Chapter Nineteen #2
Confused, she moved toward a high-backed chair and held on to the top. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. What secret? I promise, I didn’t tell your mother about your father dying of consumption, if that’s what you mean.”
“My father?” He laughed, but there was no mirth in it. “My father would be devastated. You should be devastated. Everyone at the aviary is talking about it. Do you have no sense of self-preservation?”
Tired of not knowing, she let her irritation color her tone. “I can’t answer any of your questions if I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He strode up to her, his brows lowered in a scowl, and stopped just three feet away, his hands curling into fists. “I’m talking about the fact you told Lady Buswick about your ravishment before we were married. You just couldn’t keep your own shame to yourself.”
Shocked, she blinked. “I haven’t seen Lady Buswick since I arrived in Town. I certainly didn’t tell her of my condition before we married. I didn’t even tell your mother, though it was hard, since she is so good to me.”
He waved away her explanation. “If it wasn’t Lady Buswick, then it was someone else, but she certainly heard and was quick to spread it through the ton.
When you said you couldn’t keep a secret, I thought at least one so detrimental to yourself would be worth some effort.
” He turned around and returned to the sideboard and his drink.
“Philip, I promise you, I didn’t tell anyone. I wouldn’t.”
He took another gulp of amber liquor. “So you’re telling me that you, who can’t keep a secret, did, which means one of your friends didn’t?”
“No! They would never do that to me.”
He sneered. “It doesn’t matter. The entire ton now knows. My father’s reputation, which I fought so hard to save, is now ruined because of you.” He pointed at her with his glass before throwing back what was left.
“I swear, I didn’t tell anyone.”
He poured more liquor into his glass, clearly planning to get foxed. Then he looked at her and the pain in his eyes undid her more than his anger. “And to think I married to punish myself for my past mistakes, only to discover I didn’t need punishing and have had it visited upon me anyway.”
She sucked in a breath. “You married me to punish yourself?”
“Ironic, is it not?”
She forced herself to breathe even as her throat closed over the pain radiating through her chest. She was his punishment? Hurt and anger collided inside her.
She spun on her heel and threw open the door of the study. “Haines, the coach!”
“The coach has not yet returned, my lady.”
“Then get me whatever you have. I’m must leave immediately.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Georgina busied herself with donning her bonnet while she waited impatiently for a conveyance, disappointed yet relieved that Philip didn’t come out to ask where she was going.
Finally, Haines opened the door. “Your barouche is ready.”
Sweeping past the butler and into the conveyance, she took a seat. “Lord and Lady Harewood’s.”
Soon she was headed toward Rose’s brother’s townhouse, where Georgina knew she was welcome.
Traffic was slow and she readjusted the skirts of her dress, trying desperately to hold on to her anger because to think about what Philip had said was too painful.
When the barouche slowed, she looked ahead to see traffic barely crawled along, but it didn’t appear blocked. Maybe she should walk like she had—
Lord Ashfield!
His words that day echoed in her mind. Simpering chit.
You’ll rue the day you dared speak to me in such a manner, you trollop.
He must have been the one to reveal her secret, not caring how he appeared, unless he didn’t include his own name.
Even as the thought occurred, she already knew it to be true.
Furious, she reconsidered walking, then noticed Lady Dawber staring at her. She gave the woman a nod, and the lady quickly looked away. Truly, had everyone heard already?
The barouche continued to crawl along. She kept her gaze forward, not willing to meet the eyes of any other members of the ton.
The longer it took, the harder it was to ignore the stinging in her belly. Philip had married her as his penance. Finally, someone had wanted her, but he’d expected she would be so horrible that he would have to suffer her for the rest of his life. That truth filled her, making it hard to breathe.
She’d thought her family cruel, but they’d never pretended to care about her.
He had. He’d been very attentive. Was that part of his suffering, too?
Or did he only do that so others would think them in love, to better protect his father’s legacy?
The answer came hard and fast, causing her chest to tighten and her eyes to water.
The driver stopped the barouche before Lord and Lady Harewood’s townhouse. Georgina wiped at her eyes and forced herself to take two deep breaths before alighting. As much as she now wanted Philip to be shamed by her secret, she hated for his dear mother and sister to also be.
When she entered the townhouse, she found Rose had not returned yet from the aviary. Uncertain what to do, she was saved from a decision by Dory, who arrived just then with her husband, Lord Harewood.
