Once Upon a Temptingly Ruinous Kiss - Bree Wolf Page 0,118

of everyone’s attention. Nevertheless, here, now, there was no other way.

“He is lying, Father,” Leonora said in a steady voice, her eyes moving from Gillingham to her parents. “I admit, I did sneak out to attend the masquerade.” The crowd gasped anew, and Leonora paused to wait for the whispers to die down before continuing. She understood that it would be a futile attempt to prevent others from overhearing. “However, I did not do so in order to meet him. I went there out of curiosity alone.”

From the look upon Lord Whickerton’s face, Drake knew that he understood his daughter was speaking of the masquerade a year ago. What he also understood, judging from the sideways glances he cast at the crowd, was that his daughter was not merely speaking to him, but to the entire room. Caution rested in his gaze, and yet, he did not try to stop her.

“I found myself in a darkened hallway,” Leonora continued on, her hands clenched painfully, her fingernails no doubt digging into her palms. “There, a masked man came upon me. He seized me and pushed me against a wall…forcing his attentions on me.” She swallowed hard as the room fell deadly silent. Eyes widened, and jaws dropped. Some in shock, and some in disapproval.

Leonora turned ever so slowly, her gaze moving to Gillingham, accusation burning in her eyes. “It was him, Father. It was Lord Gillingham. He was the masked man. He was the one who attacked me.”

For a moment, Gillingham looked as though he would die from the shock of it. Clearly, he had never once expected Leonora to voice the truth so openly. Only she had, all but paralyzing him, and all possible replies seemed to remain stuck in his throat.

In contrast, Leonora’s family had no trouble voicing their outrage. The fact that it had been Gillingham who had attacked Leonora was news to most of them, and Drake could see first shock and then anger come to their faces. Leonora’s mother and sisters moved toward her, hands reaching out, offering comfort and support.

Her father, on the other hand, spun around to face Gillingham. “You attacked my daughter,” he snarled, not asking, but stating, quiet fury upon his face that Drake had never seen before. Always had Lord Whickerton appeared to him as a calm and collected, good-natured and level-headed man. Now, there was something dangerous in his gaze.

Gillingham drew back his shoulders, his lips thinning as he met Lord Whickerton’s fury. “She’s lying,” he snarled. Yet, Drake could see his show of bravado begin to crumble.

Leonora’s brother moved silently, pushed through the ranks his family had formed and came to stand at his father’s side, a very similar expression upon his face. “How dare you attack my sister?”

“I did not,” Gillingham insisted. “She invited me to.” He looked around the room, at the crowd, hoping for support. “Did she not just admit to having left her father’s house in the dead of night, alone and without a chaperone? What kind of woman does that? She’s a harlot, a disgrace, a—” Gillingham flinched and retreated a step when Leonora’s brother suddenly charged toward him. It was only his father’s hand upon his shoulder that stayed his attack, a look of utter disgust upon his face as he glared at his sister’s attacker.

Unbeknownst to most, though, the dowager countess had moved to stand behind Lord Gillingham’s right shoulder, and as he retreated backwards to evade the attack of Leonora’s brother, she silently slid her cane sideways.

When his foot caught on the old lady’s cane, Gillingham lost his footing and fell backwards.

Those assembled in the drawing room roared with laughter, and Gillingham’s face turned dark red in humiliation. He jumped back onto his feet, glaring at those around him until his eyes fell on Leonora.

Drake could see the hatred burning in his eyes. He knew what was to come, and he also knew the role he had to play in it. As much as he wanted to charge forward—as Leonora’s brother had only a moment ago—and intercept Gillingham, bring him to his knees and finish him once and for all, Drake knew that it was not his place.

Nor was it anyone else’s.

Only hers.

Only Leonora’s.

“You can do this,” he whispered quietly from behind her shoulder. “You’re strong and capable. Never forget that.”

With her hands balled at her sides, Leonora turned to look at him. Her blue eyes were wide, and Drake could see the tension in her shoulders. Yet, her jaw was