Chapter Twenty
Philip jumped out of the coach, his fury building.
First it was because he’d been set upon by Lords Harewood and Ferncroft.
However, at their suggestion to deny the rumor, and their reassurances that they would help, he’d calmed.
But when they revealed the culprit, he’d barely kept himself from rushing out past them.
How dare Ashfield besmirch Georgina’s reputation, along with the Durhams’!
He’d never liked the man, but now he found his feelings bordering on murderous, something he’d not felt before.
Stepping into White’s, he quickly moved through the rooms, looking for the tall blond lord, who was rather easy to spot. Philip finally found him in the room with the betting book, along with at least half a dozen other men. “Ashfield!”
At his yell, everyone stopped talking, and the man looked up from the book with a lackadaisical smile. “I’m right here, Lord Durham. No need to shout.”
“Actually, there is. You dare besmirch my wife’s name? The woman was pure when I married her, yet you tout about Town that she wasn’t?”
Ashfield’s smile disappeared and a snide sneer crossed his face. “That’s impossible. I had her first.”
“Either you have the wrong woman, or you’re clueless on how to take a woman. I don’t care which it is. I only care about my wife. To have such a lie spread about her is below any respectable peer, and I expect you to recant your falsehood.”
“I can’t because it’s the truth. The little trollop is desperate for attention. Too bad you can’t see that.”
When he’d walked into White’s, Philip had held on to his emotions by remembering his father’s admonishments against fighting, and tried valiantly to control the rage inside him. His father had always said gentlemen fought with their intelligence. Commoners fought with their fists.
“Obviously, it is you who cannot see well. Perhaps your lust colored your perception. My wife has always been a lady. I wouldn’t be surprised to discover the trollop you fucked was indeed just that, a trollop, since it’s well known that your ability to take a woman at all is often questioned.”
“You bastard,” Ashfield snarled as he lunged forward, swinging his fist.
Philip ducked before sending his own fist into Ashfield’s enraged face. The man spun around, stumbled backward against the wall, and slid down it in a slump.
It wasn’t enough. Though Ashfield’s head was limp upon his chest, Philip reached down and grabbed the man’s cravat. “Get up. You started this.”
A hand came down on his shoulder. “Durham, he’s down. Your defense was witnessed. If you hit him again, you’ll be ousted. I’m afraid that’s all the satisfaction you’ll get today.”
He forced himself to look over his shoulder to see Manning shaking his head. Philip turned back to look at the lolling head of Ashfield and dropped him like the filth he was. “Then I shall have to call him out.”
His friend shook his head. “I’m afraid with all these good gentlemen as witnesses, you would be discovered.”
Looking around the room, Philip found the number of men nearby had doubled. He moved his gaze to Ashfield and scowled. “He deserves to suffer for what he’s done. Wake him up.”
Manning stepped between him and the object of his fury. “May I suggest a longer-lasting retribution?”
Forced to focus on his friend, Philip nodded.
Manning addressed the men in the room. “I suggest a vote to evict Lord Ashfield from White’s for the dishonor he brought to Lady Durham with his vicious lie, and for attempting to brawl.”
Though the dishonor Ashfield had brought upon Georgina was not a lie, the man still was dishonorable and deserved to be thrown out for his actions.
Philip looked about the room, and the men nodded in agreement.
It wasn’t a sure thing, as many must have heard the rumor, but the man had swung first, which was considered ungentlemanly conduct at White’s.
As much as Philip still wanted to pummel the bastard, he was well aware of the precarious position he was in.
Finally, he looked back at Manning. “I agree.”
“Good. It will be so. Now, let’s have a drink and allow me to call for some ice for your hand.”
He looked down at his hand and found it red. As if by noticing it he gave it permission to start throbbing, he quickly agreed.
Wellsley joined them as they walked out the door. “I forgot you were active with the pugilist coach as well as in rowing at university.”
Aware many men were still within hearing distance, Philip took the opportunity to make his part of the altercation clear. “Part of that training is to never strike a gentleman except in self-defense. If he hadn’t come at me, we could have avoided the whole bloody mess.”
“You always did play by the rules, Durham.” Wellsley clapped him on the back.
The three of them moved into another room, and soon Philip’s hand was wrapped in ice and his other turned the glass of his port.
