Page 38 of Fortune Favors the Frivolous
Unlike Charlotte, he saw in her expression not accusation, but something that gave him strength. Yes, there was concern, but also trust. She didn’t believe for a moment what others clearly did.
Her blue eyes held his, steady and unwavering, a silent promise of support.
At least he had one ally in this room.
Chapter Nineteen
By the nextmorning, Henry was very aware of what Barnaby had been insinuating. No, more than insinuating. The accusations hung over him like a storm cloud, dark and threatening.
And in another townhouse, the same insinuations were being strongly countered by Henry’s staunchest ally if he but knew it.
Pacing before the window with its sunny view onto the street below, Caroline wrung her hands as she said to her friend, “But, Venetia, that’s preposterous! Are you telling me that your Aunt Pike has said all this to you before you’d even finished breakfast?”
Venetia leaned down to offer Caroline’s little pug an almond wafer beneath the table, unable to look Caroline in the eye. “Yes! She told me what I believe to be the most outrageous lies! She says the lady in blue is an Austro-Hungarian princess Henry met in London last year and that he led her to believe that if she escaped her husband and came back to London, they would run away together.” There were tears in Venetia’s eyes when she straightened, adding in a low voice, “And as if that weren’t bad enough, she said something about Henry having secrets and scandals that are about to bring all hell down upon his shoulders. Yes, those were her exact words!” Venetia took a deep breath, unable to go on until Caroline took a seat by her side and, taking her friend’s hand in hers, said bolsteringly, “Tell meexactly what else she said for we both know they were just lies! We know your Aunt Pike can in no way be trusted to look after your interests. And she’s trying to blacken Henry’s name. That’s what this is, you know.”
Venetia nodded miserably before going on. “She accused Henry of secretly purloining money from his father’s accounts to give to this woman’s brother. She said someone had whispered they had proof of it but she refused to say who.”
Unable to keep her agitation contained, Caroline rose and began to pace, her skirts swishing against the carpet with each turn. “That is absolutely absurd. I’ve known Henry all my life. He would never do such a thing and, as I said, we know—”
“Yes, I know,” Venetia said quietly. “But everyone is talking. Lord Windermere called this morning—”
“Lord Windermere?” Caroline couldn’t keep the alarm from her voice. The mere mention of his name had the propensity to make her tremble like a blancmange.
Venetia shuddered. “I didn’t know what to do when suddenly he was in our drawing room. It was shocking enough to see him at the ball last night. And when he led me away, I thought I should scream. Except that Mr. Rothbury suddenly appeared. But there was Aunt Pike, pretending that all was quite normal. As if she didn’t know of the horrors he’d visited upon me for Itoldher he’d taken me against my will. I told hereverything!” Her voice rose with each word.
“Did you tell her what Henry had done to be your savior?” Caroline nibbled at her lip, exhaling with worry, when Venetia nodded.
“But only when Mr. and Mrs. Gascoyne laid out their side of the story, for I could hardly keep Henry out of it.”
“And what did Lord Windermere say?” Caroline’s voice was steady despite the churning in her stomach.
“That he was concerned for my welfare, given the… circumstances.” Venetia’s lip curled in disgust. Clearly trying to find an outlet for her outrage, she leaned down to feed Pug another wafer, adding as she rose, “When Aunt Pike invited him to stay for tea, I thought I would fall out of my chair in a complete faint. I wish I had, now.” The pug snuffled contentedly, oblivious to the tension in the room.
Caroline stood up and resumed her pacing, her mind working rapidly. The pieces were easy to fit together, and the picture they formed was horrifying. “We know this is all too convenient. A mysterious, supposedly foreign noblewoman appears from nowhere, Barnaby suddenly has evidence of financial wrongdoing, and Lord Windermere is hovering about, playing the concerned friend.”
Venetia looked up, her expression uncertain. “Of course it is! And I am completely outmaneuvered. Lord Windermere is orchestrating this entire affair in collusion with my aunt.”
“Yes, of course we know that, dearest,” said Caroline, taking a deep breath as she readied herself to reveal the truth about Henry and herself. “But there’s something else you should know—”
“Yes!” cried Venetia, rising suddenly, her expression suddenly clearing. “Only Henry can save me.” She closed her eyes briefly as she clasped her hands to her breast. “Knowing that I have Henry to look after me is all that stands between evil Lord Windermere and… and utter despair!”
*
Meanwhile, Henry facedhis own inquisition. His sister, normally his staunchest ally, sat across from him in the morning room,her expression troubled as she refused to countenance his side of the story.
“Charlotte! Surely you understand these are all elaborate fabrications designed to blacken my name? There is not a jot of truth to any of it!”
Charlotte hesitated, her spoon clinking against her teacup as she stirred in a spoonful of sugar. “Are yousureyou’ve never seen that woman?”
“Of course not!”
“But she spoke as if you’d… disappointed her—” Charlotte’s eyes were shadowed with doubt.
“Lord, Charlotte, do you not believe me? First of all, this strange, unaccompanied young woman blows in here and makes straight for me and barely have you drawn breath before you’re quizzing me about gambling or investments or… I don’t even know what you think I’ve done.” He swallowed, his throat dry despite the tea at his elbow. “Or what Barnaby thinks I’ve done.”
Charlotte, normally so placid, reddened. Glancing about the breakfast room, its cheerful yellow walls now seeming to mock the gravity of their conversation, she lowered her head to whisper, “I told you that he said he’d found evidence of wrongdoing on your part, Henry.” She hesitated, close to tears, a droplet trembling on her lashes.
“Then what form, exactly, did this apparent wrongdoing of mine take?” Henry asked, fighting to keep his voice level. Outside the window, a sparrow alighted on the sill.
