Wed in Disgrace (Convenient Arrangements #3) - Rose Pearson Page 0,62

attacked by my sister,” Lord Chesterton said, “the night I told her that I had firmly decided that the marriage would not occur, Margaret demanded that I permit her to marry Lord Coventry.” His eyes met Timothy’s. “She did not care for you. She knew of your wealth. It was—and is—significant.” Shaking his head, he dropped his gaze to the table again. “But still, I refused. There was nothing she could do.”

“And yet you chose to blame Lord Coventry for your attack?”

“No,” Lord Chesterton answered quickly, lifting his head. “No, indeed not.” Rubbing one hand over his face, he closed his eyes tightly. “The following day, my sister wrote to Lord Coventry but received no reply.”

Timothy twisted his lips. “I removed myself from the lady as quickly as I could. I returned the letter. I could not bear it, I told myself.”

“That angered Margaret greatly,” Lord Chesterton said, throwing a hand towards his sister, who had still not said a word, her lips pressed tightly together, her face white and drawn. “She went out that evening, although I remained at home. When she returned, it was as though the sister I had known was no longer.” Lord Chesterton’s voice grew hoarse as though he was reliving a terrible ordeal. “She asked me to join her for a short conversation before retiring to bed. What she said was something I shall never forget.”

Lady Parrington shifted in her chair. “Be careful, brother,” she hissed, but Lord Chesterton ignored her entirely.

“She told me that she had discovered the...acquaintance I had with Lady Foderingham,” Lord Chesterton continued, his voice so quiet now that Timothy had to strain to hear him. “Lord Foderingham is one of my dearest friends. If the beau monde came to know of this, then I knew what would occur.”

In an instant, everything became clear. Letting out a long breath, Timothy turned his eyes to Lady Parrington, the lady he had once thought himself in love with. “You stated that unless your brother did as you asked, you would reveal the truth to everyone.”

Lady Parrington’s lip curled. “You turned your back on me,” she spat, one hand clenched as she crashed it down onto the table. “You rejected me. You did not fight for what might have been!”

“And so you sought to punish me by forcing your brother to blame your vicious attack on me,” Timothy said, realizing now that he had not known Lady Parrington at all. “Upon returning to society, you despised me all the more, for not everyone in London believed what your brother had said.”

Lord Parrington spoke up, his eyes like ice as they fastened onto Lady Parrington. “She used us as pawns,” he said, his voice rasping. “The debts I had were used against me. Lady Fenella was too shy and retiring to do anything but obey. Even Lord Robertson...” He shook his head, looking up at Timothy. “And when you escaped from her attempts, Lord Coventry, when she heard that you were engaged and to be happily wed, she then turned her attention on your betrothed.”

“I did not want to do as she demanded,” Lord Chesterton said, his voice humble as though he were begging Timothy for forgiveness. “But I had no choice.”

Closing his eyes tightly, Timothy let air fill his lungs as he tried to clear his thoughts. But they did not, scrambling all around his mind as he fought to gain control.

“You did have a choice, Lord Chesterton,” he heard Miss Mullins say, keeping his eyes closed and allowing the quietness of her voice to calm him. “But you chose to turn your back upon your friend and force what was your shame upon him instead.”

Lord Chesterton made a choking noise, and Timothy opened his eyes, feeling his heart twist in his chest. Everything had become clear, and yet none of it brought any satisfaction. Instead, he felt only pain and regret, looking first at Lady Parrington and then at Lord Chesterton. It was all a dark, distorted mess.

“I will not say what you are to do next, Chesterton,” he found himself saying, walking closer so that he was standing next to Miss Mullins. “For I find myself quite contented. I am betrothed to the most wonderful of ladies and intend to spend my days making certain that she has nothing but joy and love surrounding her. We will not often be in London, and I give no consideration to what the beau monde now thinks of me.” Reaching down, he set one