Page 31 of The Duke's Scandal
“It is good to see you both again,” he said, sitting down in a seat that was directly opposite Lady Isobella. “These were not the circumstances I wanted to call upon you, Lady Isobella, but I am grateful to be here nonetheless.”
A dusting of pink came into her cheeks, but she did not look away from him. “It is good that you have come, Your Grace. We have some news for you.”
His eyebrows lifted. “So soon?”
“We had an… interesting conversation with Lady Clara yesterday afternoon,” Lady Amelia told him, as the door opened and the tea tray was brought in. “Lady Isobella and I went to speak with her, and Miss Trentworth went in search of Lady Sara. She was the one who supposedly confirmed that it was you who attacked Lady Clara.”
Amos swallowed hard, hating even the sound of those words being spoken aloud. “I see.”
“It was in the midst of the fashionable hour, so there were quite a number of gentlemen and ladies present,” Lady Isobella continued, rising to her feet to pour the tea. “Lady Clara was busy speaking of what had occurred, and we were able to ask some specific questions as regards what she had witnessed and endured.”
“Oh.” Amos licked his lips, nervousness capturing him. “She is quite convinced that it was I, I think.”
Lady Amelia and Lady Isobella looked at each other, only for Lady Amelia to smile. “I do not think that she was as confident once we had reached the end of our conversation. The others there with us – various gentlemen and ladies – were listening most intently also.”
Blinking quickly, Amos tried to take in what they were saying. “You – you are suggesting that there might have been a change of opinion in some of those present?”
“That is precisely what I am saying,” Lady Isobella said, setting down a teacup in front of him and then smiling down into his eyes, making his heart leap. “Lady Clara could not make sense of what she said, I think, once we questioned her. How could it have been dark and yet she saw your face clearly?”
Unable to help himself, Amos reached out and caught her hand. “How can I thank you?”
Lady Isobella’s eyes widened, only for her to smile and then gently tug her hand away. “We have not solved anything yet, Your Grace.”
“You have sown doubt! That is enough.”
“It may not be,” Lady Amelia replied, reaching for herteacup. “Recall, there are rumors about your poverty and the like. There may well be someone eager to continue with these rumors, even if Lady Clara’s words are proven to be a little less than trustworthy.”
His heart settled in his chest, no longer flooded with hope. “I see.”
“But it is enough to start with,” Lady Isobella added, perhaps seeing his sudden rise and then fall of hope and relief. “Strangely enough, there was another lady there who seemed quite determined to prove Lady Clara correct. A Lady Victoria? You mentioned her, I think.”
“Yes, I did.” A little concerned, Amos frowned. “You mean to say that she was defending Lady Clara? That she wished for you all to trust her words without hesitation?”
“Yes, precisely.” Lady Isobella shrugged. “It seemed a little strange to me, for she was the one you had been speaking with, was she not? She and Lady Deborah. She saw you stepping away from them and going a little further into the gardens.”
Amos nodded. “Yes, that is so. She heard the noise, I am sure, for she wanted me to make certain all was well. It was Lady Deborah who seemed to think nothing of it.”
“We did question her on that,” Lady Amelia said, setting her teacup down. “She could not deny it, especially when Isobella said that someone else had been able to verify that this was what had taken place.”
Lady Isobella laughed softly. “I did not say who it was, of course. But it was enough for Lady Victoria to hesitate and that, in turn, led Lady Clara to admit that she might have made a mistake in identifying you – though she was loathe to say more than that.”
Taking in a breath, Amos looked down at the table in front of him, taking his gaze from Lady Isobella so he wouldnot become distracted. He was a little overawed by how much she and the other bluestockings had managed to achieve thus far for him, but at the same time, confused as to why Lady Victoria had been so vehement in her defense of Lady Clara.
“I cannot understand why Lady Victoria would be so determined,” he said, looking down at the table still as his thoughts continued to come quickly, one after the other. “There must be a reason for it.”
“I wondered how much you knew of her,” Lady Isobella asked, as Amos lifted his head to look back at her. “Is she related in some way to Lady Clara?”
Amos frowned. “I do not know. It has never been mentioned, but I do not know the lady well.” His eyebrows lifted. “I could ask Lord Galbraith. He is acquainted with Lord Welton – as am I, of course, but the gentleman might not wish to speak with me.” Wincing, he managed a wry smile. “Lord Welton was not particularly favorable towards me the last time we conversed. I cannot imagine he will be any more so now!”
Lady Amelia frowned. “What does Lord Welton have to do with this?”
“He is a cousin of Lady Victoria.”
“Oh.” Lady Isobella looked to Lady Amelia, who gave a small shake of her head. “I did not know that. Well, if Lord Galbraith were able to find out if there is a connection, that would be helpful.”
Amos hesitated, a question on his lips. “And… if there is not?”
Lady Isobella took a sip of her tea before she answered, a line drawing itself between her eyebrows. “Then we would have to consider what other reason there might be for her determination to prove Lady Clara correct.”
