Sadly, upon Lavinia’s returning home later that afternoon, Sophie discovered it was worse than either of them thought.
‘Of course, no one seems willing to say who saw Jane enter the gentleman’s rooms,’ Lavinia said, hardly able to contain her anger. ‘Speculation has it that a well-placed gentleman let it slip at one of the clubs, whereupon it soon became common knowledge at all the rest. Then it found its way into the drawing rooms of society.’
‘But why will no one say which “well-placed gentleman” made the comment?’ Sophie asked.
‘Because that’s not the way it’s done.’ Lavinia pulled off her gloves. ‘Some misplaced notion of honour amongst thieves, I suppose. Besides, it doesn’t matter. Several other people saw Jane speaking to a gentleman in the park, and when you add that to what I truly believe is an out-and-out lie, the damage is done.’
‘Did they say who the gentleman in the park was?’
‘Several names were mentioned, but no one could say for certain. And there is no way of knowing if it is the same man whose rooms she is reputed to have visited.’
‘I cannot believe this,’ Sophie said. ‘Who would wish to harm Jane in such a cruel and inhumane way?’
Lavinia sighed. ‘I don’t know, but I fear we have no choice. We must pay a call on Jane and Robert as soon as possible. They must be made aware of what is being said.’ She walked towards the window and drew the curtain aside. She was quiet for a long time. ‘I feel terribly guilty for saying this, but it seems one good thing has come out of all this.’
‘What’s that?’
Lavinia turned and gave her a crooked smile. ‘Nobody is talking about what happened at Lady Chiswick’s any more.’
Fortunately, both Jane and Robert were at home when Lavinia and Sophie paid their call half an hour later. Jane was reading in the drawing room, and Robert came down shortly thereafter. He was dressed for going out and looked exceedingly handsome in his black-and-white evening attire. Sophie couldn’t help wondering where he was going and who he was going to see. Lady Annabelle Durst, perhaps? To thank her for speaking up on their behalf? Or for reasons of his own…
‘I’m sorry to be calling so late,’ Lavinia said when the four of them were seated in the drawing room, ‘but I thought it best not to waste any time.’
‘You appear distraught, Lady Longworth,’ Robert said. ‘Has this something to do with what happened at Lady Chiswick’s?’
‘I fear this is actually worse. It seems, Mr Silverton, that someone is out to damage your sister’s reputation.’ And with as much detail as she could provide, Lavinia told them what she knew of the situation.
The clatter of Jane’s cane falling to the floor made everyone jump. But when Sophie saw the girl slump forward in her chair, she quickly ran to her side. ‘Jane!’
Lavinia was on her feet. ‘Smelling salts?’
Robert nodded. ‘I’ll fetch them.’
Sophie clutched the girl’s limp body in her arms. ‘Sapristi! If I ever find out who did this—’
‘Calm yourself, Sophie, we will find out,’ Lavinia said. ‘For now we must keep our wits about us.’
Sophie nodded. ‘Help me sit her back up.’
‘Salts,’ Robert said, coming in and handing them over.
‘Thank you.’ Lavinia removed the lid and held them under Jane’s nose.
The effect was immediate. The girl’s head snapped up and her eyes flew open, only to fill at once with tears.
‘No, Jane, you mustn’t cry,’ Sophie said as Lavinia handed the bottle back to Robert. ‘We shall ask the maid for tea—’
‘No! I don’t want anyone to come in!’ Jane cried.
‘But you must have something!’
Robert walked to the sideboard and poured a glass of brandy. ‘Here, dearest,’ he said, handing it to her. ‘The fire will put some colour back in your cheeks.’
Jane took the glass and gazed up at her brother through her tears. ‘It’s not true, Robert. I swear it’s not true. I have never visited any gentleman in his rooms. I would never—’
‘I know.’ His smile was infinitely gentle. ‘It never occurred to me you would. And we will get to the bottom of this.’
‘Robert, I’m so sorry,’ Lavinia said, ‘but we thought you needed to know what was being said.’
‘I am grateful to you and Miss Vallois for having the courage to come and tell us.’ He paused. ‘Given what happened at Lady Chiswick’s, I would understand you preferring to have nothing more to do with me.’
