Page 127 of Wild Lily
“Only a few people could have ever collaborated to reveal these items to the presses and I want to know now why you would do such a thing to shame us all.” And he turned the full force of his rage on his mother and the servant who stood behind her, Nora.
“What have you to say for yourself, Mother?”
“You are quite insane if you think—”
“Do not deny this. The only others who might have knowledge of these things are Lily’s father and my own. Hanniford would never disparage his own daughter and my father lies outside in his grave. So, you see, there is no reason to dance around this. You did this to damage me and my wife and you enlisted this maid to assist you in this dastardly business.”
“I won’t sit here and be accused of this.”
“Don’t sit. Get out.”
She sprang up. “She is not worthy of us.”
“Enough!”
What had the woman said about her?Lily put a hand to her brow. Did it matter what the dowager had told these papers? What others thought of her? It once had. Mightily. But now?
Julian straightened. “You, madam, are not worthy of her. Leave.”
“I demand—”
“Nothing. You can demand of me nothing. Go. Now.”
The dowager rushed from the room.
Julian skewered Nora with his anger. “You too will go.”
The maid looked from Lily to Julian.
He pulled on the gold fob at his waistcoat pocket and glanced at his watch. “You have ten minutes or I throw you out.”
Her face scarlet, Nora attempted to form words. But snapped her mouth shut and scurried away.
Phillip Leland watched her go, then faced Julian. “I will depart myself this morning.” To Lily, he said, “I’m so sorry, Your Grace. This was a nasty business and I hated to be the bearer of such bad tidings.”
Whatever was in those broadsheets, Lily never wanted to know. “I would never ridicule you for bringing such a thing to light. Thank you.”
He inclined his head and quickly left Julian and her alone.
Julian walked toward her and made to take her in his arms, but she side-stepped him.
“I will make this up to you.”
Light-headed, Lily steadied herself by putting a hand to the back of a chair. “You needn’t. It was not you who did this.”
“No, but I would not have you hurt.”
“So you’ve said.”
He blinked, her words a mystery to him. “My mother will not hurt you again. Nor the maid.”
And what of you? Will you hurt me?“Thank you. I must go.”
She took a step and wobbly as she was, he was quick to take her arm.
“I’m well.” She pulled away from him. “I need to think on this.”
He swallowed. “I will speak with the publishers of these rags. Ruin them. I’ll see to it they never run other pieces about anyone.”
