Page 85 of Pursued Beyond Treachery
“What in the world?” Someone screeched.
“My goodness,” another woman said.
Susannah jerked back, pulling out of his grasp. John opened his eyes to see a plump woman fanning herself.
A tall, slender woman clucked. “My, my Lord Newhurst, but you shall have to marry her now after such a display.”
He recognized the voice as Lady Plum, but it was the rotund woman at the front, her eyes shooting daggers at Susannah who worried him most.
“How dare you, Susannah!” She hissed.
Susannah shrank back against the stone edge. “I… I…”
He needed to speak, to claim her as his own right now before all these ladies, to let them know he had every intention of marrying her, but his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. He’d ruined her. How could he have been so foolish?
Mrs. Guthrie turned to the other ladies. “I told you she was a hussy. We need not tie Lord Newhurst to such an unprincipled girl. I am ashamed to call her family.”
Mrs. Cline’s nasally whine filled the air. “Hussy or not, he has ruined her and he must be held accountable.”
“But—”
Lady Plum held up a hand. “Mrs. Cline is right. We do not hold for such behavior, and in such a secluded place. Who knows what they were doing before we came upon them.” She glanced pointedly at John out of the corner of her eye.
Heavy footfalls gained volume as a man burst onto the balcony. John’s eyes had adjusted enough to recognize Mr. Wallace before Eddie rushed out the doors. Sliding to a stop, he grabbed Mr. Wallace by the sleeve. Then his eyes widened when he took in the scene on the balcony.
Lady Plum with her hands on her hips. Mrs. Cline with her hand still fanning herself, and Mrs. Guthrie glaring at Susannah who cowered behind John.
He let go of Mr. Wallace. “I suppose I can let this cad go since it seems you have things under control.”
Al strode onto the balcony at a much more appropriate pace. “Care to share why we need to remove a certain piece of rubbish from the ball, Newhurst?”
Johnathan opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He swallowed hard. Of all the times for his mind to play tricks on his mouth, this had to be the worst. He took a deep breath.
“Not here,” was all he could say.
Susannah had been through enough. He needed to get her away from the ball, needed to protect her from the ire Mrs. Guthrie had not ceased to cast her way with her glares. They could figure this out later, then confront the Guthries.
He grabbed Susannah’s hand and pulled her past the staring matrons.
Mrs. Guthrie’s hand shot out and latched onto her arm. “Leave her with me; I am her closest kin.”
Anger bubbled hot and ruthless in his chest. He grabbed the woman’s hand and yanked it from Susannah’s arm.
“No. And you’d do well to watch yourself, Mrs. Guthrie. I will be meeting with your husband in the morning.”
She shrunk back, her eyes widening. Her mouth opened and closed several times, but nothing came out.
John pointed at Mr. Wallace. “I told you to leave town. You dare to disobey a peer?”
Wallace glanced at Mrs. Guthrie and then at Susannah. “N-no,” he stammered. “I am leaving.” He warily watched Al and Eddie as he passed them, probably expecting them to pounce on him at any moment. Once far enough away, he straightened his jacket and raised his chin. “She’s too missish for me anyway.”
Al lunged toward him and Mr. Wallace ran away like the coward he was.
“I will make sure he gets all the way out of town,” Al called over his shoulder as he followed after.
“Take my horse,” Eddie called. Al lifted a hand in acknowledgement. Turning to Johnathan he said, “Do you want me to get the Harrises?”
“Yes, have them meet me at the front of the house.”
