Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rumors abound on New Year’s Eve, when the prospect of another year tempts the gossips to be daring.
Felicity glanced over at Ian as the carriage approached Lord Stratton’s town house.
He’d been quiet ever since their talk, but now he looked positively somber.
She wished he didn’t feel compelled to make this test of her love, but she understood it.
He couldn’t accept her love until he forgave himself, and she would help him do that in time.
Despite his own concerns, they were truly married now. She couldn’t wait to see Mrs. Box to tell her how happy she was with her situation. A lifetime with Ian, free of secrets and uncertainties. What woman wouldn’t be ecstatic?
“What are you smiling about?” he grumbled.
She couldn’t resist teasing him. “It’s my first ball as the Viscountess St. Clair. If Miss Taylor could gain the confidences of so many people, only think how much material the Viscountess St. Clair can gather for Lord X!”
“Then thank God it’s Lord X’s name on your bloody column, that’s all I have to say,” he muttered, though a ghost of a smile touched his lips. “Otherwise, I’ll be fighting duels every week over it.”
Delighted that his words implied a future for them, she quipped, “Oh, but I’m thinking of using my real name now. When I went to tell Mr. Pilkington I was marrying, he suggested calling it, ‘Her Ladyship’s Secrets, by the Viscountess St. Clair.’ Doesn’t that have a nice ring?”
He raised one eyebrow. “Are you trying to send me to an early grave?”
“Hmm. If you die, I’d be the Dowager Viscountess St. Clair. That has a nice ring, too.” When he scowled, she added, “It’s a joke, Ian. Must I always explain my jokes to you?”
“When they’re not funny, yes.”
He didn’t smile, and she regretted teasing him. She could see it would be some time before he felt secure of her. But then, she could wait. As long as he loved her.
“Don’t worry,” she said softly, “I’ve no intention of using my real name. I told Pilkington you would never approve. He was disappointed, but when I pointed out that the other choice was having me stop writing for him, he saw it my way.”
That finally brought a smile. “I’m sure he did. Pilkington is no fool. He knows better than to cross swords with you, my love.”
My love. Now that had an even nicer ring to it.
The carriage stopped and they disembarked. He offered her his arm, and she took it with a burst of possessive gladness. They began to climb the stairs, but had scarcely moved halfway up before Jordan came running out to greet them.
“Ian,” he said without preamble, “I’ve been watching for you.”
The muscles in Ian’s arm stiffened beneath her fingers. “What’s wrong?”
“Your uncle is here.”
A quick shudder went through Felicity.
Jordan hurried on. “He’s heard about your marriage and is telling tales. About you and Felicity.”
“What kind of tales?” Felicity asked.
Jordan shot her a glance. “Well, for one thing, he found out you’re Lord X. He’s spread the news of that quite broadly.”
“It appears your new pen name will become necessary after all,” Ian said coolly.
Felicity groaned. “No doubt Mr. Pilkington decided I needed a little push in that direction, and your uncle was handy for his purpose.”
“Yes, but Lennard has twisted it to suit his own purposes, whatever they are,” Jordan said.
“He’s told everyone that you discovered Ian’s darkest secrets as Lord X, so Ian forced you to marry him to keep you quiet.
That’s why the wedding was so hasty, and why you wrote those comments about Ian’s being honest with his wife. ”
Felicity winced. Must all her columns return to haunt her? She glanced up at Ian’s rigid face. He hated this and blamed himself for it. She could tell.
“There’s more, my friend,” Jordan went on. “Your uncle is saying other things as well. About you in particular.”
Ian’s arm was like a band of iron under her fingers. “Not the usual gossip, I take it. What’s he saying?”
Jordan shrugged. “Lies ... rumors ... idiocy. I thought you should know.”
“What lies?” Ian asked firmly.
Jordan’s gaze shot to Felicity. “Perhaps we should speak privately, Ian.”
“I have no secrets from her,” Ian retorted. “Tell me.”
“As you wish. He’s claiming you forced yourself on his wife, then left England to avoid the scandal of her suicide. He says you took advantage of both Felicity and your friend Miss Greenaway. He paints you out to be the worst debaucher who ever lived.”
As Ian jerked away from her to go stand with his fists braced against the stone rails, anger slammed into Felicity.
Ian’s wretched uncle hadn’t even had the decency to wait until he was sure Ian had sired an heir before he attacked.
What a sniveling coward—to air his grievances in this despicable manner!
