Page 61 of A Duke's Temptation Poetess
But it was not Lady Bentley who had caught them. A good portion of the ton had joined them on the terrace, including Aunt Matilda and Lord Creshire, who smirked.
Colin drew in a sharp breath and straightened his spine. His thoughts fell apart as he stared down at the crowd. This was the worst thing that could have happened. This was his father’s error. He could not find the words for what to say in this terrible situation.
Lord Creshire took a step forward, his smirk widening. “Your Grace,” the Earl of Creshire said, his voice soft and kind.
The snake was still pretending to be a gallant, heroic man. Colin was too aware of Lady Clarissa behind him. Her hand was still in his. This was a situation which could ruin a lady’s reputation, and Colin did not need to worsen the matter by embarrassing her in front of the ton.
“You are not at fault,” Lord Creshire continued.
“Oh?” Colin asked.
The Earl of Creshire nodded. “Sheknows.”
Lord Creshire’s eyes snapped towards Lady Clarissa, and Colin felt her grow tense behind him.
“Knows what?” Colin asked.
“Lady Bentley and Lady Clarissa conspired to ensnare you by arranging for the two of you to be caught in a compromising situation,” Lord Creshire said.
“I overheard them speaking of it when we stayed at that lovely inn together on the way to Bath. I suppose I should have told you earlier, but I had hoped that the ladies spoke only from frustration. I did not truly believe that they would.”
“He is lying!” Lady Bentley yelled. “I cannot believe that you would accuse my daughter and me of doing something so disgraceful!”
The Earl of Creshire turned to the ton, shaking his head. “You would call me a liar, my Lady, with all your schemes and sins revealed before your peers. But that does not make them any less true.”
Colin felt Lady Clarissa’s hand slip from his. He looked over his shoulder at her. The lady’s face was pale and stricken, and her eyes were bright and pleading.
“Is it true?” Colin asked quietly.
She blinked quickly, and Colin spied a tear rolling down the side of her face. “I was going to tell you tonight. That is what I wished to speak to you about.”
“But you did not,” Colin replied. “Instead, you lured me out her and followed your mother’s plan.”
He should have been devastated, but instead, Colin felt strangely numb. The entire situation felt unreal, as if it were just some terrible nightmare, easily vanquished at dawn.
“What an unfortunate situation,” the Earl of Creshire said.
Colin stiffened. He understood everything with terrible precision. The Earl of Creshire had truly heard of the plan Lady Bentley and Lady Clarissa had thought up between them, and he had decided to come to Deborah’s ball just to reveal the plot as it unfolded. Colin had assumed that his sister was the target of Lord Creshire’s schemes. They had all been so wrong. Colin needed time to think. There was something else missing here, something he did not understand. Clarissa’s confession, though..
He needed space to think. That was all.
“Lady Bentley,” Colin said, raising his voice, “I suggest that you and your daughter pack your belongings at once. I want both of you gone from my sight.”
Lady Clarissa sobbed, tears streaming down her face. She swept past Lord Creshire, who aimed a victorious smile at Colin. Lady Bentley was silent as her daughter reached her. The pair hurried into the ballroom, vanishing as the ton whispered around them.
“It is a pity that she would use you so cruelly,” Lord Creshire said.
Colin felt the stirring of anger in his chest. He wanted to punch the man for this, and yet there was some other sensation burning in Colin’s chest. He did not want to deal with the Earl of Creshire. Colin was too exhausted to do anything, and at the moment, he just wanted the terrible night to come to a sudden end.
“Having enjoyed your theatrics, I assume you will also be taking your leave,” Colin said.
Lord Creshire bowed mockingly. “As you wish. I shall take my leave as soon as I bid farewell to the hostess.”
Russell joined them, his arms crossed. “The hostess finds you repulsive,” he said. “You shall leave at once and never again darken the grounds of my estate.”
“As the Lord Roswood wishes,” the Earl of Creshire said.
Lord Creshire bowed and turned smartly on his heels. For a moment, there was silence. Aunt Matilda had managed to coax most of the ton into the ballroom again, although Colin was certain that they were all sharing gossip about him.
