Page 74 of Leap of Faith
“Perhaps spreading it about that the notice was false will limit the damage,” Lord Westwood suggested.
“If it will help, then we will.”
“Montford and I can check at Boodle’s,” Carew offered, and Montford agreed with a nod.
“Perhaps you should have a word with your solicitor and the bishop,” Rotham recommended to Westwood on his way out.
Faith was in shock. She stood but did not know where to go. She did not even realize Lord Westwood had moved next to her.
“There has to be something we can do.” Much to her dismay, her eyes filled with tears. She was pulled into his arms and laid her head on his shoulder as if there were no gross impropriety in such a thing. “What do I do now?”
“How you must hate me.”
She shook her head and pulled away, feeling embarrassed at losing control and wiping her eyes with her knuckles. “How could you have known what he would do?”
He took her chin in his hands and gently lifted it so she was looking into his eyes. “I will make things right.”
* * *
Dominic ached for Miss Woodford.It was an entirely new sensation to be concerned by the sensibilities of a female, but then again, he had brought her into this situation. How the devil had his innocent wish for amusement, and thrusting them onto theton, turned into this malicious evil?
Moreover, was Sir Julian so deluded as to think he would be able to maintain his way of life in England? Because one thing was for certain: when Dominic was finished with Sir Julian, he would wish he’d never heard the name Westwood nor be able to show his face in respectable circles again.
After seeing Faith into his mother’s capable care, he dashed off a note to his solicitor to investigate the matter and advise him on what was advised should the marriage look authentic.
Secondly, he also wrote to the bishop, who had been a school friend of his father’s and explained the situation to him.
As he made his way to White’s, he mulled over the situation in his mind.
Dominic had little doubt the false announcement could be dealt with, but it was Faith’s reputation that perturbed him. Carew had been correct, devil take him, that marriage would solve everything, but Dominic chafed at the idea of Carew being the one to save her. He certainly had not expected him to offer for her right then and there!
Dominic knew he’d been ‘hoist by his own petard.’ Had this been his fate from the moment Miss Whitford and her sister had burst into his hunting box and charmed him?
However, he loathed the idea of being forced into anything in such a fashion.
Despite being known for his determination in bachelorhood, he had always suspected he would marry one day, but in his own way and in his own time. Yet his hands were tied to act immediately by the guardianship. These were extenuating circumstances, but still it was not the done thing to marry one’s ward.
He could not even say that Miss Whitford would have him. It was lowering to think she might choose Carew over him! However, he did not think Carew’s feelings were engaged, nor Miss Whitford’s. Over the past week or so, he had detected a spark of interest in her, but that could be no more than the awakening of human nature.
He’d wanted to know his own mind better before deciding, though for weeks he’d been suspicious of developing a decided tendre for her. At least, he found that he was having to restrain himself from seeking her out and bringing more attention to her—which was why he felt the need to distance himself to be certain. Fate seemed to have its own ideas.
Dominic entered the club and began to hand his hat and cape to the major-domo when Rotham and Freddy met him on their way out.
“Walk with us,” Rotham, said, clearly not wanting to have the discussion where other ears might hear. They turned down St. James’s before Rotham spoke. “I do not have good news, I am afraid.”
“Was he there?” Dominic asked. He had no intention of leaving the weasel at the club to do more damage.
“No, but he was earlier, waving a marriage certificate around that looked authentic to all who saw it.”
Dominic cursed. “And what was his story? Surely he cannot think to pass off a whopper about Gretna Green.”
“No. He says he compromised her at the masquerade, then obtained a special licence at Doctors’ Commons.”
“That is easy enough to confirm,” Freddy suggested.
“Buying the license does not mean a ceremony took place, nor that I consented,” Dominic pointed out.
“Saying she was compromised is as good as ruining her, let alone having the marriage annulled,” Freddy remarked.
