Page 27 of Long Live the Baron
What did that mean?
If the girl had been trying to trap him into a marriage, why would she attempt to have Harriet step forward as a witness to his innocence?
The headache came rushing back, and Brendan raised a hand to rub his temple. It never paid off for him to be ill-tempered, but this blasted week had him on edge. Now he had accused a selfless young lady of nefarious intentions, and the embarrassment slammed hard like a blow to his solar plexus. Dragging in a ragged breath, Brendan sought a seat. He dropped into a spindly gilded chair with a loud creak.
“Miss Abbott attempted to have you step forward as an alibi?”
“Miss Abbott! That was her name! Hardly a miss, more of a child muslined up to her chin. I would not leave the house if I were dressed in that peagoose concoction. Quite puritanical, I must say!”
The widow’s laughing chatter grated on his nerves, and he raised his fingers to his temple once more.
“How did you reply to her request?”
Harriet giggled again. “I put her in her place, I will have you know. I told her that if she accused me, I would deny it. She even had the gall to threaten me with your coachman as corroboration, but I pointed out that the only fact that he could attest to was that he had delivered you to her home across the street. I did not state it, but it was clear she would compromise her own reputation if she attempted such a tactic with me.”
Brendan bit back a groan. Apparently, the mystery of Miss Abbott’s decision was revealed. She had reached the conclusion that the only method of assisting him was to pretend he had spent the night with her, rather than with Harriet. Instead of appreciating her integrity in preserving his freedom, perhaps even his very life, he had accused her of deplorable subterfuge.
He had not thought this week could get any worse, but discovering his own perfidy when he had always prided himself on treating people fairly?—
“Were you not concerned for me, Harriet? Would you have allowed me to hang?”
The widow had been so self-absorbed, she had barely noticed his reaction, but the question had her leaping to her feet. Rushing over, she grabbed him by both hands. “Of course not, Brendan! I knew you would find a solution. You are an intelligent man with powerful connections.”
So, yes. The widow would have carried on with her meaningless pursuits while I was tried and hung.
Brendan recalled how he had questioned his life choices when he had found the baron’s body. Since then, he had convinced himself that Harriet cared for him more than he had postulated in the distress of that moment. That she had simply been unaware of his predicament.
The truth was now revealed, and he had to admit that the one person who had risked everything to save him was a young girl who barely knew him. Miss Abbott was a warrior. A woman of integrity. Willing to act on behalf of a veritable stranger. Lord Moreland’s decision to allow his daughter to exert her will regarding her future now made perfect sense.
And I am an idiot. A spoilt, narcissistic idiot. The sort of man who finds the soulless Harriet alluring.
He must repair the damage he had done to Miss Abbott’s pride. But how?
* * *
Lily had been lyingon her bed, staring at the ceiling for several minutes. Her prideful storming from the drawing room had lasted until she had entered her bedroom, at which point she had hoisted herself onto the bed and collapsed in a state of numbness to consider her future.
A knock at the door barely registered. “Go away!”
She could not bear any more of Mama’s remonstrations. She knew it came from a place of love, that Mama was distraught by Lily’s change of circumstances, but she could not bear it at this moment. Her certainty that Mr. Ridley would come up to scratch and rescue her from scandal had come to naught, and she had no energy left to deal with her mother’s stricken regrets.
The handle clicked open and a red-blonde head peeked around the door. “I really would rather come in.”
“Sophia!” Lily sat up in a rush, bursting into tears to see her best friend.
Her cousin rushed over, joining her on the bed and pulling her into an embrace. “Shh, Lily. Everything will work out.”
“You heard?”
“Of course! I would have come sooner, but Miles had colic and I was up with him and the nurse all night.”
“I am so happy to see you! Mr. Ridley was here, but he said such awful things and I sent him away!”
Sophia pulled her closer. “Your mother informed me. Apparently, I missed the performance by a few minutes.”
“How would Mama know what happened? Mr. Ridley only just left.”
“I am sure she was listening at the door. She seemed quite affronted with the gentleman, complaining about his ingratitude.”
