Page 46 of The Deceptive Earl

He bowed to them both. “Lady Shalace. Lady Charity,” he said and then he was gone. Charity did not even get the chance to thank him properly and her mother had insulted him, when he had been nothing but helpful.

As soon as Lord Wentwell was out of the door, her mother turned on her. Leaning against the door as if the structure could hold her upright, she said, “I thought you had this under control.”

“I did, Mother, I only left Father for a moment.”

“A moment! You should not have left him at all. This could have been a disaster, and even as it is, there were rumors of that rake accosting a young lady at the concert, and then he was seen with your father.”

“Accosting a lady?” Charity repeated. The word sent a tremor through her. “Who?” Her heart sank as she realized that she might now be the subject of rumor. Had someone seen her?

“I do not know,” her mother said. “Apparently she was hidden by her fan. She had more sense than you, Charity. Her face was not seen with that wastrel.”

“Yes, Mother,” Charity said. She had no intention of telling her mother that the lady in tears was her, but it pained her to think that she was the root of yet another rumor surrounding Lord Wentwell. This one, was certainly not his fault.

“Who saw you home?” her mother asked tardily. Her eyes widened in horror. “Surely you did not take a hired hackney?”

“No, Mother,” Charity said. “Patience was at the concert with Lord Barton.” Let Mother think what she will of that. It was not exactly a lie.

“Good. Good,” her mother said calming down somewhat. “At least they will be able to shield you from rumor. Lady Beresford and her brother are both pillars, and scandal would not touch them.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“You could learn from Lady Beresford, you know,” her mother said, and with that, Mother went to check on Father.

~.~

Charity spent much of the later hours convincing her mother to keep quiet about the whole situation. It was too easy for her mother to let something slip to Mrs. Thompson or Mrs. Sullivan. Charity’s only defense was in protection of her own reputation, which of course her mother would defend to the end. Charity knew that her mother wished she could spin the tale for all so that her daughter was the victim of Wentwell’s rakish ways, but she could not. The scandal might bring her daughter much pity, but with the pity would come ruin, so Lord Wentwell would have to be spared her ire.

Charity reminded her mother that it was best to not speak of the matter at all. If word got out, Father would be looked down upon for his infirmity, and anyway, Lord Wentwell had brought Father home with no more than a thought that the man had drunk more than his fill, and so it was decided that they would speak no more of it.

Several days later she tried to speak with her father of what had occurred but he had no recollection of it. He only recalled their conversation in the park. Charity supposed it was a blessing that he might have a happy memory to look back upon. She kissed his forehead and wished him sweet dreams. She and Lord Wentwell alone knew the truth of the situation and the burden seemed unbearable.

She needed to speak to Lord Wentwell, to thank him for his aid and to apologize for her mother’s words, but there seemed no way to manage it, with her mother watching her every move. In the end, Lady Charity penned a letter of thanks to him, and apology for her mother’s actions against him. She asked Jean to post it for her. She expected him to find a way to answer.

~.~

~Part4~

Honesty

Chapter Nineteen

A week passed and Charity found herself escorted to more than one event by Michael and James Poppy. She received no response from Lord Wentwell. She began to think Lord Wentwell was still angry about the horrible things she has said of him at the ball. She had accused him of being a libertine. She did not know what had actually happened with Miss Danbury, or even Miss Macrum for that matter. True, he had been a gentleman and helped her with her father, but she had been a lady in distress, and he, as a gentleman would be honor bound to help her. But he would not be honor bound to answer her letter or indeed have anything to do with her, especially since she had insulted him. And then her mother had essentially thrown him out of their house. Charity sighed. Mother had been hasty in her judgement, as was she, Charity realized. She had judged Lord Wentwell too quickly.

Why would he write back to her? She had apologized and thanked him via letter, and it seemed that he felt, their communication was at an end. He did not want to see her. If he did, he would have sent word. He had been so masterful in saving her father. Charity realized she wanted more than a simple letter of acknowledgement. She wanted to see him again, but he obviously did not want to see her. He did not call. Perhaps he would never forgive her. The thought made her distraught.

Michael had become ever more attentive to her, and it seemed that after the fiasco with her father, her mother was willing to accept any gentleman who Charity accepted. Charity did her best to get to know more of Michael. He would make a steady husband. He was practical and smart, but Charity could not help but think that it was rare to see him smile.

She made it her objective to show Michael how to enjoy himself. Once or twice she almost succeeded. Almost. She found herself comparing Michael’s serious attitude to Lord Wentwell’s happy one. No. She reminded herself. She would not think of Wentwell. If Lord Wentwell had wanted to see her, he would have answered her letter. Nonetheless, Charity found herself wishing she had not told her mother that she was considering Michael Poppy. That decision was also hasty. Her mother and the Poppy sisters were practically planning their wedding.

It occurred to Charity that she tended to make hasty poor decisions. She flew off the handle when taking a moment to consider might be a better choice. Hasty words had hurt her possible relationship with Lord Wentwell, and there was nothing she could do to fix that. Hasty words had also hurt her friendship with Lady Amelia Atherton, and that issue had been sitting unresolved for almost a year. She could not repair the relationship with Lord Wentwell, but perhaps she could talk to Amelia. That would make her feel better she decided.

~.~

Neville was certain that keeping a distance from Lady Charity Abernathy was the best course of action. She was too fine of a lady to be associated with one of his reputation especially after walking unattended through the musicale in the park. Rumor was not yet rife, but it could be re-ignited. There were moments when he wished it were not so, but there was naught that could be done for it now.

He knew he was a gentleman at heart. He would never truly ruin a lady of theTon. Such were the sisters and daughters of his peers in parliament. Still, he had played his games; he engaged in witty banter and shocked the ladies, but he had never thought ruin would follow such action, until Miss Danbury, and Miss Macrum. He could lay at least part of the blame at their feet, but he was not innocent. He had flirted with both. He had played his part well and all theTonknew him as a rake and nothing else.

When Miss Danbury’s father had come to speak with him about her dalliance with his stablemaster he had been shocked. He had promised to do what he could to protect the lady. He had never once thought that theTonwould tangle him in the embroilment.