“Is that all?” she snapped at Jordan. “Why doesn’t he just accuse Ian of drinking the blood of virgins and torturing women in his dungeon?”
“I warned you this might happen,” Ian said in a low voice meant only for her. “I just didn’t expect it so soon.”
“He won’t get away with it. I won’t let him.”
“If you try to deny his tales,” Jordan put in, “it’ll only make matters worse.
They’ll think Ian is forcing you to defend him.
Ian’s always been so mysterious about his past they’ll believe anything his uncle says.
And the sudden wedding surprised everyone.
The best thing for both of you is to brazen it out, say nothing about it.
Emily and I will be at your side, as well as Sara and Gideon—”
“No!” Ian whirled to face them. “My uncle’s quarrel is with me. I don’t want the rest of you involved. You and Emily and the others should disassociate yourselves from me until this is over. And Felicity, you’re going home.”
“The devil I am! Run from that weasel’s accusations? Never!”
“I agree, Lady St. Clair.” Jordan crossed his arms over his chest, daring Ian to contradict him. “I’m not ‘disassociating’ myself from anyone.”
Ian shot his friend a dark look. “We’ll discuss that in a moment. But first I need a word in private with my wife.”
“Of course.” Jordan retreated up the stairs a short distance, still looking affronted.
Ian turned his glittering gaze on her. “I won’t have you harmed by this. I won’t let my uncle hurt you.”
“And I won’t let him hurt you. These rumors involve us both, so I have as much right to fight this battle as you.
Besides, I know precisely how to deal with his sort of vermin.
” When Ian started to protest, she added softly, “You promised me a chance to prove myself this evening. Well, this is my chance and I’m taking it. ”
“Damn it, querida, you’ve never been the subject of vicious rumor. I have, and I tell you, you won’t like it. I won’t put you through that. You don’t know how cruel people can be!”
“I don’t know? Have you forgotten who you’re talking to?
The best way to fight gossip is with gossip, and as you know, that’s my forte.
Give me a chance to thwart him. I can do it.
I know I can.” Well, she thought she could, anyway.
She’d had all afternoon to think about what to do if some of Ian’s fears came to pass, and she’d formed a plan.
It was risky and might not work, but she had to try.
“You needn’t sacrifice your reputation to prove you love me.”
“I don’t care about my reputation. Besides, I’m not trying to prove I love you. I’m trying to prove you can trust me. Always. Have faith in me. I won’t betray your darkest secrets.”
“I know that, damn it! But I don’t want you involved. I should never have dragged you into this marriage in the first place—”
“Stop! You’ve lived so long with this guilt that you think you deserve punishment, and you plan to exact it by denying yourself the pleasures of our love.
Well, I’m in this marriage, too. If you punish yourself, you punish me, remember?
I won’t let you salve your conscience by forcing me from this marriage to live in misery without you.
I’m afraid I intend to be very firm on this subject. ”
That brought him up short. He regarded her thoughtfully. “I wouldn’t want you to live in misery, my love.” He brushed his thumb over her chin, then sighed. “Very well. When you put it that way, I have little choice.”
Her heart soaring, she grabbed his palm and kissed it, then glanced up to where Jordan paced the top of the stairs, shooting them long, exasperated glances.
“That goes for your friends, too, Ian. They believe in you as I do, and they don’t want to lose your friendship.
They want to help. You need their help, whether you admit it or not.
It’s one thing for Edgar Lennard to libel his nephew.
It’s quite another for him to libel the Viscount St. Clair, the Earl and Countess of Blackmore, and the Earl and Countess of Worthing.
If you let them stand beside you, it will only help your case. ”
He groaned. “You’re asking me to let them suffer on my account. At least you have a full knowledge of why this is happening; they don’t. I have no right to ask for their help when they don’t know the truth.”
“Then tell them the truth. You can trust them, you know. They’re good people. They’ll only think better of you for your honesty. I promise they won’t disappoint you.” Clasping his lapels, she gave him a reassuring smile. “Nor will I.”
The light of the gas lamps flickered over his torn expression. Slowly he swept his hand along her cheek in a gentle caress. “You couldn’t disappoint me if you walked into that ballroom, stripped yourself naked, and stuck your tongue out at everyone.”
Some of the tension left her. Perhaps there was hope for her husband after all. “I suppose that might work,” she quipped, “but it’s much too cold this evening. I think I’ll try my plan first, if you don’t mind.”
“My God,” he said hoarsely, “what did I do to deserve you?”
“The same thing I did to deserve you—nothing. You were yourself. And that’s enough.”