Page 13 of Snowbound with the Scoundrel
“Rupert?Are you all right?”
Rupert shook his head, recalling himself to the present.Laurie.Helmsley Castle.Right, right.“Sorry about that.Suffice it to say, Miss Weatherby made it clear that she didn’t share my enthusiasm about the match.”
Laurie’s eyes were sympathetic.“I’m sorry.”
Rupert shrugged.“As was I.In any case, I was worried her father would force her into it.From what I’d heard, the man didn’t have a sixpence to scratch with.I therefore determined that I should be the one to release her from any sense of obligation.I figured there was no use making things more awkward than they already were, so I would send her a note.”
Laurie’s shoulders stiffened.They’d been friends a long time.He knew where this was going.“A note?”
“That was my downfall, all right.”
The thing was, whatever the rumors said, Rupert could write.He was just deuced slow at it, and his handwriting was atrocious.Given his exhaustion from three days of travel and the crushing disappointment he’d just had, he’d known there wasn’t much hope of him scratching out a coherent sentence, much less a proper missive.
That’s when he’d spotted a familiar face—William Ellison, a friend of Rupert’s brother, Francis.Not that this was a point in his favor.Francis held no affection for his younger brother and had been horrible to Rupert growing up, both at school and outside of it.
But Ellison had never done anything to Rupert personally.To be sure, he had stood there and laughed while his brother pushed him down the stairs.
But that had been years ago.Surely, he had matured since then!
And Rupert had been desperate.
So, he’d crossed the room and greeted Ellison as if they were old friends.Ignoring his glare, Rupert had pulled out a chair.He’d explained the situation in hushed tones, giving the excuse he always used, even though Ellison knew him well enough that he probably didn’t believe it—that he’d misplaced his spectacles.Would Ellison write out the note for him?
Suddenly, Ellison had been delighted to help.Rupert had told him just what to say.It had been a self-effacing note about how it wouldn’t do for a bright young thing like Clarissa to shackle herself to a dull fellow like Rupert, and he was, therefore, releasing her from any obligation she might have felt toward him while wishing her all the best.
He’d left the note with Becky to be added to the Weatherby family’s stack of mail and left for London the following morning.The situation was resolved.
Or so he had thought.
Laurie was still waiting for an answer.“I needed some help writing out the note.And it happened that someone I knew was there in the common room of the inn.You’ll remember him from school—William Ellison.”
Laurie slumped down in his chair.“Tell me you didn’t ask WilliambloodyEllison.”
“I didn’t think he was that bad!”Rupert protested.
Laurie gave him a look.“He’s friends with yourbrother,” he said as if that explained everything, and honestly, it more or less did.
Rupert leaned forward, steepling his fingers.“Is there anything we can do?”
Laurie went and perched on the corner of the desk with one hip.Pulling out a sheet of paper, he began scribbling down some notes.“Damn straight, there’s something we can do.We’ll demand a retraction and threaten to sue for defamation of both you and Miss Weatherby.”
Rupert perked up.“Defamation—that’s the theme.Yes, to all of that.”
“We should write to the Duke of Norwood,” Laurie mused, rubbing his jaw.“The papers insulted not only Miss Clarissa, but also his new duchess.I expect he’ll want to join you should it come down to filing suit.If we can mention his name, that will really put the fear of God in them.He’s got deep pockets and loads of influence.”
“That’s a brilliant suggestion.”Norwood would help him.Rupert knew he would.Capital fellow, absolutely capital, and not the type to brook any insult to his wife.
A footman appeared, bearing a well-laden tea tray.Laurie abandoned his perch on the desk, and they tucked in.
“I appreciate you helping me out of this mess,” Rupert said between bites of scone.“In retrospect, asking Ellison for help was a stupid decision.Possibly the stupidest decision I’ve ever made, in a long line of—”
“Hey!”Laurie punctuated this exclamation by throwing a scrap of crumpet at him.“None of that, now.”
Rupert couldn’t help but smile.Laurie had never tolerated anyone calling him an idiot, and that included himself.
He really did have the best friends.
“So,” Rupert said, “do you really think we can nail Ellison?”
