Chapter 3
Melissa struggled to catch her breath as she was ushered into an empty room along with Daniel and the others. The tiny room was furnished with a desk and a few chairs, presumably used by the housekeeper or some other member of staff.
Shutting the door behind them all, Daphne looked furious as she rounded on them both.
“What on God’s green earth happened between the two of you this evening?
” Her eyes shot from her daughter’s chest, which was still covered by the coat, to Daniel’s coatless body.
“I thought the two of you couldn’t stand each other.
And now this? And you, Melissa? The daughter of a viscount seen in such a state of undress.
How could you let something like this happen? ”
“My thoughts, exactly.” Darragh glared at Daniel as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I dinnae ken how this could have happened?” He narrowed his eyes.
“I think we all need to take a deep breath,” Avery said with her hand raised to her forehead as if she were trying her best to keep an awful headache at bay. “I’m sure there’s a more than reasonable explanation for all of this.”
“You’re the daughter of a viscount, for pity’s sake!” Daphne snapped as Melissa opened her mouth to speak. “After everything that this family has been through in the past two years, how could you do this to us now?” she asked angrily.
To Melissa’s great surprise, it was Daniel who once again came to her aid.
“I dinnae think that pointing fingers an’ passing blame will be helpful to anyone at present, Lady Montgomery” he began. “The situation isnae as it seems.”
Melissa cringed, bracing herself for the shame that would come over her when Daniel told them the truth.
“The truth is that Melissa tripped an’ tore her dress. I was on me way to leave when I lent her me coat. It’s as simple as that,” he said without batting so much as an eye.
Her head snapped up in surprise when Daniel told a bald-faced lie to keep his word. “Naething untoward happened between us, despite how things may look.”
“As if I would believe a story like that!” Darragh finally snapped, advancing on his friend with his fists balled at his sides. “I should have kent that it was too good to be true that the famous rake wouldnae lay a hand on the sister of me wife!”
Daniel stood his ground, taking the accusations in his stride without flinching so much as a muscle. “Believe what ye will,” he said coolly as Darragh gripped his shirt and brought them nose to nose.
“Stop!” Melissa finally spoke up as she watched her brother-in-law nearly assault the man who had saved her life. “It wasn’t Daniel who compromised me!”
Everyone turned toward her in shock as Daniel gave her a look that said he’d keep her secret even if Darragh beat him to a pulp.
Releasing a shaky breath, she sank into a nearby chair and began to explain.
“I had gone outside for a breath of fresh air when a man attempted to take me against my will.” She swallowed as she struggled to get the words out.
“I tried to scream, but it was Daniel who came to my aid when nobody else did.”
Daphne placed a hand on her chest, stumbling back against the wall in shock as Avery covered her mouth with her hands.
Darragh looked down at his friend before releasing his collar and letting him go.
“If it wasn’t for Daniel,” Melissa continued, giving Daniel an apologetic look. “I would’ve been violated. He came just at the right time.”
Her mother began to wail as she sank to the ground. “My poor baby!” she cried in anger and regret, tears flowing from her eyes.
It was Avery who rushed forward, lifting her mother by the arms.
“Did ye get a look at the man?” Darragh demanded angrily as he came to Melissa’s side, towering above her in a protective manner. “What was his name?”
“Ethan McGregor,” Melissa answered as calmly as she could, trying her best to keep her hands from shaking, knowing all too well that Darragh would go on an angry rampage.
Darragh frowned as Avery caught her mother before she fell to the floor once again.
“Oh my God,” Daphne let out with a shaky breath. “It’s all my fault.”
“What do ye mean?” Darragh asked.
“It was I who found the young gentleman lingering by the ale,” she confessed.
“I took him to Melissa and insisted that they speak.” All the blood drained from her face as she looked at her youngest daughter.
“I am so sorry, Melissa, I never meant for any of this to happen. I only ever wanted you to marry and be happy like your sister is now.”
“It’s not your fault, Mama,” Avery quickly tried to reassure her mother as she guided her over to another chair, helping her to take a seat.
“She’s right, Mama,” Melissa said gently. “Nobody is at fault for the actions of another.”
