Chapter 24
Annie stumbled back away from Luke, colliding with a desk behind her as she turned her eyes on who had spoken. Lord Shrewsbury was standing at the front of a small group of guests, each face more amazed than the last. At the back of the group was Peggy, whose hands instantly covered her mouth in shock.
Annie felt her face blush bright red as she stared back at the group. There was nothing she could say or do to hide this moment, nothing she could do to remedy it. Her mother’s worst fear had been realised.
I have been caught kissing a rake!
“Luke,” Lord Shrewsbury spoke slowly. “Do you wish to explain this?” Luke said nothing. Like Annie, he must have known there was nothing to say or do that could repair what had just happened. It was as if a glass vase had smashed between them, shattering to pieces. That vase was Annie’s reputation, now completely ruined.
“I see the rake has made another conquest.” A gentleman behind Lord Shrewsbury whispered the words, prompting a lady at his side to snigger. Those words were loud enough for many to hear, earning glares from Lord Shrewsbury, Luke, and Annie.
“I will hear no more whispers,” Lord Shrewsbury said firmly, making the gentleman look ashamed and step back.
Before any more could be said, Peggy ran forward. She stepped past the other guests and grabbed Annie’s hand. As Peggy took it, Annie could feel her own fingers were beginning to tremble as the truth of what had happened came into focus.
What have I done?
“We need to get you out of here,” Peggy whispered before dragging her back through the group. “Excuse us!” Peggy said boldly, making the group part.
Annie barely had time to glance back in Luke’s direction before she stepped out of the door. His face had turned as red as her own felt, and he was staring at the floor, not at her at all. It was as if he had become a new man in that moment, with his shoulders slumped and unable to lift his face.
“Everyone, out of this room,” Lord Shrewsbury issued an order. “Not you, Luke.”
Annie and Peggy did not dally long enough to hear anymore. They hurried from the room, with another gentleman hurrying behind them. Annie was so caught up in her thoughts that she did not realise at first who it was, not until he began to speak.
“If these are the people you socialise with, Peggy, no wonder you are considering the suit of a man like Mr Barton.”
“Cousin, please. This moment is not about either of us,” Peggy said sharply, sending an accusing glare in her cousin’s direction.
“We are leaving, now.” The Earl of Bedford moved ahead of them as they stepped outside. He did not allow them to return to the tea party tables, meaning Annie was forced to leave a shawl behind. They circled the building quickly, heading toward the drive where his carriage awaited them. “Inside, and I do not want to hear a word.”
The trembling that had overtaken Annie’s body grew worse as she stepped up into the carriage, helped by Peggy. Once inside, Peggy held onto her all the more, trying to offer silent comfort. Annie appreciated her friend in that moment more than she could say.
As it happened, the silence the Earl had asked for did not happen, but he was the one to break it. He hung his head forward, hiding his expression in his hands as he spoke.
“Peggy, do you realise what has happened here today?” he muttered angrily.
“It is none of our business, cousin. We are escorting a friend home. That is all.”
“Do not be so wilfully blind!” he snapped, lowering his hands. “You will be tainted by association with your friend after this.”
“I am more concerned for the fact my friend is shaking so much and that she has not yet uttered a word. Forgive me if I do not have the capacity to be selfish at this time.” Peggy’s firm retort did little to soften her cousin’s temper. He sat back in the seat and shook his head, turning a sharp glare upon Annie.
In that moment, Annie cowered back in her seat. She barely knew the Earl of Bedford, but she knew, like many of theton,he was proud and held a lot of stock in doing the proper thing.
He looks at me as if I am mud beneath his shoes.
Annie began to realise in that moment that this was the way everyone in thetonwould look at her now. She was no longer a fine lady worthy of respect. Just as Mr Knight and her mother had warned her, she would be an outcast. No better than a lady who wandered the streets at night and certainly worth no more respect.
“What will happen now?” Annie found her voice at last, though it was strained and small.
“Let us just get you home—”
“Enough, Peggy,” the Earl snapped, keeping Peggy quiet. “Your reputation is in tatters, Miss Storey. Rather like our hostess today, Lady Shrewsbury, you may be certain that this story will follow you for the rest of your life.”
I am tainted.
The truth made the tears begin to fall, even before Annie realised they were building in her eyes. Peggy embraced her tightly, and as she and her cousin continued to bicker across the carriage, Annie took no notice. She merely cried, feeling as if her heart had broken in two.