Page 48 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
“You were doing a noble thing, Brother. Do not take the blame onto yourself just because you are a chivalrous man.” Amanda tapped the paper. “Even the paper holds you not at fault.”
Graham eyed the paper. It barely mentioned him but went into great detail of telling recounts of Miss Browne’s exploits during the season. “I daresay you have a hand in this, Amanda. Had you not pulled that stunt at Lord Stanhope’s the damage would not be so severe.”
Amanda put her hands on her hips. “I merely set the record straight. There is no use in someone pretending to be something they are not.”
“You are the very one who put her into that situation, or have you forgotten?” Graham noted the look that went across Amanda’s face. Was that guilt he saw? If it was, she covered it quickly. “Do not cast stones, Sister. They might well bruise you in due course.”
Amanda left the room in a huff. Graham stared at the paper and hoped that news of the scandal would not reach Berwick Manor before they did. He shook his head and set aside the scathing paper. He could do precious little about it.
Scandals always hit women harder than men, and Graham chafed at the thought that his own actions were not accounted for. He had not rebuffed the kiss. No, as he recalled he had quite enjoyed it.
Graham shook his head and stirred some lemon into his tea. He was beginning to get a headache from thinking of the scandal. Lemon tea had been one of his mother’s remedies for almost any ailment and at the moment Graham would take all the help he could get.
Thankfully, the household staff worked through the night and they were indeed ready to depart the next day. He shepherded an unhappy Amanda out to the carriage. She sank into her seat with a sigh. “This is ridiculous, even for you Graham. We are leaving the season because of a penniless harlot.”
“Watch your tongue, Amanda,” Graham warned as the carriage lurched forward.
Amanda waved her arms around wildly. “Why? Who will hear me?”
“I will hear you,” Graham told her. “Perhaps you should try pretending that you are a lady since you like putting other people up to it.”
Amanda glared at her brother. “How dare you?”
“You knew Miss Browne’s situation before you goaded her into taking that position. Yet you chose to exploit it. That is not ladylike behaviour, according to the manners you were taught, is it?” Graham sighed and shook his head. “I pray that you change somehow and see the error of your ways.”
Amanda fell silent and glared out of the window. Graham was just fine with his sister to ignore his existence. At least the ride home would be a quiet one.
*
Charlotte stared at the paper she had picked up. The maid tried her best to get it from the table before she sat down, but she had not been quick enough. “Don’t take it to heart, Charlotte,” the maid said. “It’s just a gossip rag. Miss Easterly likes to read them.”
Charlotte stared at it. “The things they say about me, yet they do not mention Lord Easterly much at all.”
“Men often fair better than us in such things,” the maid said softly. “For what it is worth, I am glad you are back. I felt awful about how Katrina goaded us all to treat you. It wasn’t fair of us.”
Charlotte looked up at the maid, whose name she had never learnt, but who was familiar to her. “Oh, it is fine. I do not hold a grudge against that. I was in the wrong, after all. Katrina had a right to that position.”
“All the same, it was horrible of us.” The maid gave her a smile and gently took the paper. “Don’t think so much about this. No one around here reads this, or even can.”
Charlotte frowned. “I do not belong here. My reputation is ruined. What am I to do?”
“I don’t know, Miss,” the maid said with a frown. “I am sorry for what it’s worth.”
Charlotte nodded. The maid slipped away, and she was left with her thoughts. She had known it was possible, nay likely, the innkeeper’s wife would have a loose tongue, but to have the scandal hit so quickly was enough to make Charlotte’s head whirl.
The next thought that entered her mind was that Lord Easterly and Amanda would be due back at the manor any day. No doubt Amanda will have already read about the scandal. What would Lord Easterly tell her?
Charlotte had acted so scandalously that she would not blame the man for being offended or telling people what she had done. Lord Easterly had seemed as cordial and kind as ever at the inn, but when had he not behaved that way? “Maybe I am taking how he naturally is for something more,” Charlotte whispered to her teacup.
She made up her mind right then to leave. She would visit no more scandal upon this family and house. There was no reason for her to be here anymore.
She was neither employee nor guest. She was merely a burden. She went upstairs and retrieved a wide-brimmed hat that would protect her from sun and rain.
When she left, she slipped out the side entrance to avoid having to speak to anyone until she reached the stables. “Excuse me,” she said to one of the stable boys. “I would like to borrow a carriage to take me to the church so that I might visit my family’s graves.”
“Sure thing, Miss!” The stable boy flashed her a smile and ran off before Charlotte could say anything else.
Charlotte let out a breath she had been holding. That was easier than she thought it would be.
