Chapter 6 #2
She reached for his hand, brushing it with her fingers, but he flinched away.
He didn’t believe Lord Effingham’s lies, did he?
She couldn’t bear to lose him. She simply couldn’t!
He was too dear to her. And under the censorious gazes of the entire ton, she needed her knight in shining armor more than ever.
Swallowing hard, she fought back the tears of humiliation that prickled the corners of her eyes.
How could Jeffrey be so cruel? It was bad enough to claim they had anticipated their vows, but no.
He had to complete his humiliation and try to drive away the one man who was willing to stand by her side.
And poor David! Cuckolded! Now his reaction to her mention of his wife made sense.
No wonder he couldn’t stand to speak of her.
And he must have been wondering at that very moment if history was repeating itself.
She couldn’t blame him under the circumstances, even if his reaction cut her to the quick.
The urge to flee almost overwhelmed her, and it was all she could do to stay in her seat through the remainder of the service.
As soon as the final benediction had been given, she rushed through the crowd without waiting for her brother or David and out to the street, desperate to escape to the quiet confines of her carriage.
Someone caught her elbow as she fled.
She turned, and Jeffrey stood before her with his smarmy smile.
He gripped her arm painfully. “You’re supposed to marry me, darling.
I mean to have your money no matter what it takes.
Be warned that I will ruin you both you and Whitcomb if you attempt to go through with the wedding.
No one crosses me without paying a price. ”
“Let go of me, you horrible beast!” She wrenched her arm away and ran to her coach as fast as she could, shutting the door and closing the curtains as soon as she was inside. Jeffrey wouldn’t dare follow her in there. The footmen were under orders from Papa to keep Jeffrey well away.
Alone at last, she slumped against the squabs, giving in to the urge to weep.
She always tried to look on the bright side, but even she couldn’t find a way to make this anything but an utter disaster.
Her good fortune had failed her, and over a stupid, spiteful lie, she was going to lose the man on whom she had her heart set.
Lord Whitcomb would most likely never speak to her again.
No doubt he was headed to The Lyon’s Den that very moment to ask Mrs. Dove-Lyon for a different match.
A knock on the carriage door made her jump. “Go away, Jeffrey. I have nothing to say to you.”
“It’s David. May I come in for a moment?”
Her breath caught at the sound of his voice. He hadn’t fled? He wanted to speak with her? Perhaps her luck hadn’t failed her after all! “Yes, please!”
The carriage door opened, and David stepped in, taking a seat opposite her and leaving the door open a crack…as if propriety still mattered at a moment like this. “I asked your father if I might have a word with you, and he agreed. Have you been crying?”
Oh, heavens! She must have looked a fright after bawling her eyes out like that. Her fingers flew to her face, as if she could somehow brush away the redness around her eyes and the streaks down her cheeks. “Yes. I’m sorry you’re seeing me like this.”
He started to reach out and pulled his hand back at the last moment. “Is there any truth to the rumor?” He doubted her. Of course, he did. Given his history, how could he not?
“I swear to you, it’s all a lie. He has not touched me.”
There had to be some way to convince him. His face was hard and blank as he gazed at her with wary eyes.
“If you wish for a long engagement to prove that I’m telling the truth, I’m willing to wait. Please.” She would get on her knees and beg if it would help. A tear streaked down her cheek despite her best efforts to hold it back. Was this the end? Would she ever see her knight again?
He reached out and brushed the tear away before pulling back his hand as if he’d touched fire, then he turned his gaze to his knees.
Her heart swelled with tenuous hope.
At last, he let out a long, slow breath between his teeth. “I will stand by you. You have my word of honor.”
Oh, thank heavens! Another tear slid down her cheek, but it didn’t matter. She hadn’t lost him! Fortune was with her even in the depths of despair.
She might have wrapped her arms around him, throwing caution to the wind, if Papa and Arthur’s voices right outside the carriage hadn’t startled her to her senses.
A moment later the door opened, and her father peered in.
“Whitcomb, I would like to pay you a visit this afternoon with Clarissa. I believe there are a number of things we must discuss.”
“Of course, Your Grace.” David bowed his head and hurried down from the carriage, taking her heart with him.
Papa helped Mama up, and then he and Arthur climbed in.
The carriage lurched into motion. She hardly heard them excoriating Jeffrey as they bumped along the cobblestones.
Instead, she was planning ahead. When she married David, she hoped he wouldn’t mind moving to the countryside.
She couldn’t possibly stay in London after this.
But in winning David’s loyalty, had she lost any chance at his heart?
How could he ever trust her with Jeffrey’s lie between them?
Perhaps she should quietly retire to the countryside on her own, after all.
It hardly seemed fair to burden David with her damaged reputation.
“Don’t lose heart, my dear.” Papa patted her hands, startling her from her thoughts. “That rat will never come within a mile of you again.”
She swallowed hard and nodded. “Thank you, Papa.”
It was difficult to look on the bright side after such a humiliating morning, but she had to thank her lucky stars that she had such a loyal and caring family.
And her brave defender had stood by her in her darkest hour.
Even with that vicious rumor hanging over her head, she had so much for which to be grateful.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon had chosen wisely indeed.
If Clarissa could only chip away at the shell concealing David’s heart, she could find happiness, despite her ruined reputation. As long as the people she cared for believed her, she could weather any storm.