Page 58 of A Gentleman's Reckoning
“Publicly, perhaps. But there are things you ought to look into.” Her expression showed only resistance and disbelief, but he went on. “I tried to expose what he had done to Lord Perkins, and your father had me shunned from White’s and Boodle’s.”
Her eyes narrowed. “If he had been as perfidious as you have accused him of being, everyone would have learned about it when his dealings came to light.”
Lady Geny was a clever woman. He had known it would not be easy to persuade her. He could not have loved her as well were she not so discerning.
“Yes, except in the end, the legislature did not pass. And in January, there was a boom on trade so that the other investors lost nothing by it. On the contrary, they gained from the deal. Only your father lost, because he had sold off most of his shares.”
“So you maligned my father’s reputation for nothing.”
She skewered him with her glare, but it was the pain he saw underneath it that destroyed him—pain he had put there. Still, his expulsion from society was unfair, and he did not deserve it. The reminder caused John to grow indignant.
“Not for nothing. A gentleman does not turn on his friends, leaving them with great losses on a bad investment while protecting his own.”
“You admit you are a gentleman, then?”
He looked away, desperate for more time with her, while knowing she was rapidly losing what little patience she had. Desperate to be able to tell her everything in hopes that something might redeem him from an impossible plight. Helovedher. John exhaled silently.
“I am.”
“Does a gentleman fleece another man of his entire fortune in a card game?” she asked.
He had no ready answer for that. He had never been able to convince himself in his own mind that he had acted the part of a gentleman in that endeavor. His defense was feeble at best.
“I am a gentleman in every sense of the word. My father was one, but it was my stepfather who had the wealth and connections to bring me into society. It is through him that I have my standing there—although I lost it when your father had me blackballed from the clubs.”
“And so you infiltrated afoundlingasylum to try to get that reputation back.” Her voice dripped with disdain, and it seeped into his conscience like poison.
“Yes, I did, but?—”
Whatever composure she had held until now suddenly snapped, and she went a fiery red. “Youkissedme! When you were all the while seeking to expose my father, you traitor. And do you still think you can call yourself a gentleman?”
John stepped back, struck as though he had received a blowto the chest.Traitor?He wanted to defend himself, but he could not. He could not summon a single word.
“I think you should leave,” she said after a breath of silence. “Immediately. I will have Mr. Peyton find a new steward to replace you.”
She had effectively told him she never wanted to see him again. Although expected, hearing her say it was far worse than he could have imagined, and his hands dropped to his side. Summoning his resolve, he delivered one last argument in rushed words.
“Mr. Peyton denies having received Mr. Thompson’s contribution. Six years ago, Lord Hollingsworth’s donation was stripped from the ledgers as an expenditure, so no one knew where it went, but there was an anonymous sponsorship in the same amount for Gabriel. And no, Lord Hollingsworth is not his father. I asked. On top of that, I was handed a letter of reproach addressed to both Mr. Peyton and your father for failing to send the promised funds for the mill and worker’s housing in Manchester. They have received nothing, and yet there are ledger entries listed as funds being redirected to the mill work.”
Speechless with rage, she pointed at the door.
“I will leave as you have asked, but those are things you ought to know. You deserve to know them. Your father has the appearance of goodness. Whether his actions can withstand scrutiny is another matter.”
“I said leave,” she repeated through gritted teeth.
John opened the door and almost ran into Mr. Dowling, who was standing close enough to have overheard everything. Without thinking twice, he reached back and threw a punch into his jaw that sent Dowling reeling backwards. He crashed against a chair and into the wall, clutching his chin and staring at John with wide eyes.
“I would encourage you,” John said, chest heaving, his angerbarely contained, “notto eavesdrop when a lady and gentleman are speaking of matters that are none of your concern. If I hear of Lady Eugenia’s name—orthat of Lord Goodwin’s—being bandied about in any circle, I shall invite you to choose your weapon.”
John stormed into his office and grabbed his coat and hat, along with the bag containing the precious evidence. He glanced inside to make sure it was all still there, then hurried down the stairs into the courtyard. He strode toward the gates without saying farewell to Gabriel and Timothy. The iron gates clanged shut behind him, and they rang with the sound of finality.
Chapter Twenty
“Miss, if I may say so, you don’t look yourself.” Charity paused in uncharacteristic solicitude beside the bed.
“I am a bit tired, that is all.” Geny threw off the covers. She could not remain in bed all day no matter how heartsick she felt. “However, it is fortunate it is not my day to go to the orphanage, for I will have some rest.”
“Yes, and the young master will be returning to Eton today.” Charity pulled out the stool for her to sit in front of the mirror. “Brantley told me.”