“Georgie, how lovely to see you.” Dory wrapped Georgina in a hug, which made her tears start again, but she held on to her anger and gently disengaged herself.
“Dory, I need the Curious Ladies’ help.”
“Something has happened?”
“My secret is out, and I know who revealed it.”
Dory looked at her husband, who simply nodded and left the house.
“My husband will make sure everyone comes. Now, let us sit and have tea as we wait.”
Waiting was not Georgina’s strength, but she had no choice. She entered the parlor behind Dory but could not sit. Instead, she paced.
“Felton and I have been at the new panorama and we heard nothing of this. Are you sure others know, Georgie?”
“Yes, and everyone will know by evening. The entire crowd at the aviary heard. And my husband thinks I’m the one who revealed it.”
“How could he?”
Georgina stopped and just stared at Dory.
Finally, Dory’s eyes widened. “Of course, you can’t keep a secret.
I’m not good at it either, but I didn’t tell a soul.
I promise. Aristotle doesn’t look at secrets as hidden; it’s more about knowing when to tell the truth depending on the audience, circumstances, and what the results might be.
He believed that holding back information isn’t deceit, per se, but rather intelligence. ”
Georgina stopped and stared at Dory, whose studies back at the school had been in philosophy.
She grimaced. “I’m rambling again.”
Georgina shook her head and continued her pacing, trying to ignore the pain in her chest and the panic that seemed to be growing. “I wish I could ramble right now. It’s one thing for the ton to know I was ruined, but now my husband’s whole family will be brought into my shame. If only I had never—”
“Georgie!”
She spun around to face the open parlor doors and found Rose striding in, fury clear on her face. “Rose, I didn’t say anything.”
Rose waved away her comment. “Of course you didn’t. It’s abominable. Who let it slip?”
Arabella wheeled herself in. “I promise I didn’t.”
“Nor I.” Felicity came in as well.
Georgina swallowed hard at the support of her friends. “It was none of you. I know who spread it about. I’m so angry I could slay an ox.”
Felicity smirked. “An ox is quite difficult to slay. Maybe you should tell us, in order to save the poor animal.”
Rose held up her hand. “Wait. My brother sent for Ellie, and she is on her way. Then tell us all so we can figure out what to do.”
Georgina curled and uncurled her fingers. “Do? Nothing can be done. The truth is out.”
Dory nodded sagely. “There is always something. Now, here is some tea. Everyone gather around and partake while we await Ellie’s arrival. We can find comfort in our mutual friendship. Plato said that friendship is far beyond a simple transaction but a way to lift all in virtue, and—”
“Dory, I think we all know how important our friendship is.” Felicity took a teacup and passed it to Arabella.
Georgina couldn’t even think about drinking anything, so she stayed on her feet, tapping her foot, too distraught by her husband’s accusations.
Rose came to stand next to her. “As soon as we heard what was being said, we left the aviary. Arabella and I went straight to your townhouse and were told you were here.”
Georgina wanted to ask if they’d seen her husband, but, of course, they wouldn’t have. “As soon as Philip heard it, he took the dowager and me away, but I just know his mother will hear of it soon. His whole family will be shamed.”
“Where’s Georgie?”
At the sound of Ellie, the one who always mothered them when they needed it the most, Georgina couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. “I’m in here.”
“My dear one.” Ellie swept into the room in a flourish of blue skirts, knocking a knickknack off a small table onto the rug, her red hair barely held in place as she wrapped her arms around Georgina.
She cried against Ellie’s shoulder. She wasn’t sure how long she stood there, but eventually they seemed to dry up and someone handed her a handkerchief, which she promptly used to blow her nose.
When she finally looked at everyone, she almost started crying again.
They were all there, even Lord Harewood and Lord Ferncroft, Dory’s and Ellie’s husbands.
The only people missing were Sophie and Lord Tamworth, whom she owed so much.
And they were all here for her. No individual in her family had ever supported her like this. Not even once.
Lord Harewood, Rose’s brother, moved to the fireplace and commanded everyone’s attention. “Now that we are here, I suggest we go over what we know, so as to plan a strategy to save Lady Durham’s reputation.”
She almost laughed at such an absurdity, but bit down on her lip, not wishing to appear ungrateful.