A Love Unbroken - Rose Pearson Page 0,62
head in his hands and his elbows on his knees, as though he wanted to hide himself away before them all. Selina let out her breath slowly, feeling a great sense of relief rush through her. All they required now was Lord Telford’s presence and, thereafter, this matter would come to a swift and decisive end.
Chapter Fourteen
“Lord Barrington.”
Charles, who had, before returning to the ballroom himself, made certain that Lady Selina had been brought to the green room by Lord Havers, turned his head to look directly into the eyes of Lord Telford.
“I have nothing to say to you, Telford,” he stated, before making to leave. “Good evening.”
The gentleman reached to grasp Charles’ arm, and it was all Charles could do not to physically push him away.
“I would not walk away from me, Lord Barrington, if I were you” Lord Telford said, with a grim smile. “Not when Lady Selina is, at present, in much the same situation as your sister recently was.”
Charles felt his stomach twist, a sense of victory already rising up within him as he forced a dark frown to furrow his forehead.
“What do you mean, Telford?”
Lord Telford chuckled.
“You have not heard of the bet, then?” he said, airily. “Lord Donaldson, it seems, has been slighted by Lady Selina and, as such, has begged for someone to slight her in much the same way – a way guaranteed to see her rejected by much of society.” He shrugged one shoulder. “It seemed the perfect opportunity to not only win the bet, but also to make certain that you increased your payment to us significantly.”
Setting his jaw, Charles glared at the man.
“And why should I do such a thing?”
“Come now!” Lord Telford laughed, folding his arms across his chest. “You are not going to deny that you care for Lady Selina, I hope?” His laugh came again and Charles’ gritted his teeth, truly irritated by the man’s demeanor. “I know that you will do whatever you can to save her reputation. And, in which case, I must ask you to join me at this very moment in order to rescue her from Lord Havers.”
“I swear, Telford, if you have placed one finger upon her, then –”
“I have no time for your threats,” Lord Telford replied, with a weary look. “Do hurry up, Barrington. I am sure that she is eagerly waiting for you.”
Charles glanced all around him and then followed the gentleman. Lord Donaldson, he hoped, had already been informed by Lord Telford that he had managed to succeed and that, therefore, Lord Donaldson himself would be present in the room. Recalling just in time that he was not meant to know where Lord Telford was leading him, Charles hung back rather than striding forward, glaring at the gentleman as he held back a door for him.
“Just to your left, Lord Barrington,” Lord Telford said, with a half bow as though he were a servant. “There you will find –”
“Lead on, Lord Telford,” Charles interrupted, darkly. “If you believe that I am about to step inside whilst you remain out here, you are sorely mistaken. There are things I wish to say to both yourself and to Lord Havers, for I can assure you that I have no intention of paying anything more.”
This seemed to shock Lord Telford somewhat, for the smile slipped from his face and he hesitated where he stood. And then, after a moment, he shrugged and stepped forward.
“Very well,” he said, airily. “If you believe that Lady Selina is not present, then you are quite wrong, Lord Barrington.”
He pushed the door open and stepped inside, with Charles following quickly so that the gentleman could not escape.
One step into the room, Lord Telford came to a dead stop, his hand still on the door handle. Charles, unwilling to wait for fear that Lord Telford would turn and attempt to flee, pushed the gentleman bodily into the room, before pushing the door shut and standing against it so that no-one could escape. With great satisfaction, he looked about the room and took in the scene before him. Lord Havers, hunched on a chair, his head in his hands, Lord Donaldson was standing by Lord Banfield, with both Lady Hayward and his mother sitting quietly together just behind him. The Duke of Landon was on his feet, his face red with anger and his hands clenched into fists. Lady Selina was standing by the Duke’s side, with a small smile on her face as she met Charles’