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Lizzie pursed her lips, attempting to suppress the tears that had already started to form in her eyes.
James’ harsh eyes were focused solely on her, and with every moment that passed and she did not utter a word, James grew angrier.
“Elizabeth, tell me now!” James exclaimed.
“Calm yourself, brother,” William said, but Lizzie shook her head.
“Do not scold him, William. James has every right to be angered by what I have done, and what led to this awful situation,” Lizzie answered, a tear running down her cheek.
“Tell us, Elizabeth,” William insisted.
Lizzie James in a slow, deep breath and glanced at James. “You were right in regards to Lord Dorset.”
James narrowed his eyes at Lizzie, but didn’t respond. Was there more to the story?
“He is a rake and I should not have wasted my time on a man such as that. I was under the impression he loved me, cared for my feelings and respected me,” Lizzie whispered.
“A man like Dorset does not respect any person, let alone a woman whom he uses as he sees fit, and discards after he’s gotten what he wanted from her,” William said.
“Quiet,” James ordered and motioned to Lizzie to continue.
Lizzie nodded gratefully and cleared her throat. “Lord Dorset promised me it was different with me, that he had feelings for me. I was a fool, because I believed him. I was too infatuated with Lord Dorset, and too blinded by his charms that I failed to notice anything else.”
“What did he do to you, sister?” James asked, surprisingly calm considering the situation.
His heart pounded in his chest and his jaw tightened with each moment, but he kept a hold on the reins of his temper while he could. He needed to know the full story.
“It is not what you think, James, but it is rather unpleasant,” she answered.
Well, thank God for that. “Tell me.”
“I accompanied him for a stroll in the park last week, which I considered a wonderful opportunity as it was a public place, hence people were able to see us together. I thought it was a step in the right direction for the two of us. Being seen in public meant he was serious, and wished for people to know about us,” Lizzie said, and a bitter scowl formed on her lips. “But it was only for show. As soon as we reached the border of the park, he led me through the trees where no person was able to see us. He spoke soft words in my ear as his hands grazed over my body. I was delighted as his affectionate touch proved to me that he had changed. Lord Dorset then proceeded to kiss me—”
“Is it necessary for such intimate details?” William asked with a growl.
James agreed. He’d heard more than enough. “Did he do anything that warrants me beating him to a pulp?”
“Not in the manner in which you think, brother,” Lizzie answered. “When things became too heated, I brushed him off, as I did not feel it was appropriate. He grew angry and stormed off. I was embarrassed and ashamed as I left the park on my own, Lord Dorset nowhere in sight.”
James pursed his lips and waited for Lizzie to continue, although he had already deduced what the issue was.
“I attended Lady Bisterham’s ball at her lavish estate. I received the most gawking and judgmental glances from people whom I considered close acquaintances, as well as others whom I had never met. Their whispers grew louder and I overheard one of them say that Lord Dorset and I had shared a bed, numerous times.”
“Did you?” James inquired, simply to be certain.
Lizzie’s eyes grew wide with surprise. “Of course not, James. They are spreading lies about me and soon my reputation will be ruined, if it is not already,” Lizzie answered, the dismay evident on her face. “I cannot believe you questioned me with regards to that.”
“I simply had to be certain, sister,” James answered.
“Nevertheless, people now think I am a light-skirted woman thanks to Lord Dorset. Hence, the reason I have been hiding myself away in the manor. I do not wish to be the subject of people’s gossip or judgement.”
“And the fruit?” William asked with a furrowed brow.
“It is a way to express their distaste for Elizabeth. She is rotten and spoiled, and no man should go anywhere near her. Rotten fruit. It is the perfect metaphor,” James answered absentmindedly.
“Indeed,” Lizzie said and turned away from her brothers. “I certainly did not consider it being such a momentous thing. It is a rather outlandish act, do you not think, James?”
But James did not hear any of the words from Lizzie’s mouth. He pressed his thumb against his chin and pondered what could be done in regard to this situation.
James could not allow his sister’s reputation to be wrongfully tainted and ruined by a man who possessed a reputation for being a rake.
His thoughts immediately returned to Kitty. He hoped that her reputation was still intact. The last thing Kitty needed was rotten fruit flung at her family’s home. James hoped that she was doing well, and had forgotten about him and the night they shared together in his chambers, even though it was never far from his mind.
He thought of it every night as he lay and stared at the empty space in his bed, where she had lain in his arms.
James heard Lizzie repeatedly uttering his name, more desperate with each passing moment.
James had to take a stand on behalf of his sister. He turned to Lizzie, who was nearly frantic at that stage.
“James, please answer me,” Lizzie insisted.
“My humblest of pardons, sister. What was it you asked?” James asked apologetically.
“I am not certain what to do, James,” Lizzie’s tone was desperate and filled with guilt. “I did not think he would do such a thing to me, but I was foolish. I am sincerely sorry for allowing myself to be swept away by a man such as Lord Dorset. You and William warned me about him, yet I was under the impression that I was able to take care of myself. I am a stubborn woman and I probably deserve all the malicious things that are to happen to me because of it.”
