Page 84 of The Lady and the Footballer
“Father? I must speak with you.”
Lily took a step into her father’s study, holding Lord Montgomery’s damaging book in tight-knuckled hands. She had promised Colin that she would make this right, and she had seen the love and trust in his eyes, staring right back at her.
She had to prove to him that his trust was not misplaced, and that she could do this for him – take care of him and stand up for him.
But the truth that she didn’t want to face was that all she could do was try. Her father still had the opportunity to say no, and then she would be left with nothing.
No plan. No way forward. No way to defend Colin and restore to him all that had been taken away from him.
“Are you going to tell me the truth about why you left Lord Montgomery’s last night or what all that commotion in the garden was about?” he asked, not looking up from his ledger – thankfully, for Lily was sure her mouth had dropped open.
“What commotion?”
“Even with the musicians, we could hear shouting from the garden. While no one could be certain who was involved, it occurred shortly after you departed.”
“Hmm,” she said with a shrug. “We must have missed it. I hope you had an enjoyable time.”
“I did,” he said, folding his hands in front of him. “Now, what did you wish to speak to me about?”
Straight to the point. Very well.
“When you removed Mr. Thornton from the club and the mill, you did so because of evidence against him, correct?”
“Yes,” he said, his jaw tightening. “And it appears I was right to do so. I am not certain if you have heard, but Colin Thornton is now wanted for theft.”
“Accused by Lord Montgomery.”
“So it seems.”
“The same man who is your rival in business as well as on the football field. Who would have the most to gain by your downfall, who I told you was plotting against you.”
“What are you trying to say, Lily?”
“I am trying to say that he is the one who has been plotting against you, the club, and the mill. He has been bribing players, causing mishaps, trying to bring about your downfall. And I can prove it.”
“How?”
“Because therewasa theft last night. Only I was the one who stole something.”
“What?” he said, his mouth dropping open. “Lily, tell me you are jesting.”
“I am not,” she said, lifting the ledger from her lap and dropping it open in front of him. “Look through this yourself. It is very obvious that Lord Montgomery is attempting to bribe players, and you can see that he successfully did with one of ours– Mickey Davies. But not Colin. He was framed, although not by Lord Montgomery.”
“Then by whom?”
“Lord Nathaniel. He was jealous.”
“Of Colin Thornton?”
“Yes.” She took a breath. Here it was. The moment of truth. “After I turned down Lord Nathaniel, and he knew that Colin was the man I was falling for.”
Her father’s head snapped up from the book to look at her.
“Say that again?”
“I am falling for Colin Thornton. Actually, I am not just falling for him. I am in love with him.”
“Lily, this is nothing more than an infatuation. You are young. You?—”