He’d been on his way to getting foxed when Lords Harewood and Ferncroft had arrived.
He had them to thank for the information on Ashfield and for keeping him from his original intentions.
Though he disliked bending to friends of his wife, he also recognized the asset such friends could be.
Wellsley sat down in a wingback chair across from him. “What is all this business with Ashfield? Does he have a grudge against you for some reason?”
Luckily, Harewood and Ferncroft had discussed that very question when crafting their strategy for saving Georgina’s reputation.
“Not me, my wife. I believe she turned down his suit, which is why he asked for Lady Ann’s hand.
The man didn’t realize that my wife never told anyone, though I imagine many supposed. ”
Manning lifted his drink. “To spread such a rumor simply because he was turned down shows a lack of character. A good competitor is one who wins or loses with grace.”
Pleased by the chance to change the topic, Philip looked at Manning. “And when have you ever had to lose with grace?”
The lord practically puffed with pride. “As a matter of fact, last year at Harewood’s family’s house party. I’ll have you know that I lost at both pall-mall and a horse race.”
Wellsley sat straight up. “You lost a horse race? Whom did you lose to?”
“Lord Harewood. Damn him.”
Philip grinned as Wellsley laughed at Manning’s disgruntled face.
Manning smirked. “I will always think twice before competing with Lord Harewood.”
“You should think three times if you ever compete with me in the steeplechase. I must say, I’m rather expert at it.” Wellsley sat back, obviously ready to tout his own prowess.
Philip lost track of the conversation. Now that his fury had dissipated to a manageable level, his mind filled with the look of shock on Georgina’s face when he’d accused her of revealing the truth.
He’d been so sure it was her that he hadn’t even considered Ashfield.
He owed her an apology, one he was anxious to make.
That she’d kept the secret proved how much she cared about them, and his family.
The need to admit his error and have her forgive him grew. As much as he wished to act as if he’d rather stay at White’s all evening, he had to go home to his wife. He rose, and the two men with him appeared startled.
Manning set down his glass. “Where are you off to, Durham?”
“Wellsley, Manning, as comfortable as your company is, I have a wife now, and I’m sure she will want to know what occurred. It doesn’t seem fair to make her wait longer.”
Wellsley pointed to his hand. “How are you going to explain that?”
Philip held it up and looked at it. “With the truth, gentlemen. Is there anything else?” With that, he left his half-finished port and strode out of White’s, anxious to return home and make his apologies.
As he walked toward the townhouse, he tried to come up with the right words.
Nothing seemed adequate. He should have known it wasn’t her.
If she’d said anything, she would have told him.
Not only that, but she loved him. It was just that he’d been so angry that he wasn’t thinking straight.
He didn’t even remember everything he’d said, but he would tell her, and show her how truly sorry he was.
Not happy with the knot in his stomach over how he must have hurt her, he increased his pace until he found himself jogging up the steps and through the door. He handed Haines his hat. “Where is Lady Durham?”
“She’s not at home, sir.”
He stared at the man. “It’s after ten and she isn’t home yet?”
“No, sir.”
He didn’t like that. No doubt she was still with her friends at Harewood’s. Would she make him apologize before them all? He didn’t like that idea, but if he had to, he would. “Bring the coach around. I’m going to Lord Harewood’s.”
“Of course, sir.” Haines handed him back his hat and sent a footman off.
Not willing to wait inside, where Haines was sure to pry, Philip walked out into the night air, which had cooled considerably.
In short order, the coach was ready and he was on his way to the house of the very man he was in no hurry to see.
It was just as well, as he could report that all had gone as expected, or rather as Lord Harewood had expected.
Philip had been looking forward to pummeling Ashfield.
The man went down far too easy. No wonder very few bet against Lord Harewood.
When he arrived at the residence, he was shown directly to the study. Lord Harewood sat before the fire. “Lord Durham. Did our plan come to fruition?”
The man didn’t appear surprised that Philip had come so late in the evening. “It did. He swung first and it was witnessed. He should be ousted from White’s by tomorrow.”
Lord Harewood took a sip of his drink, but didn’t offer him any. “Excellent. With his reputation in tatters, what he did will bring all gossip to a halt. In fact, I imagine that your wife will suddenly find herself with many new friends, as ladies will call upon her to offer their support.”