Lizzie hung her head with a sob and James’s heart broke. What a fragile thing a woman’s reputation was.
“Nonsense. You are our sister, and we will do everything in our power to ensure this does not become an issue,” William stated. “True, brother?”
William glanced hopefully at James, who continued to stare at Lizzie.
Lizzie raised her brow expectantly at him.
“James?” Lizzie whispered.
“The things people are saying are untrue?” James asked, needing to make sure that he was correct before he ventured forward.
“Yes.”
“All of it?” James emphasized.
“One kiss. That was all I permitted, I vow to you, brother,” Lizzie said with her eyes wide and guileless.
“Very well. I will put an end to this matter once and for all,” James said and looked towards William. “Have my coach readied immediately.”
“What will you do?” Lizzie grabbed hold of James’s arm.
James glanced at her and grinned, his gut tight with tension. “I am saving your reputation. Please do not question as to how I will accomplish it.”
“You are not set on murdering Lord Dorset, are you?” Lizzie asked with tears glistening in her eyes.
“If it comes to that, then so be it,” James answered and freed himself from her grasp. “And have the servants clean up that ungodly mess!”
“James, wait!” Lizzie’s voice sounded frantic, but James did not turn around.
He was well aware that he could never truly murder someone, not even when that person was set on ruining an innocent young lady’s life. Despite knowing that Lizzie was, not in fact, as innocent as most people might think, it did not matter.
Spreading rumors and falsehoods of people was wrong, even when it did not involve his family, James had always been quick to put a stop to gossip while people were in his presence. He cared not for the sensationalism that rumors and lies caused, and people were well aware of that.
James marched into the manor house and called for his coat. A servant retrieved it from the parlor and helped him put it on. When he stepped outside again, his coach was ready for him. He approached the coach, but Lizzie ran towards him.
“James, please. Listen to me. There is no need to put your life at risk—”
“Sister, you asked me to assist you, and that is precisely what I am doing. I am not murdering anyone, so leave me be,” James said.
Lizzie raised her hands in defeat and stepped away, allowing him to climb into the coach.
James glanced out of the window and simply nodded at his siblings before the coach began to move and left the estate.
*
JAMES POUNDED HIS FIST against the wooden door of the address he knew all too well, his anger building inside him. The door opened after a few moments, and a butler stared at him.
“Your Grace.” He bowed.
“Please get Lord Dorset for me.”
The butler nodded and within a few moments, a disheveled Lord Dorset stood before him.
“Your Grace,” Lord Dorset chimed with a smile. “How lovely it is to see—”
Before the rake set on ruining his sister was able to complete his greeting, James punched the arrogant lord in the face. He stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. James reached down, grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and dragged him outside, where several people were gawking at the ruckus they were causing.
“Unhand me, you brute,” he struggled against James’s grasp, but James threw him down on the ground.
“How dare you drag my sister, and my family’s name through the mud! Spreading lies about her purity and her character as a young woman is unforgivable.” James growled.
“Your sister is the one spreading lies, as she does with her legs,” Lord Dorset grinned smugly.
James knelt and punched Lord Dorset once more, and the Lord groaned as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
“You are a liar, and you will set this straight. I will not allow you to ruin my sister’s reputation because she wouldn’t become another notch on your bedpost.” James grabbed his collar and stood, forcing Lord Dorset into a standing position.
He glanced around him at the crowd forming.
“Tell everyone here how you spread lies about my sister,” James ordered.
“I will not,” Lord Dorset spat, blood trickling down his chin.
“Tell them!” James yelled, and tightened his grasp around the cad’s throat.
Lord Dorset gasped for a few moments, until he panted, “Very well! I never laid a finger on her. Everything I said was untrue. It was only to boast of another conquest.”
The people who had come closer to witness Lord Dorset’s confession gasped and whispered amongst themselves.
James turned to Lord Dorset and snarled. “If you ever go near my sister, or any other young woman whom you attempt to ruin, I will tear you limb from limb and feed you to the dogs. Is that clear?”
“Yes,” Lord Dorset whispered.
James released Lord Dorset from his grasp and the man fell to the ground, trembling at the impact. James stepped away and walked back to his coach without another word. He glanced intently at the people on the street who had witnessed his altercation with Lord Dorset.
“To clear matters up,” James announced to the spectators, “as I am certain there will be many tales circulating with regards to this incident, let it be known that Lord Dorset is a rake. He ruins women by promising them the moon and stars, then discards them as soon as he has gotten what he wanted from them. Those who oppose him and reject him, he smears their names, as he did with my sister. That will not happen again. Keep your daughters and your sisters away from this man, as he is more worthless than the rats.”
James turned away and walked back to his coach, not the least bit interested in the murmurs behind him. He had done what he came to do, and that was the end of it.