils flared?
“I think not.” The tiny woman stretched to her full height, her eyes flashing with a warning no one could miss. “Ihave come for her, andIshall leave with her. Do not forget who I am, Mrs. Guthrie, for I have most definitely not forgotten who you are.”
Aunt Guthrie shrunk back, her shoulders rounding, but her face grew hard. “I have not forgotten. You heard the woman, Susannah. Go find your friends. Only remember what we have spoken of and do behave yourself.”
