“What has happened?” he asked, silently vowing to crush whoever had dared.
His mother gently set a newssheet atop the walnut table in the center of the drawing room.
“There is a dreadful scandal about town,” Amelia said tearily.
“At eight in the morning?”
She shot him a wrathful look. “It does not matter if you are Carlyle! No one respectable will have us in their drawing rooms after this!”
Swallowing his sigh, he walked over to the table and took up the newssheet, snapping it open.
The Duke of C is a jaded libertine, and not all society believes him to be. A rake of the first order, a man scandalous in his musings and deeds hides amongst society, a dangerous wolf…a jackal in sheep’s clothing. This author has it on the first most authority he is not to be trusted, he is a man with little honor and no regard for the innocent and shamelessly seduced a fine, wonderful girl at a particular garden party a few weeks ago and then refused to marry her.
He is a wicked, unprincipled libertine…a dangerous wretch. All young ladies of virtue should steer clear! And one any mother of delicate and refined sensibilities would protect their daughter from! Not a duke of saints, I fear. But one of wicked proclivities and a man that must not be trusted.
Sincerely,
Lady W
.
Christopher read the article…if it could be called such, three times before he slowly lowered the paper. Pippa had submitted this to her editor, and the foolish man printed it. In Christopher’s heart there was a heavy press, and not just because of the terrible scrutiny this piece of scurrilous gossip would bring to his reputation, though that was decidedly unpleasant.
A man that must not be trusted.
How could he marry a woman who believed these things of him? Who had written these things about him? He could feel the passionate disdain in each word, and they struck forcibly at his heart like bullets. Had he foolishly trusted the wrong woman? Had it all been a ploy?
He tried to recall the wild, loving moments of several hours before, but the soft, sweet lust could not be remembered, only the cold mistrust with which she had still stared at him. The intensity at which he had fallen in love with her—quick, passionate, and all-consuming— dictated that the pain rending through him was just as fierce and encompassing.
“Oh, Christopher,” Selina murmured.
She had always been the sibling to understand his emotional moods best. And from the worry and pain in her voice, she sensed the turmoil churning beneath the calm façade he presented.
“Christopher,” his mother said with a notable quiver in her tone. “Who is this innocent person this preposterous lady claimed you seduced and abandoned? That is a serious accusation against your character and reputation.”
A thought seemed to occur to her; she added, “This Lady W would not have dared print something so inflammatory and libelous unless…unless there was some truth to it?”
He flinched, a different kind of pain worming through him. Of course, that is what society would perceive. It must be true. It was printed in a damn scandal rag, but it would be true, for who would dare print such falsehood. Who would dare scandalize the duke of C falsely? His honor had been attacked, but for his mother to question it?
He dropped the newssheet uncaring it fell to the ground. “If you will excuse me, I have a meeting to attend.”
His mother’s gasp of shock did not move him, nor would he defend himself against these lies, not to his family. That thought was unbearable. He spun and walked away.
"I know it is not true," Selina said softly, arresting his movements. "Forgive mamma, she spoke from a place of pain and worry. We know of your honor and your true character, and we stand by you."
He nodded and continued. Miss Pippa Cavanaugh had to be confronted. What he would say he hardly knew. What he would do he could not imagine. But he needed to peer into her eyes and asked if these were her words.
If yes…then he would have nothing
to say, for then he would never have possessed even a small bit of her heart and affections.
Chapter 15
“The Duke of Carlyle," Thompson announced, his weather-beaten faced creased in a smile. It seemed the entire household was aware of her expectations.
Pippa smoothed her peach muslin dress down her waist, despite there were no wrinkles. He had shown. She hadn't really believed it, and she felt such awful regret she had doubted him. The duke was about to make an offer for her.
Good heavens, this is happening! She lowered dazedly into the sofa a laugh rippling from her. Her, Pippa Cavanaugh, a duchess to a man she had fallen in love with. How remarkable, when only a few months ago no one in society had thought her acceptable.