Page 63 of The Spinster's Stolen Hear
“Well, what do we have here?”
They broke apart as if they’d been burned. Nathan sucked in a breath, feeling as if he had been holding it for too long.
Lady Randall stood in the doorway, having approached on silent, velvet feet. The musicale was not over, judging by the music drifting in through the doorway. Her face was white and grim, arms folded tight across her chest.
Nathan felt dizzy. She had just seen him about to kiss her daughter, and her daughter preparing to kiss him back. Glancing over at Miss Randall –Pippa– he saw that she was bone white.
“Lady Randall,” he burst out. “This isn’t… I’m not…”
There was really no excuse to offer, so Nathan closed his mouth with a snap.
“Mama, forgive me,” Pippa spoke up, her voice surprisingly level. “This is not how it appears?”
Lady Randall gave a harsh laugh. “Oh? And how should it appear?”
“I…”
“Enough. I do not want to hear a single word from you, Pippa. The disgrace is too much to even consider. You will be ruined beyond recovery if a single breath of this scandal escapes. Go back inside. We shall leave as soon as we can do so without drawing attention. Go!”
For a moment, Pippa looked as though she wished to argue. She wavered, glancing at Nathan. He felt as though he were rooted to the spot.
Ruined? Of course she’d be ruined. How could I have put her in such a position? What sort of man am I?
She turned on her heel and hurried back into the ballroom. Nathan made to follow her, but Lady Randall stepped in front of him.
“I think not, Lord Whitmore,” she said, her voice menacingly sweet.
“Lady Randall, I beg your forgiveness. The blame is entirely mine.”
“Indeed, it is yours, but my daughter will bear the entirety of the consequences, will she not? Your reputation will recover, hers will not,” she snapped.
He tilted up his chin. “I shall set this right. I intend to offer…”
“No,” Lady Randall interrupted, voice low and dangerous. “My daughter and I want nothing from you. Pippa is a boisterous young woman and has made all sorts of foolish decisions lately. You are one of them. Leave her alone, Lord Whitmore. If you wish to make amends for what you have done, you will leave this party at once and leave me and my daughter alone. Do you understand me, or must I apply to the Duke of Dunleigh for help?”
Nathan swallowed. How would William react to learning that Nathan had besmirched his cousin’s honour? He had never been as close to William as he had to the others. As a new duke, William had his reputation to uphold.
“I…”
“I think enough has been said about this subject,” Lady Randall said tartly. “Unless you plan to discuss this matter with your friends?”
Nathan recoiled at the very suggestion. “No, Lady Randall, of course not! Never!”
She lifted her chin. “Then leave my daughter alone. Do you hear me, Lord Whitmore? Leave her alone.”
She did not wait for a reply, instead turned on her heel and strode back into the ballroom.
Nathan was left alone, cold and shaky.
What am I to do? How can I set this right?
Am I really just a bad decision on Pippa’s part?
Chapter Twenty-One
There was no conversation during the carriage ride home, on account of Katherine and Timothy sharing the carriage with them. The taut atmosphere had made itself known, and they stayed in uneasy silence, glancing at each other.
“Your performance was a success, cousin,” Katherine said, about halfway into the journey. “Everybody said so.”
