Wed in Disgrace (Convenient Arrangements #3) - Rose Pearson Page 0,56
he breathed, only for Miss Mullins to put a hand on his arm.
“A gentleman was within,” she whispered, looking up at him, her eyes filling with tears. “But that is Lady Newfield’s carriage, certainly.”
Timothy’s breath caught. “A gentleman?”
“The moment he saw that there were two of us present here, he flung himself from the carriage and ran out to the street,” Miss Jamieson said, her face looking all the more pale in the moonlight. “I am sure that, had Miss Mullins been alone, he would have caught her tightly and refused to let her go.”
“Thus ruining my reputation and bringing an end to our engagement,” Miss Mullins finished, her voice tremulous. “You would have refused to have wed me.”
He shook his head. “I would have understood.”
“Perhaps those who set about this plan did not think you would have such an intention,” Miss Jamieson suggested, looking sympathetically at Miss Mullins. “No doubt someone would have been prepared to come and see the situation, bringing news of Miss Mullins’ shame to everyone.”
Closing his eyes, Timothy battled the anger that began to bubble up within him, feeling furious at what had been attempted against his betrothed. “I did have to pass a few other guests returning to the ballroom,” he said, his words forced out from between gritted teeth. “Any one of them could have been involved and would have departed almost the moment they saw you both approaching.”
“I am very grateful to you, Miss Jamieson,” Miss Mullins murmured, as Miss Jamieson reached out and squeezed her hand. “That could have been a very bad situation, indeed.”
His anger now a little more controlled, Timothy took in a long breath. “I spoke to a footman. He stated that he saw an older lady departing the house with another lady and a gentleman.” Looking all about him, he saw no sign of either Lady Newfield or the other two.
Miss Jamieson huffed out a breath, her hands planted on her hips. “There is something gravely wrong, is there not, Lord Coventry?” She looked from one of them to the next, a small frown on her forehead. “I must know all. Please.”
“I think,” Timothy began, slowly, seeing how Miss Mullins trembled slightly, “that perhaps Miss Mullins suspects that Lord Chesterton—perhaps with the help of his sister—are still, for whatever reason, attempting to have me thrown from society.”
Miss Mullins nodded and, before he could even offer her his support, she leaned into him. “I am sure that it is the case,” she said, looking up at him as he slid his arm about her waist. “Lady Fenella is acquainted with Lady Parrington. Indeed, we saw her out walking with her one afternoon, Miss Jamieson, did we not?”
Miss Jamieson nodded, her brow still lowered. “Indeed, although she appeared to be very docile. Lady Parrington clearly wanted to have as much of our attention as she could.”
“Which she got without hesitation, for Lady Fenella moved a little further away from us, did she not?” Miss Mullins asked as Miss Jamieson nodded. “Little doubt then that Lady Parrington could do with the lady as she wished. Mayhap her brother, Lord Chesterton, was eager to set up a particular trap for you, Lord Coventry.” Her eyes were troubled as she spoke aloud, trying to understand what had occurred. “Lady Parrington easily manipulated Lady Fenella. In turn, she then encouraged Lady Fenella to pay attention to Lord Robertson, knowing him to be the sort of gentleman who needs very little encouragement in such matters.”
“Then used her as bait for Lord Robertson on the night of the great assembly,” Timothy murmured as Miss Mullins looked up at him, nodding. “With Lord Chesterton ready to strike him the moment he came in. I would suspect that Lord Chesterton was the one who asked the footman to send word to me to attend Lord Holland in the blue room.”
Drawing in a long, shaky breath, Miss Mullins closed her eyes and nodded. “Lord Chesterton used his sister, and in turn, she used Lady Fenella. All to bring you lower, Lord Coventry, so that you could never again be a part of London society.” Her words seemed to hang in the air, making them all the more ominous.
“What I do not understand,” Miss Jamieson began, looking thoroughly confused, “is why Lord Chesterton would do such a thing. Did you ever discover the truth behind his claim that you had beaten him in such a manner?”
Timothy had to shake his head. “I have not.”
“And I am all the more