Page 79 of Leap of Faith
“No one turned their back on me, if that is your measure.”
“You may jest, but I have seen it more than once.”
“What is this favour you were owed?” she asked, still apparently awestruck from meeting the heir to the throne.
“He most certainly would not wish me to share it,” he clarified before she delved deeper.
“An answer which only makes me more curious,” she remarked.
He chuckled.
“I wonder that you wasted a favour on me!”
“You shouldn’t,” he answered softly, wanting to give her cause to consider, yet warring with saying too much.
When they arrived at Westwood House, Dominic handed the sisters down from the carriage first, then Faith.
“Are you coming in, my lord?”
“Not tonight. It is a lovely evening. I believe I will walk.” He sent the carriages back to the stables. When he turned back, she was waiting for him.
He raised his brows in question, but she stepped forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “Thank you.” She turned away and hurried into the house, leaving him to hope all was not lost.
As he walked, Dominic reflected on the success of the evening. He’d known there was no other sure way to prove Faith’s innocence short of marriage to someone else. He’d appealed to Prinny’s chivalrous nature and was grateful he bestirred himself. Even though much of the nation did not approve of Prinny, no one would speak out against him. At the moment their sympathy was still with him over the loss of Princess Charlotte and her son.
He’d known Faith’s beauty would also appeal to the Prince, but thankfully she was not in his normal style, so Dominic had no need to worry about the royal gallant taking a fancy to her.
Dominic had skirted the edge of the ballroom after the waltz, indolently greeting acquaintances, and was pleased with what he had overheard.
Obviously,she cannot be married to Sir Julian or he would be here with her!
Then why would he say he compromised her?
Perhaps the Westwoods are just covering up from their own negligence?
I cannot think so. I heard a rumour that it is all a bit of mischief by Sir Julian.
Lady Westwood said it was impossible for the girl to have been compromised. The girls had not been out of either her supervision or that of Lord Westwood.
In the card room,he had even heard whispers about Sir Julian being under the hatches, and that is why he was trying this desperate wager.
Dominic would not be fully satisfied until all his wards were married, but Sir Julian was going to have to pay. It was one thing to strike against Dominic personally, but another thing entirely to go after his ward, who was innocent of any wrong-doing. Not that Dominic could believe Sir Julian would still want revenge over his denial to a whip club.
No sooner had Dominic entered his house and taken off his coat and poured himself a brandy, than someone was at his door.
He’d just sent the footman to bed for the night so he answered it himself.
“Come! We’ve got him!” Rotham exclaimed.
Dominic didn’t need to be told twice. He reached for his hat and coat and hurried out the door after his friend.
“Where?” he asked as they hurried back out into Berkeley Square.
“At Cheatham’s. Apparently he arrived before the ball, drinking heavily and bragging about winning. Fortunately for us, Fielding and your brother happened to be there and kept an eye on him. Then Brosner wandered in and told of how Prinny came and danced solely with Miss Whitford, giving the lie to all of Sir Julian’s proclamations that he had won. Not to mention the whispers about him being badly dipped.”
“He certainly will be now, having lost this wager! I still want to know the terms of it! It makes no sense that he thinks he can get away with ruining a young lady!”
“He was not counting on her appearing in public again, nor your connection to the Prince. Most ladies would have left Town with their tail between their legs.”
