Page 36 of The Sword and the Damsel

“You have to go somewhere until this blows over,” said Lady Carenza. “In a few years, maybe—”

“A fewyears?” Lady Alais wailed.

Victor had to clench his fists by his sides to resist the urge to reach out for her.

“I’m sorry, Alais, but you brought this on yourself.” Lady Carenza shook her head.

Lady Alais stared at her sister in horror. “You don’t believe me?”

“I want to believe you, but you haven’t exactly been a model of restraint.” Lady Carenza mouthed something that looked like “Gilbert.”

Lady Alais looked like she was about to gouge her sister’s eyes out, and Victor couldn’t blame her. He wondered if he should step between them. Fortunately, Lord Daniel got there first.

“Alais, I’m sorry,” Lord Daniel said, “but I don’t see an alternative right now. You can’t stay here, unmarried. None of us want to see you go through that kind of humiliation. At least at the abbey, you’d be safe from gossip.”

Victor watched Lady Alais sag as Lord Daniel’s words sank in. As the earl, he was her last recourse. She was defeated. Hope disappeared from her eyes and her lip began to quiver. Iselda started toward her to offer sympathy, but her mother held her back. No one else came to Alais’s defense or comforted her. She folded in half in her chair and her head dropped into her lap. He had to do something but had no idea what.

And then she sat up abruptly and looked at him. The plea in her gaze sharpened. There was one way he could save her reputation, but did he dare offer?

He was about to speak when she beat him to it. “Sir Victor, marry me. Please.”

Her words left him thunderstruck. For a moment, all he could do was stare, his mouth hanging open.

“What?” asked Lord Daniel. “Alais, he hasn’t asked for your hand. What makes you think—?”

“I’ll marry her.” Victor heard the words coming out of his mouth but had no recollection of forming them. Though he spoke to Lord Daniel, his gaze was fixed on the woman he loved.

Lady Alais closed her eyes for a moment and whispered, “Thank you.”

Lady Rossignol and her mother gasped.

“If you and Lord de Vere will grant me your approval,” he added, glancing at Lord Daniel when his brain caught up to his mouth.

“You have my blessing and my thanks,” said Lord de Vere.

“Sir Victor, I’d like to speak with you privately for a moment,” said Lord Daniel. Victor followed him to a small room across the hall.

His heart and mind raced. Was he really going to marry Lady Alais de Vere? It seemed so obvious to him that it was impossible, that she would never consider him. But moments ago, she’d asked for him. Yes, she was desperate. Yes, he was a solution to a problem for her. But she was willing, had even proposed it.

Lord Daniel invited Victor to sit and took the seat opposite. He always made the furniture he sat in look uncomfortably small. “Are you sure you want to do this? She put you on the spot. You don’t have to agree just because there’s no other way.”

Victor appreciated that he didn’t prevaricate. “I’m sure.”

“You already know the details of her dowry. Under the circumstances, do you require more?”

He shook his head in vigorous refusal. Lord Daniel observed him in silence for a long moment.

“Did you make the foolish mistake of falling in love with her despite our warnings?”

Victor looked at the ceiling. He’d tried so hard to keep it all hidden. He closed his eyes and nodded.

Lord Daniel chuckled and shook his head. “We’re all fools for love, I suppose. Welcome to the family.” He clapped a meaty hand on Victor’s arm. “One last thing.” He looked Victor in the eye. “No more trips to Birdie Street.”

Victor exhaled. “One more trip, and not for pleasure. I need to do right by someone who has been kind to me.” Jane would be well taken care of. He would see to that.

“One trip.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

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