Page 62 of A Sense of Injustice
‘Correct. And, needless to say for the sake of Miss Pearson’s reputation, his involvement with her will have to remain absolutely secret.’
‘Of course. Goes without saying.’
‘So, the question remains, what shall you do about your niece? Frankly, I am not pleased with the thought of her remaining in Swindon. She won’t stay chastened for long, of that you can be assured, and will soon set her sights on another rich target. However, she is your problem, I’m pleased to say, not mine. She will never be invited to Beranger Court, although you will always be made welcome.’
‘Thank you.’ Exton inclined his head. ‘I am relieved to hear you say that you don’t blame me for this sorry state of affairs. I am guilty only of being old and gullible and believing what my niece told me.’
‘The possibility of your involvement did not once cross my mind. Your ethics are beyond reproach, which is why I realise this business will cause you a great deal of anguish.’
‘Felicity will not be allowed to remain here,’ Exton said with a heavy sigh. ‘I will confront her when she returns home and she will be gone on the morning train. Lydia will have to stay, I suppose. I don’t imagine she knows what her sister has been doing—and anyway, when she sees how severely I deal with Felicity’s misbehaviour it might make Lydia look to her own conduct.’ Exton rolled his eyes wearily. ‘One can but hope. I don’t suppose I shall see the return of my loan to Felicity, but I shall look upon it as a small price to pay if it absolves me of my duty towards her.’
‘Well then, we are agreed.’ Luke stood. ‘I shall leave you to have the matter out with Mrs Brigstock and—’
‘Uncle, do we have visitors?’ The door flew open and a very pretty woman whom Luke assumed to be Mrs Brigstock put her head around it. Luke could see Miss Gregory’s familiar features at her shoulder. ‘I saw a strange horse in the…oh, excuse me.’ She bobbed a curtsey and smiled demurely. It was evident that she knew who Luke was and awaited an introduction. It couldn’t be avoided and Luke gave Exton a curt nod, permission to go through the motions.
‘Lord Swindon, may I make my niece, Mrs Brigstock, known to you? You are already acquainted with Miss Gregory.’
Luke gave a curt nod in response to both girls’ curtsies but refrained from making any comment.
‘Do you wish to leave, my lord?’
Exton’s meaning was obvious. Luke desperately did want to quit the room, but could see that his old friend needed his initial support in order to confront Mrs Brigstock with what he knew. Exton had mentored Luke through the minefield of local law and order responsibilities when he inherited an earldom he wasn’t ready to take on. It was time to repay the favour.
‘Not if you would prefer for me to stay.’
‘Thank you.’ Exton let out a long breath. ‘Lydia, go to your room and remain there until I send for you.’
‘But, Uncle—’
‘Go!’
Miss Gregory studied the steely set to her uncle’s features and fled from the room.
‘Sit down, Felicity.’
‘Of course, Uncle.’ She offered him a sunny smile, virtually ignoring Luke as she took a chair. Like a seasoned soldier smelling a forthcoming battle, she focused all her attention upon Exton. ‘Are you quite well? You look terribly pale. Is there something I can fetch you for your comfort?’
‘You are the cause of my discomfort, Felicity.’
‘Me?’ She gave a convincing display of ignorance, but Luke noticed a tic working beneath her eye and watched her throat bob as she swallowed repeatedly. ‘Whatever have I done, and why does it involve the earl? Tell me at once and I shall put it right. The last thing I wish is to cause you any distress when you have been so kind to me.’
Luke could see that Exton was having trouble formulating a sentence; not because he doubted his niece’s complicity in a wicked murder conspiracy andplans to force a young woman into an unsuitable marriage, but because he was filled with shame on her behalf. The most honourable of men, Luke knew it would take a great deal of time for his old mentor to recover from this disgrace. The least he could do was to take control.
‘Cleethorp is on his way to London,’ Luke said curtly, watching her reaction closely.
‘To whom do you refer, my lord?’ she asked with a convincing display of ignorance.
‘Do not play games with the earl!’ Exton roared. ‘We are aware of your association with the man, and what the two of you did to bring about your husband’s death.’
‘Me?’ She widened her eyes as her glanced flitted between the two men. ‘My husband died in a terrible accident.’
‘We know the truth,’ Luke said with exaggerated patience. ‘About Brigstock and your shameful attempts to manipulate Louise Pearson.’ Felicity’s face paled but she continued to portray the epitome of innocence. ‘I don’t know how you imagined you would get away with following the poor girl here and continuing with your machinations beneath my nose. We are not complete idiots, and we take care of our own. Cleethorp is gone and will not return. He wants nothing more to do with you.’
‘Uncle, what is this mockery?’ She sat a little straighter. ‘You can’t possibly allow his lordship to make unsubstantiated allegations against a member of your own family. You are our patriarch and we look to you for protection and guidance.’
‘Silence!’ Exton bellowed. ‘You may speak when I give you leave and not before.’
Felicity laced her fingers in her lap and subsided into an uneasy silence, her eyes welling with tears. Tears of self-pity rather than remorse, Luke knew, feeling not one iota of pity for a situation that she had brought upon herself.
