Page 50 of A Sense of Injustice
‘Oh, my dear, I have upset you.’ Grandmamma moved closer and squeezed Louise’s hand. ‘Believe me, that was not my intention. I was teasing. Well, almost. I saw how much Henry enjoyed your company the other night, and it’s only natural that I should want a good match for you. There’s absolutely no need to cry. If you don’t like him, we won’t speak of him again.’
‘It’s no good my liking anyone. No decent man will want anything to do with me now. Not after what I have done.’
‘Ah, the mysterious difficulty that brought you scampering to the country. I wondered when you would get around to confiding in me.’
Louise lifted a tear-stained face to her grandmother. ‘I so don’t want you to be disappointed in me.’
Her grandmother repeatedly shook her head. ‘Nothing you do could ever make me less proud of you than I already am.’ She patted Louise’s knee. ‘Just tell me. It will make you feel better.’
Louise took a deep breath and did just that. Slowly, in disjointed bursts at first, and then in one long rush of words that tumbled over one another in their haste to be spoken, it all came pouring out. She only paused when she got to the part where Cleethorp forced himself upon her.
‘I couldn’t stop him, Grandmamma. He was too strong for me.’ She sobbed into her handkerchief. ‘And now he’s there’s a very real danger that he will spitefully ruin Marianne’s reputation if I don’t agree to marry him.’ She threw her head back and let out a sob of anguish. ‘What am I to do?’
‘Well, to start with, you will not marry the rogue. You can put that thought right out of your head.’
‘But Marianne…’
‘Blow your nose and compose yourself, my love.’
‘You are not about to throw me out. I should not blame you if you did. I…’
‘Hush, child. Of course I shall do no such thing.’
Louise fell against her grandmother’s shoulder, feeling as if the huge weight that had been dragging her down for so long had suddenly dissipated.
‘I don’t deserve your compassion. Most people would wash their hands of such a troublesome relative.’
‘I am not most people.’
Grandmamma was clearly disturbed by what had occurred, but had yet to issue a single word of censure. Louise threw her arms around her, wondering how she had managed all these years without the old lady’s sound common sense and unconditional love. Those were qualities sadly lacking, she belatedly realised, in her aunt.
‘No, I shall not marry him,’ Louise confirmed in answer to her grandmother’s earlier statement. ‘I have confided in Miss Latimer and she advised me to tell you the truth. After Cleethorp confronted us today it became evident that he doesn’t have the slightest intention of giving up on me.’ Louise managed a watery smile. ‘Flora was magnificent. She told him in no uncertain terms that his presence here wasn’t welcome. I’m sure he didn’t know what to make of her.’
‘My friend the countess speaks very highly of Miss Latimer’s forthright nature. She has made herself indispensable to the family.’
‘I had practised endlessly in my mind what I would say to Cleethorp the next time I saw him, but when he appeared I became totally tongue-tied.’ Louise gave her head a disgusted little shake. ‘Thankfully, Flora did not. But it won’t be enough to dissuade him. He wants my money and won’t give up on me, especially with Miss Gregory’s ambitious sister orchestrating matters.’
‘Well, he cannot have your fortune, and there’s an end to it.’ Grandmamma paused. ‘You say that Miss Latimer has asked for the earl’s help?’
‘Yes. He doesn’t know it all but I expect he’s guessed.’
‘You are not with child, are you?’
Louise shook her head, fresh tears threatening as she glanced down at her belly. ‘It’s too soon to know.’
‘How very worrying for you, my love. But don’t fret, even if you are increasing, we shall overcome that hurdle in good time. The question is how to protect Marianne.’
‘That is my only concern. I now have financial independence and have no intention of returning to London, but Marianne deserves to have her share of fun. I promised that she could come back to London with me if she wanted to. That was foolish. I wasn’t thinking straight at the time, but a promise made…’
‘Marianne isn’t you. She is more accustomed to country ways. Frankly, I think she is delighted to be reunited with you and will happily live wherever you decide to go. There is plenty of entertainment to be enjoyed here in the country, and far less formality. She will not be deprived. Anyway, I don’t believe this horrible man will make good on his threats. He’s just using your sister to try and sway you. If he speaks out it won’t show him in a very gentlemanly light.’
‘He will probably say that I lured him in.’
Grandmamma waved the suggestion aside. ‘No one will believe that a well-bred girl did any such thing. And even if you did mistakenly encourage his expectations, he is supposed to be a gentleman, and gentlemen do not compromise innocent girls without at least having entered into a binding commitment. You did not agree to any such thing. Besides, from what you tell me he is already considered a scoundrel in many quarters. If necessary, I dare say the earl will ensure that Cleethorp’s brother, the marquess, is fully appraised of what his youngest sibling attempted to achieve by such underhand tactics. It would do to Cleethorp family’s reputation precisely what he is attempting to do to ours, and the marquess will have something to say about that, I am absolutely sure.’
‘Oh, Grandmamma, you are so wise! I have worried away at this problem for days and the possibility of turning the tables on him never once occurred to me.’ Louise rested her head on the old lady’s shoulder. ‘I wish you had always been there. I wish I had insisted—’
‘That was never an option, my love.’
