Page 84 of Rescued from Betrayal
Mrs. Cline sniffed. “There always was something off about the girl. Too polished, as if she had something to hide. But are you certain it is true?”
A third lady joined them and Nathaniel stopped, making a show of observing a painting on the wall. He glanced at the group. Even with the large turban he would recognize Lady Kendall’s lifted chin and peacock-like strut.
“Lady Kendall, can you confirm such a rumor?”
The lady elegantly crossed her hands upon her lap. “What rumor are we speaking of?”
Mrs. Cline flicked her fan open and whispered behind it. Lady Kendall’s eyebrows inched up with each second that passed. Nathaniel could only imagine what was being said, but he was quite certain it pertained to him and Melior. Quite the bold move of the two old tabbies to go straight to Lady Kendall for confirmation of the rumor that probably also included Mr. Fairchild’s name.
Perhaps returning back to London so soon had not been a good plan. It seemed that their scandal was still quite fresh in everyone’s minds.
Lady Kendall pulled back and shook her head. “I am afraid it is quite true. Such a disappointment. I tried to warn her father of the trouble that would come all our way. And to think she floated around so many ballrooms hiding such a lie.”
Nathaniel balled his fists. Did the woman have no shame? She was speaking of her own daughter, and yet she threw her to the proverbial wolves. He grit his teeth in a desperate bid to hold back the rebuke he wished to rain down on Lady Kendall’s head.
If there was a liar in this room, it wasthatlady. He’d never held much respect for the hypocritical woman, but her willingness to do anything to save face was despicable.
He crept closer, telling himself he was not going to intervene, that he only wished to make the lady uncomfortable. But the anger building in his chest had him ready to burst like a steam engine with too much pressure.
The Duke of Bedford stepped in front of Nathaniel, his back to him. “Lady Kendall, what a pleasure to see you this evening.”
The lady glanced up in surprise, her lashes fluttering as she blinked a few times. “Your Grace. I thought you did not mean to return until Sunday.”
“That had been the original plan before I left, but once I was on the road to Maidstone I found that I would be needed back a few days sooner.”
Lady Kendall uncrossed her hands and swiftly opened her fan, batting it high above her nose. “I see. Well…”
Was that perspiration gathering on the lady’s forehead?
“Welcome, I suppose. And where is Miss Fortesque?”
“Do you meanLady Jillian?” the duke asked.
Lady Kendall flushed. Had she meant to so openly slight the duke’s future duchess?
“Ah, yes.” It was hard to believe, but the beating of the lady’s fan increased, wafting dark curls streaked with grey about her face.
His Grace took a step closer, peering down at her. She raised the fan, almost as if she wanted to hide under it.
“What interesting jewelry.”
At the duke’s words Lady Kendall’s flushed cheeks became a sickly color of red.
“Yes, Lady Kendall,” Lady Plum said, “Those sapphires and diamonds are quite exquisite.”
Sapphires? Diamonds? Nathaniel stepped close enough to get a better look. There, on the lady’s throat, was the exact jewelry Melior had described to him all those weeks ago. The ones she said her uncle gifted her.
The steam engine in his chest whistled and he pushed forward. The duke put out an arm, catching him by the chest. “Not here,” he whispered.
Nathaniel made eye contact with him, a mulish expression taking over his face.
“For Melior,” her uncle said.
The thought of bringing more shame and hurt to her door cooled his boiling rage. What good would it do to make a scene over Lady Kendall’s theft?
His swift movements had caught her attention and the bright red color drained from her cheeks, leaving them a sickly pale color. “S… Sir Nathaniel.”
He could have her jailed for her deceit, and she knew it—especially with His Grace there to testify.