Sophie and Lavinia exchanged a glance. ‘Mr Silverton,’ Lavinia said, ‘were you aware of the relationship between Lady Mary Kelsey and Lady Chiswick before you went to Lady Chiswick’s house?’
‘No. I wasn’t even acquainted with Lord or Lady Chiswick. I went at Oberon’s insistence. He told me Lord Chiswick was most anxious to show me his collection of hunting trophies.’
‘Hunting trophies.’ Lavinia sniffed. ‘God help you if all your friends are so caring of your welfare, Mr Silverton. However, having now established that you did not wilfully intend to provoke Lady Chiswick, and with Lady Annabelle’s assurances that you and Sophie were not alone in the garden, I think we can dismiss the matter. The fact that people know Sophie was employed by Mrs Grant-Ogilvy is a trifling matter at best. Your sister’s defamation is what we must now turn our attention to.’
‘At least now I know why I was getting such strange looks at the club this afternoon,’ Robert murmured. A shutter dropped down over his eyes. ‘I know it is an imposition, but would it be possible for one of you to stay with Jane for a little while? I have to go out.’
‘I’ll stay,’ Sophie said, disappointed that his social engagement should take precedence over Jane’s predicament. ‘And it is no imposition.’
His smile rested on her for a moment, the tenderness of his gaze causing her pulse to beat erratically. ‘Thank you. I shall return as quickly as possible. Jane, will you be all right without me?’
Wearily, Jane nodded. With a last look at Sophie, he left, closing the door behind him.
‘Well, I suppose I had best go and apprise Nicholas of what’s happened,’ Lavinia said, getting to her feet. ‘Perhaps he can find out more details. Send word when you want the carriage, Sophie, but stay as long as you need. Goodnight, Jane. Try to get some rest.’
‘Thank you, Lady Longworth, I will.’
With a nod, Sophie closed the door. When she turned back, it was to see a trace of colour seeping back into Jane’s pallid cheeks. The brandy, no doubt. ‘Don’t worry, Jane,’ Sophie said, sitting down beside her. ‘Your brother will not allow these lies to be perpetuated. This will all be put to rights.’
‘Unfortunately, the damage is already done,’ Jane said quietly. ‘You don’t know how society works, Sophie. From what you’ve told me, it is my word against a gentleman’s and society will never take mine over his. I know what they say about me. That I am a cripple and that…I shall never marry. They probably think I had no choice but to throw myself at a man in such a way.’
‘No one who knows you would ever believe such lies!’ Sophie said fiercely. ‘I cannot imagine who would wish to hurt you like this.’
‘Perhaps Lady Mary has decided to take her revenge,’ Jane said. ‘If I have no hope of marrying, Robert will be for ever forced to look after me.’ She sniffed and reached for her handkerchief. ‘I can’t imagine what your brother must think.’
‘I’m not sure Antoine knows. He and Nicholas were out most of the afternoon.’
‘He will hear soon enough,’ Jane said, fresh tears welling. ‘And he must have nothing to do with me, lest he be the one people believe I visited and his own reputation suffers as a result.’
‘But he doesn’t even keep rooms in London.’
‘No one will care about that. They will say he rented a room for the night, or borrowed a friend’s home. They will say he compromised me beyond all hope of redemption. Only think what that will do to his reputation.’
‘I don’t imagine he would care greatly,’ Sophie said. ‘I’ve seen the way he looks at you, Jane. And the way you look at him.’
This time when the girl’s cheeks reddened, Sophie knew it had nothing to do with the brandy. ‘Is it really so obvious?’ Jane asked.
‘It is to me. I’m not sure it is to anyone else.’
Jane was silent for a time, twisting her handkerchief around and around in her hands. ‘I’m so sorry, Sophie. I think I lost my heart to Antoine the first time I saw him. I’m sure you can understand why.’
Yes, Sophie could, though her acceptance of it made it no better for any of them. ‘Has he made you any promises?’
‘He knows he cannot. Without my brother’s consent, it would be impossible for us to marry and Antoine does not wish to incur Robert’s anger. Besides, he has to return very soon to France and I cannot go with him.’
