Chapter Twenty-One
A commotion downstairs had Gyles looking over to his valet who was in the process of tying his cravat. From the sound of things, whoever had decided to come for a visit was scuffling in the foyer with his butler.
“Where the bloody hell is he?” a voice yelled from below.
Gyles exchanged another look with his valet. “That will be all, Felix. I can finish up myself.”
“As you wish, my lord,” his man replied and then made a hasty retreat.
Gyles barely had time to turn around to head downstairs before his door burst open and Simon angrily strode across the room flinging himself at Gyles.
“You damn bastard,” Simon swore taking a swing but thankfully missing Gyles’s face when he jumped back.
“What the hell has gotten into you?” Gyles retaliated. He held back the guilt that perhaps he had been seen leaving Simon’s townhouse last evening.
“How could you?” Simon yelled before he took another swing at Gyles .
Gyles ducked and Simon’s aim luckily went wild again. Clearly Simon’s anger was getting the better of him. He stumbled before regaining his feet. Simon then dove at Gyles sending the two men colliding into a nearby table knocking over the contents.
“Enough, Simon,” Gyles bellowed, and Simon cursed and struggled for another minute before he went to slump into a chair near the hearth.
Gyles smoothed down his waistcoat before going to sit in the chair opposite his irate friend. “I’m barely dressed, Simon, and haven’t even been downstairs as yet. Whatever has you so upset?”
Simon looked around the floor. “I swear I brought it here with me…”
Gyles sighed. “Brought what?”
“That blasted Teatime Tattler ,” Simon replied. He patted his jacket and then reached inside for the torn page of newsprint. He handed it over to Gyles. “I trusted you with her, Wickes. How could you ruin all our plans?”
Gyles took the torn page and began reading the latest gossip this morning.
Gentle Reader:
It has come to this editor’s attention that a certain Marquis of W. was seen leaving a curtained alcove at the theater last night with a Mrs. J.B. Inquiring minds want to know exactly if this budding romance will lead to marriage or an illicit affair with the one-day duke. Either way, it will take a miracle and then some for the “lady” to be accepted back among the ton once word spreads throughout England of her latest fiasco. Stay tuned for further details as we learn them.
Sincerely
Samuel Clemens
Editor of the Teatime Tattler
“Damnit,” Gyles swore running his fingers through his hair .
“My thoughts exactly. What were you thinking, Wickes?” Simon muttered in despair. “We had this all worked out and I thought you were on board with keeping Josephine’s reputation intact. Now we have even a new scandal to unravel!”
“I know you are upset—”
“Upset? This is a catastrophe!” Simon bellowed.
“It was a kiss, Simon. No one’s reputation is going to be completely ruined over a kiss.” Gyles crumpled the offensive news rag and threw the paper into the fire where it belonged. “Has Josephine seen this as yet?”
Simon shook his head. “I have no idea. I came here straight away after someone had it delivered to my townhouse. My butler brought it to me with my breakfast. Almost choked on my tea when I read this trash. Should I believe what I read?”
“Unfortunately, yes. I’m afraid it’s true but I didn’t realize anyone else saw us besides the Duchess of Winshire.”
A groan came out of Simon and with good cause. “The duchess saw you? Then Josephine is ruined!”
“I believe the duchess was still willing to help with your sister’s return to Society. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have asked to meet with us this afternoon.”
“She did?”
“Yes, she did. I can only hope that this…” Gyles pointed to the ash in the fireplace, “…will not change her mind.”
“You better be convincing that you have Josephine’s best interest at heart.” Simon peered at Gyles as though accessing his worth. “You still do plan to marry her, don’t you?”
Gyles leaned on his arms linking his fingers together. A brief flash of Josephine beneath him in her bed last night only reaffirmed his conviction to wed the beautiful lady. “Now more so than ever,” Gyles answered with a smile. “I should have forgotten my stupid promise to you from our youth and just admitted my feelings for your sister years ago, before she even met Bouchard. It would have saved us all years of grief. I won’t even begin to think on what Josephine had to endure at my own stupidity.”
Simon gave a heavy sigh. “I could see what was going on between the two of you. I shouldn’t have interfered, but I didn’t want to lose my friend.”
“Marrying your sister would have gained you a brother. It still will once I can right my latest blunder,” Gyles admitted with a heavy sigh of frustration.
“You had better make this right, Wickes,” Simon growled shaking his fist toward Gyles.
“I will. I promise.”
A snort left Simon. “Seems to me you’ve been making a lot of promises in your lifetime, Wickes. I can only hope you’ll be able to keep this last one.”
Gyles remained silent thinking that all his cards were currently in the Duchess of Winshire’s hands. If they lost her backing, Gyles was afraid he might lose Josephine forever.