“That’s nae true,” Darragh snapped again, making everyone look at him in surprise. “This is all that bastard’s fault!” He rounded on his friend again, but with no anger directed toward him this time. “Do ye ken the name, Ethan McGregor?”
“I cannae say that I do,” Daniel replied. “I didnae recognize the scoundrel, I thought that perhaps he was someone that ye had invited.”
Darragh turned toward his wife with a raised eyebrow.
“I don’t think he was on any of the guest lists.” Avery shook her head with a wide-eyed expression. “I don’t recall any McGregor.”
“The bastard could have wandered in under a false name,” Daniel suggested.
Swearing under his breath, Darragh turned toward Melissa. “Dinnae fuss, lass, Daniel an’ I will set out at once in search of the coward.” He balled his fists. “We’ll have his head ‘afore the sun comes up in the morning. I promise ye that,” he added more darkly.
“No!” Melissa began to panic again. “I don’t want to make any more fuss about this than what has already been seen.”
“Melissa is right,” Daphne said after taking a shaky breath. “There is no use in going after the man now. The damage has already been done. Killing him won’t solve anything, not now that everyone had seen Melissa and Daniel in a state of undress.”
“Darragh,” Avery said as she came to her husband’s side, gently placing her hand on his arm.
“We need to focus on what we will say to all of the guests now. An announcement will have to be made.” She turned her head and gave her sister an apologetic look before looking at Daniel.
“We have to clear Daniel’s name. Otherwise, everyone will think that he compromised my sister. ”
Melissa felt a nauseating pang in the pit of her stomach as she realized what her sister was saying. The truth would have to be told if Daniel’s reputation was to be spared.
“That would be the lesser of two evils,” Daphne said when she finally regained her composure.
“Either way, we have a scandal on our hands. If we say nothing, Daniel will be shamed, and Melissa will be ruined for any future suitors.” Turning her head to look at her youngest daughter, she said the words Melissa had been dreading all along.
“Or Melissa will have to take the fall and be ruined for the sake of Daniel’s reputation. ”
Melissa bent her head and struggled not to cry as her mother laid out a carefully thought-out plan of how they would tell the truth about the assault. Saving Daniel’s reputation while giving her daughter over to the wolves, where in time she would make an unsuitable marriage at best.
Daniel stood by with his arms folded across his chest as he listened to the old woman talk. There was something in the way Melissa was breathing harshly, evident that she was trying not to cry, that made him want to come to her aid once again.
Ye dinnae even like the lass!
His thoughts warred inside him as he began to develop a plan of his own.
“I will have to arrange a marriage of convenience instead of one that is based on love,” Daphne continued with a sigh that seemed to take up all of the oxygen in the room. “But at least we will have saved one person.”
“Mama, there has to be another way.” Avery came to her sister’s side, kneeling down and taking her hands in her own. “Surely we can think of something that will be favorable to both of them?” She looked around the room with hope in her eyes.
“I cannae think of anything meself,” Darragh said in a pained voice, shrugging his shoulders in defeat.
Avery hung her head as her sister looked up with tears in her eyes. Her cheeks were blotchy and pink from crying.
Daniel gritted his teeth as he looked at Melissa’s face, fighting the battle that was slowly raging inside his mind.
He had always seen Melissa as this unstoppable young woman with a fierce hunger for breaking the rules.
A character trait that he’d come to admire and loathe in equal amounts.
Yet, her watery eyes bothered him far more than he was willing to admit.
“I guess I will have to face the music, then,” Melissa mumbled as she stood, pulling Daniel’s coat over her shoulders.
“If you don’t mind, Mama, I will retire to my room while the rest of you make the announcement of what happened to the guests.
” She walked over to the door and placed her hand on the handle.
Daniel’s jaw clenched.
Dinnae do it, ye fool!
“You can begin the arrangements for looking for my future husband in the morning,” she added in a dejected tone.
“Wait,” Daniel said as her hand turned the knob.
Everyone turned to look at him with puzzled expressions.
“There is another solution that will save both Melissa’s reputation an’ me own.” He silently swore at himself as he spoke against his better judgment.
“Go on?” Daphne encouraged him, taking a seat once again.
“I will marry Melissa,” he stated bluntly, allowing the consequences of his actions to take hold.