‘Oh, Jane, I wish I knew what to say.’
‘There is nothing to say. The circumstances are all wrong.’ Jane’s voice was light, but her eyes were filled with sadness. ‘I’m not the first woman to love a man she cannot have and I certainly won’t be the last.’
‘You make it sound so final.’
‘I learned a long time ago that life isn’t always fair. But I will have the memory of his love, and I believe he will remember me when he returns to France. I just worry what he will think when he hears these dreadful stories.’
‘He will think the same as the rest of us,’ Sophie reassured her. ‘He will not believe these lies. Indeed, he will be as furious as your brother.’ She thought about the look on Robert’s face as he’d walked out the door. ‘And something tells me Mr Silverton in a temper is not a thing any man would wish to experience.’
There was only one thought on Robert’s mind as he strode into Oberon’s favourite hell—and it was not charitable. It became even less so when he found his enemy in one of the upstairs rooms seated at a table with four other men, all of them titled, all of them rip-roaring drunk.
‘Silver! What a surprise!’ Oberon called around the whore in his lap. ‘Hutton, give Silver your chair—’
‘I’m not here to gamble,’ Robert said. ‘I’ve come for a word with you.’
‘Perhaps later. As you can see, I’m very busy—’
‘Now!’ Robert gently, but firmly, pulled the half-naked woman from Oberon’s lap. ‘In private or I’ll know the reason why.’
In an instant, Oberon’s smile disappeared. He glanced at the faces of the men seated around the table, aware of the curiosity burning in their eyes, and said, ‘Very well. But you’d better have a damn good explanation for this.’
‘Trust me. I do.’
Oberon downed the rest of his brandy. He stood up and led the way out of the room into the darkened corridor. Stopping at a second door, he opened it and they walked into a room that looked to be an office. ‘Now, what’s this all about—’
‘You know damn well what it’s about.’ Robert slammed the door. ‘Someone’s been spreading lies about Jane.’
‘Really? I can’t imagine who would do such a thing,’ Oberon said.
‘Can’t you? A name leaped immediately to my mind.’
The cobra reared up, its black eyes as cold as the death it would surely deal. ‘Careful, my friend. Damaging stories can be told about a gentleman as well as a lady.’
‘So you admit to telling lies about my sister.’
‘Who is to say what is truth and what is a lie? Certainly not those who listen with equal fervour to both. But I admit to nothing,’ Oberon snapped. ‘And if you attempt to put it about that I did, you will suffer the consequences. To call the son of a peer a liar is a serious offence.’
‘No more serious than destroying the reputation of an innocent young woman.’
‘If such is the case, I am sorry for you, Silver. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.’
It was as good as an admission of guilt—and they both knew it. ‘You won’t get away with this,’ Robert said. ‘As God is my witness, I will bring you down.’
He left before the man had a chance to respond, fearing that if Oberon said another word, he would call him out on the spot. Duelling might have been outlawed in England, but there were still places where it could be done and circumstances under which it would be forgiven. Robert had a feeling that before this despicable affair was over, he would be intimately acquainted with both.
It was several hours before Robert was of a mood to go home. He wandered through the empty streets, too angry to be of comfort to Jane, too incensed by the nature of injustice done to be pleasant company for Sophie.
Sophie. He couldn’t even think about her in the same breath as Oberon, that cunning, immoral bastard. How like him to try to turn this back on Robert. As though it was his fault Jane should be made to suffer. The man had no more conscience than a corpse, and thinking of that brought to mind something else he’d once told Robert…
‘I hold people’s lives in the palm of my hand and offer them back in exchange for a favour. No one cares if making good on that favour destroys someone else’s happiness. All they care about is restoring their own. So it all comes down to choice. The question is…whose happiness will it be? And what price are they willing to pay?’
Certainly not the happiness of the person who’d gambled it away in the first place, Robert acknowledged bitterly.
