Page 26 of A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Heirs

“Of course.” Davies waved it off, and rather than apologizing and leaving, he made himself comfortable on the unoccupied wingback. “I promise I won’t stay long. However, I wanted to put my mind at ease that you have not taken those scurrilous reports to heart.”

Victor’s stomach clenched, and his gaze darted toward Juliana.

Juliana’s brow furrowed. “Reports?”

Feigned concern colored Davies’s deceitful face. “Then you haven’t heard? Well, I suppose that’s for the best. It would only upset you.”

Fire shone in Mrs. Merrick’s eyes, and she touched her daughter’s arm as if to soothe her. “Sir, if you have something to tell us that concerns my daughter, please do so and stop beating about the bush with intimations.”

Victor’s respect for the entire family grew tenfold. If only his own mother would champion her children instead of trying to manipulate their lives.

“If you insist.” Davies pulled the scandal sheet from his pocket and handed it to Mrs. Merrick. “Read for yourself.”

Oh, the man was beyond devious. Mrs. Merrick walked right into his trap.

Victor’s grip on the pencil tightened, and he had no greater wish than to stab Davies with it.

Juliana leaned over, joining her mother in reading the ghastly gossip rag. Her hand drifted up to cover her mouth and her eyes widened. She locked eyes with Victor. “Did you know?”

Victor swallowed the overly large lump in his throat. “Well . . . I . . .”

“You did. Why didn’t you say anything?” Juliana’s eyes brightened with a shimmer of tears, but she blinked them back.

“Forgive me, Miss Merrick. I have no desire to cause you distress.” He glared at Davies. “Unlike others.”

“Me?” Davies’s mock offense was laughable. “Unlikeyou, Pratt, I came here because I believe forewarned is forearmed, and I have a solution to this”—he gestured toward the paper in Mrs. Merrick’s hands—“unfortunate turn of events.”

Victor continued to glower. “Unless your solution is to stop the person spreading these horrible rumors, I doubt Miss Merrick would be interested.”

Davies pressed his lips together and gave an audible sigh. “Oh, dear boy. It’s only a rumor if the truth of it is doubtful. As we both know, Miss Merrick was indeed seen riding astride.”

Blood pounded in Victor’s skull. “And yet thatragfailed to mention her courageous rescue of Dr. Somersby’s daughter. Funny how it only reports the negative side of things.”

Davies studied his nails. “Which is why I’m here.”

Apparently recovered from the shock, Juliana found her voice. “Which is, Lord Felix?”

“To court you. Being seen with a well-regarded?—”

“Ha. Well-regarded my foot.” Victor mumbled his exclamation of disbelief just loud enough to give Davies pause.

The cad cleared his throat and slid a narrow-eyed glance toward Victor. “As I was saying, being seen with a member of thetonwill go a long way to quell some of the wagging tongues. Especially if I’m courting you.”

Juliana squared her shoulders, determination shining in her eyes. “My brother and his wife are members of theton.”

Felix shook his head as if trying to explain something to a small child. “My dear lady. Scandal firmly attached itself to your brother and his wife without any assistance from you. Not only can they not help you, but have you considered you will do them even more harm?”

The urge to plant the man a facer exploded in Victor’s chest.

Juliana’s brave stance faltered, her shoulders drooping a fraction. “I...I have.”

“That is, unless you associate yourself with someone who is relatively free from scandal.”

Unable to contain his disgust, Victor huffed again. “You sir, are out of line. And if memory serves, you’ve been in the scandal sheets regularly, Davies.”

“As a victim.” Davies snapped the last word. “Which makes my proposal to Miss Merrick all the more compelling. I have garnered sympathy from those in society due to my ill-treatment by Lady Charlotte.”

The fire flamed in Mrs. Merrick’s blue eyes. “I think we have heard enough, Lord Felix.”

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