Chapter Five
Lady Williams had blessedly taken control of the situation, ushering everyone inside, where she quickly steered the two men and Miss Plimpton into Lord Williams’ study, much to the chagrin of every onlooker who’d relished in the excitement.
Nathaniel was grateful when she loudly suggested they warm themselves in front of the sitting room fire before joining the others in the parlour, her attempt to slow the spread of gossip, but the scene Mr. Plimpton had caused was not likely to be forgotten.
“As I mentioned outside, we were with Lady Rochefort and Mrs. Plimpton, but it started to rain, so everyone rushed inside, and we got separated. I was merely escorting Miss Plimpton through a muddy terrain when we slipped. Nothing even remotely untoward happened.” He turned to Miss Plimpton when he finished, but she looked so out of sorts in Lady Williams’ blankets, gaping like she couldn’t believe what was happening.
“A likely story.”
“Your wife should be able to confirm it.” Even as Nathaniel said the words, he knew they were a lie.
Whether the elder Plimptons had orchestrated it or not, Mrs. Plimpton would likely wait to see what he would do before sharing what truly happened.
Because as it stood, if he had any honor, he would propose.
As if on cue, Mrs. Plimpton rushed in. “Oh, my darling Frances!” she cried. “When I heard, I felt sure they must be talking of another Miss Plimpton, not my dear, innocent Franny. We looked everywhere after the two of you ran off, but I never imagined…”
“We did not run off.”
“Nothing happened.” Miss Plimpton found her voice. She’d said as much when they’d first been discovered, but a few choice words and a glare from her father had silenced her.
“She’ll say anything to protect him, poor girl. Always looking out for others, so sweet and trusting.”
Nathaniel had no doubt that Miss Plimpton was those things, but her mother definitely wasn’t.
“Mama, nothing happened. We didn’t even realize you were gone until the rain, at which point we immediately returned to the house and Papa found us.
There was no time for anything to happen.
I give you my word that it didn’t. Lord Lark is entirely innocent of anything but being a complete gentleman when I slipped. ”
“A crowd of people saw otherwise.”
“They saw wrong,” Nathaniel argued at the same time that Miss Plimpton said, “They did not!”
“They’ll say they did. It makes a more interesting story, but it also leaves my poor daughter compromised. Ruined. By you,” Mr. Plimpton said.
The man couldn’t even face his daughter, though Nathaniel was glad the anger was focused on him, given the way Miss Plimpton bristled every time her father raised his voice.
“Mama, you can’t! Nothing happened. I’ll swear it. I am so sorry I wandered, I wanted to see the flowers, but Lord Lark had nothing to do with it.”
“My dear,” Mr. Plimpton said pointedly to his wife, “I believe that’s enough excitement for the girl in one day.”
“Let’s get you a nice cup of tea.” Mrs. Plimpton took her daughter by the arm, and Miss Plimpton went without a fight, probably used to being told what to do, but there was a numbness and horror in her eyes as she looked back at him that made Nathaniel wonder if he wasn’t safer being confronted by her father than she was being comforted by her mother.
“Let us speak frankly,” Nathaniel said through gritted teeth once he and Mr. Plimpton were alone.
“You know I didn’t touch your daughter. Whether by design or a happy accident, you saw an opportunity and are trying to trap me into marriage.
I know the depths some parents will stoop to in order to see their children well married, but I am not the type of man you want to blackmail. ”
“I didn’t think I would need to do anything, my lord, but rely on your honor.”
“If I had done something, I would own up to it immediately and marry her. But I didn’t. And I don’t like tricks or games of this nature. I also hate the idea that other parasites will use schemes like this to trap more unsuspecting victims into unhappy marriages founded on deception.”
“Most marriages are.”
“Not mine,” Nathaniel fumed. “I will never marry. And I will not compromise myself because you’re using my honor against me.”
“What of my daughter? People will talk. You can deny it all you want, but once the seed of doubt is planted…”
“Your wife and Lady Rochefort were there the whole time until it rained, leaving only a few minutes unchaperoned. As long as you and your wife don’t spin tales or embellish the facts, Miss Plimpton will be fine.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“You’d be condemning your daughter. And for what?”
“An earldom, for one. My grandsons will have every opportunity I was denied. Debts would be forgiven, reputations improved, and from where I’m standing, there is no drawback.”
“There are only drawbacks,” Nathaniel argued.
“That’s not true. Society forgives gentlemen like yourself what they do to actresses and widows, but only so long as they don’t touch the gently bred, unwed daughters of the ton.”
