Page 2 of Taken By the Broken Duke
She rose to her feet unsteadily and crossed the room to Juliet’s side. Glaring at the men, she took Juliet’s hand as if to show that she was not afraid of the illness.
“Lady Swindon,” she addressed herself to Margaret. “I was accosted by the Marquess of Somerset, a man I had judged to be honorable.”
She turned to Juliet and forced a smile through her tears. “Do not be afraid, Juliet. Just as I am not. Tell your Aunt and Uncle what you saw. Be truthful now.”
The act of taking Juliet’s hand meant that she could no longer hold in place a wayward piece of torn fabric at her shoulder. It chose that moment to fall, exposing the milky white skin beneath and threatening to reveal part of one breast.
Hugh Kimberley was slapped in the chest by his father with the back of one meaty hand. Thus prompted, he hastily removed his coat and draped it about his wife’s shoulders to cover her nakedness.
Juliet felt inordinately grateful at the simple gesture of a stranger taking her hand. She was used to being shunned but Lady Meredith’s act made her feel as though she weren’t an outcast. A little of the fear she had once felt upon being dragged into this room and questioned was assuaged.
“He was like a wild thing. Pressing his suit, and when I refused him…” Meredith stammered, voice rich with tears, “…when I reminded him that I am a happily married woman, he struck me.”
“Did you see this, Juliet?” Aunt Margaret asked, archly. “Speak up!”
Juliet thought back to the scene that had been revealed upon the opening of the door. Meredith had been on the floor, one arm raised above her head as though to protect herself. A man with dark hair had been standing over her. He had been tall and broad, a giant in Juliet’s eyes. But, hadn’t his face been concerned? Had he been reaching down to Meredith with an open hand, as though to help her up?
She opened her mouth to speak and glanced at Meredith, who gave her a brave smile and nodded. Juliet swallowed her words. How could she gainsay Meredith? Meredith would not say she had been struck unless that had happened. It could havehappened before Juliet entered the room. Then the man who struck her had regretted his action and tried to make amends. Perhaps the blow was entirely accidental?
“I heard a scream and opened the door. This lady was on the floor and a tall, dark-haired man was standing over her.”
“He struck me. You saw that too,” Meredith hastily added. “The door was open before he struck me. I screamed after the blow, when he was standing above me. You saw,didn’t you, Juliet?” she finished firmly.
Juliet had not seen.
But looking into Meredith’s pupils, she was suddenly afraid. Her hand tightened around Juliet’s and there was a hardness to her stare. Juliet glanced around at the circle of hostile faces. She did not know any of them except for Aunt Margaret and Uncle Gilbert. All were staring at her, waiting for her answer. The events she had remembered clearly just a moment ago now changed. Had the door already been open? It could have been. Had she seen that giant of a man strike this nice lady? She was bruised and she had been on the floor, so shehadindeed been struck.
“Without a witness, that man will never face justice for what he has done,” Meredith whispered into Juliet’s ear. “That would not be fair, now, would it?”
Juliet nodded, swallowed, and cleared her throat.
“He struck her. I saw it,” she said clearly.
Meredith patted her hand and smiled. It was a smile of warmth and affection. It reassured Juliet that she was doing the right thing. This was not a bad person. Whomever the man was that had struck her,hewas the bad person.
“He struck her down and I think he would have struck her again had I not walked in.”
Thiswas an embellishment, but she was encouraged by Meredith’s broadening smile of reassurance and the fact that she still held Juliet’s hand. No one, not even her own Aunt, Uncle, or cousins would hold her hand. Even those who lived with her and knew that the disease that had struck down Juliet’s mother could not be caught still maintained their distance on a matter of principle.
Juliet smiled tentatively back at Meredith.
“Then there must be a reckoning,” Marlingford uttered gruffly, “this is a grievous insult to my family and it cannot go unchallenged.”
“…What do you mean, father?” Hugh asked, a note of hesitation in his voice.
Marlingford eyed his son for a moment and then turned away. “Nothing for you, my boy. Do not worry. I shall take care of this.”
He stomped from the room, slamming the door behind him.
“Hugh, old chap. We must talk,” Sir Graham quietly began, “I fear your father is impetuous. Let us try and remonstrate with him.”
Hugh nodded, leaving the room with Sir Graham who whispered to him as they went. Juliet looked to her Aunt Margaret who was watching her speculatively. She did not look happy, but then she rarely did. Uncle Gilbert hovered at her shoulder, waiting for his cue.
Meredith rose with a sigh. “This has been a trying evening. If you will excuse me, Lord and Lady Godwin, I believe I shall retire.”
There was no trace of tears in the Marlingford daughter’s voice now. She spoke clearly and firmly, not looking once at Juliet.
“If my niece should be needed to give further evidence, she will of course be made available, my lady,” Aunt Margaret smiled servilely. “Such ungentlemanly conduct cannot be permitted to go unpunished.”