He was so lost in thought that he didn’t see the person stumbling towards him until they actually collided. ‘Watch where you’re going, man!’ Robert grunted, already reaching for the dagger concealed in his sleeve. London after dark was a dangerous place, rife with pickpockets and thieves. But when he looked up to see the face of his would-be attacker, he realised it wasn’t a thief at all. It was Lawrence Welton. ‘Lawrence, are you all right?’
The poor fellow looked ghastly. His face was riddled with lines and his eyes were two dark, shadowy pools of despair. ‘You’re not well. Let me call you a carriage.’
Welton looked up, his eyes finally focusing. ‘S-Silverton?’
‘Yes. I’m going to take you home—’
‘Can’t,’ the man muttered. ‘Not…mine…’
Welton had obviously been drinking heavily. He sagged and would have fallen had Robert not caught him and held him up. ‘You need a doctor!’
‘Nothing a doctor can f-fix,’ the young man said, his words badly slurred. ‘Owns it all…’
‘Who owns it?’
‘Trusted him, you s-see. But it was…all lies. Should have checked…’ Welton went on, his eyes glazed, his mouth slack. ‘Nothing left.’
Robert’s mouth tightened in anger. He’d never seen Welton in such a state. One thing he knew for sure, he couldn’t leave the man alone in the middle of the street, at the mercy of pickpockets and thugs. Instead, he hailed a hackney and gave the driver Welton’s address. Once inside, he tried to get the information he needed. ‘Lawrence, who did this to you?’
‘Thought he was…m’friend,’ the man mumbled, shaking his head. ‘Enemy, more like.’ Then he laughed—a rough, grating sound that was filled with despair. ‘Stuck a knife in my back.’
‘Then you must speak to someone. If you’ve been cheated—’
‘Never prove it…’ He unsteadily raised his hand and pointed a finger at Robert. ‘Not a friend of yours.’
He passed out soon after—which made getting him out of the carriage even more difficult. Had it not been for the help of Welton’s valet, Robert wasn’t sure he would have managed. And once inside the house, it took both of them to get the poor man up the stairs and into his bed.
‘I’ll see to him now, sir,’ the valet said. ‘Thank you for bringing him home.’
‘It’s Finch, isn’t it?’
‘That’s right, sir.’
‘Is your master in trouble? He mentioned something about…losing it all.’
The valet’s face fell. ‘So it’s happened. I feared it might. But he kept on saying the gentleman wouldn’t do it.’
‘What gentleman?’ Feeling completely in the dark, Robert said, ‘Can you tell me what’s going on?’
‘He wouldn’t wish me to, sir,’ the servant said, glancing at Lawrence’s unconscious figure. ‘A proud man is Mr Welton. Far better than those who’ve used him.’
It was clear that something very bad had happened to Lawrence Welton and that his servant was reluctant to say anything. Robert could appreciate that. He wouldn’t wish his own man to divulge anything of a personal nature with regard to his affairs. ‘Please give him my best,’ Robert said. ‘Tell him I’ll call round in the morning to see how he is.’
The valet looked grateful. ‘Thank you, sir. I’ll do that.’
As it turned out, however, Welton was not in town the next morning. He sent Robert a note thanking him for his help and informing him that he was removing to the country for an indefinite period of time. The letter was brief, the handwriting that of a man unsteady of mind and body…
…no doubt you will hear soon enough that I have been ruined. The details do not matter, the fault is my own. I should have known better than to deal with the devil. But I deeply regret that other truths will never be known and that innocent people will be made to suffer. Beware the company you keep, Robert, for serpents hide behind handsome eyes…
Robert dropped the letter on the table—‘…serpents hide behind handsome eyes.’ He would have had to have been blind not to understand that reference.
Oberon!
‘Excuse me, miss, but Mr Oberon is asking to see you,’ Banyon said from the doorway of the drawing room.
Sophie stiffened, the magazine in her hands forgotten. She hadn’t seen Oberon since the night of the fiasco at Lady Chiswick’s and she wondered why he had come now. No doubt, thoughts of marriage were far from his mind. ‘Please tell him I am not at home.’
The butler sighed. ‘He said that if that was your answer I was to give you this.’ He handed her a sealed note. ‘He said it had to do with Miss Silverton.’