“My reputation doesn’t overly concern me.”
“Your family’s should. Ruining my daughter would make you a stain on polite society. Your good name would be as ruined as her future and your female relations’ chances for a decent match.”
“Your daughter would be far more devastated.”
“True. But I have others. Daisy might not have brains like Frances, but she has looks that can easily make men forget her sisters’ transgressions. Although, according to the papers, being ruined by you might not be such a terrible thing for her, at least not to certain types.”
Nathaniel now understood that none of this had been an accident. Mrs. Plimpton had deliberately brought Frances to him in an isolated part of the gardens, and had somehow convinced Lady Rochefort to leave the two of them alone so Mr. Plimpton could discover them.
Nathaniel didn’t think of himself as having much of a temper, but he had an overwhelming urge to strangle the man.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that. It’s a shame your father died before having to navigate much of the marriage mart, but he would have taught you this is what daughters are for.
You either use their looks and talents, or take advantage of opportunities to elevate your place in society and ensure they’ll live comfortably. ”
“She’s just a pawn for your debts and aspirations,” Nathaniel realized with disgust. His father never would have taught him to treat his daughters with such disregard and disrespect.
He would have sooner let the family fall destitute and lose all their social standing than force any of the girls to marry someone they didn’t feel safe and happy with.
And now, Nathaniel wouldn’t even be afforded the same autonomy, because of this wretched man.
He felt like he couldn’t breathe. Six years ago, he’d made a vow that he would never get married, never sire an heir, never do more than hold his title until he could pass it on. Nathaniel knew what was expected of an earl, and he simply didn’t have it in him. Not anymore.
Before he could yield to the blackmail to ensure the continuation of his father’s legacy, the door to the study burst open.
Lady Rochefort stood there with her eyes wild and furious.
She was followed by Mrs. and Miss Plimpton, who still looked horrified.
Nathaniel’s stomach sank when he saw Rebecca and James in the hall, waiting to find out what had happened to him.
He sometimes had nightmares of men trying to do unspeakable things to Rebecca and Grace, but he never once considered that a father would go so far to enable it with his own daughter. Nor that he would ever fall prey to it.
“Mr. Plimpton, as I’m sure you’re aware, your wife and I were in the gardens with Miss Plimpton and Lord Lark.
I enjoy the gossip from these garden parties, of young lovers getting caught, but not against their will, or when it is nothing but lies and fabrications.
Do we understand each other?” Lady Rochefort said evenly.
“He…My daughter…”
“Do we understand each other, Mr. Plimpton?”
The look of pure hatred on Plimpton’s face would have scared a lesser woman. A lesser man as well, but Lady Rochefort stood tall and stared at him with disgust. Mrs. Plimpton looked disappointed, but nowhere near as furious as her husband.
“I understand,” Mr. Plimpton reluctantly managed.
Relief washed over Nathaniel. His family’s reputation and future happiness were safe.
But that didn’t shake the unease in the pit of his stomach.
He was safe, but he feared Miss Plimpton was in even more danger than before.
Nathaniel would never fall in love, nor have the kind of marriage he’d once dreamed of, but someone had to get Miss Plimpton away from her vile parents before they tried their hand with someone who would actually harm the poor girl.
Lady Rochefort turned to Nathaniel expectantly. “Lord Lark, would you be so kind as to accompany me to my carriage? I’ve seen enough excitement for one day.”
She’d known this would happen. He should have as well.
Perhaps not today, but ever since he’d reluctantly re-entered society, he’d been hounded by mothers and unwed daughters, even his male friends with eligible female relations.
Not to mention the scheming to get him alone and force his hand.
Lady Rochefort was there this time, but would he always have to be on guard?
A few weeks of it had been torture, but he had, at the very least, seven more years of avoiding future schemes until his youngest sister Grace could find her match.
As an earl, he was expected to marry, and while he didn’t particularly care what people thought of him, he couldn’t bear to see the Sutton name fall from grace, especially not if it hindered his sisters’ chances.
If Nathaniel had to marry someone, he could do much worse than the unassuming Miss Plimpton, who seemed to expect nothing from him, whose joy could melt a frozen heart, and who had so far managed to ease his melancholy, however briefly, each time he’d seen her.
Nathaniel heard the words as though they were coming from someone else, his mouth speaking them before he’d decided what he would say. He should let it go, take his victory, and follow Lady Rochefort’s lead, but he didn’t.
“Miss Plimpton, might I have a dance?”