Sophie quickly broke the wafer and read the note through. ‘Show him in.’ She refolded the note and got to her feet. ‘But come back in five minutes with the message that Lady Longworth wishes to see me.’
‘Very good, miss.’ The butler withdrew, concern etched deep into his normally imperturbable features.
Moments later, Oberon appeared in the doorway. ‘Miss Vallois. I hope you will forgive the boldness of my letter, but I knew you would wish to hear what I had to say about Miss Silverton.’
Sophie nodded, her mouth as dry as old paper. ‘I am interested, of course, though I am surprised you would wish to come here after what happened at Lady Chiswick’s.’
‘Yes, a most unfortunate incident for all concerned,’ Oberon said, not quite meeting her eyes. ‘Truths revealed in such a way always leave a bitter aftertaste. But I think we shall put that aside for the moment. I’ve come to talk to you about Miss Silverton and the tragic situation in which she finds herself.’
Sophie’s hand tightened on the parchment. ‘It is only tragic because it is all lies.’
‘Unfortunately, it is the word of a gentleman against hers,’ Oberon said. ‘A well to do gentleman, so my sources inform me.’
Sophie stilled. ‘Do you know who he is?’
‘What would you do if I said I did? Beg that I might tell you so you could go and confront him?’
‘Most certainly! I would tell him to his face that he was a coward and demand that he exonerate Miss Silverton at once!’
‘My word, such passion,’ Oberon mused. ‘If I were Miss Silverton, I would consider myself fortunate in having your friend ship.’
‘It is I who consider myself fortunate in having hers,’ Sophie answered. ‘Someone has told a hurtful and outrageous lie. Jane would never behave in such a manner. Surely you know that. You, who have been acquainted with her and her brother for such a long time.’
‘Yes, I have known them, and I agree they are both exceptionally good people—which is why I’ve come to see you. I have a proposition for you.’
Her eyes opened wide. ‘A proposition.’
‘Yes. A few days ago, I asked you to accept my proposal of marriage.’
‘Which, given what you learned at Lady Chiswick’s, you now wish to retract.’
‘Not exactly.’ Oberon strolled around the room, his hands linked loosely behind his back. ‘Though I was not…pleased to learn of your former employment, I am willing to overlook it. You would not be the first governess to be raised to the position of a nobleman’s wife. As to the confusion over your…identity, I seem to remember Jane once mentioning that your middle name was Chantal, and I suspect Beaudoin to be a maiden name, perhaps on your mother’s side?’
Sophie suddenly felt cold, as though an icy draught had blown through the room. ‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘So in essence, you told no lies at all.’
‘Perhaps not, but what of my claim that I do not love you?’
‘Love. That is the least of my concerns,’ Oberon said dismissively. ‘An antiquated notion, best left to poets and the publishers of gothic romances. I am in need of a wife and you are an incredibly beautiful woman who has bewitched me in every sense of the word. Therefore, I make you an offer. If I could resolve Miss Silverton’s unhappy situation, would you agree to marry me?’
Sophie took a quick, sharp breath. ‘Resolve it? How?’
‘I am not without influence in society. I know the ears in which to whisper. If I said I could prove the gentleman was lying—?’
‘You would do that for Jane?’
‘No. I would do it for you. All you have to do is say yes. And I will give you three days in which to decide.’
‘Three days?’ A quiver of fear rippled down Sophie’s spine. ‘You did not set a time limit on my answer before.’
‘I think we both know the circumstances have changed. However, I am willing to make it a week. But do not ask me again.’ He turned and slowly closed the distance between them. ‘I am far too generous with those I care about—’
‘Excuse me, Miss Vallois,’ Banyon said, appearing in the open doorway, ‘but her ladyship has returned and is asking to see you right away.’
Dieu merci! It had been the longest five minutes of her life. ‘Thank you, I shall come at once.’ Sophie turned back to her visitor, her mind in turmoil. ‘Good afternoon, Mr Oberon. Banyon will see you out.’
The dismissal was plain. Oberon bowed, but the look in his eyes was far from amiable. ‘Thank you, but I know the way. And I will call again in one week from today, Miss Vallois. When I look forward to hearing the words that will make me…a very happy man.’