Page 16 of Snowbound with the Earl
Mr. Halifax pushed past Graham and into the yellow-papered chamber. The parlor was small, and Graham began to feel cramped. Halifax knelt before his daughter. “What has he done to you, sweetheart? Did he touch you?”
Graham shot a look at Dorsey, whose brow was furrowed with confusion. “No!” Graham said now furious at the accusation. “I did not touch her. As I said—”
“I’m sorry, Papa,” Miss Halifax said, her voice quiet but audible. “I won’t blame you if you disown me.”
“What has happened?” Halifax demanded, but his daughter began sobbing again. Halifax stood and glared at Graham. “Do not lie to me, sir. You were here alone with her.”
Graham’s anger had begun to turn to panic. Was Halifax accusing him of ruining his daughter? Graham knew some ladies schemed to trap titled men into marriage, but he knew the practice to be rare and usually unsuccessful. For the most part men simply lied and said they were trapped when they had done all they were accused of and more. But Graham was not lying. He had not touched the girl. “We were alone for less than two minutes. She burst in with tears running down her face. I offered to fetch your wife.”
Halifax turned to look at his daughter. She shook her head then closed her eyes. “H-he told me to meet him here.”
Graham jerked in surprise at the lie.
“He said he wanted to talk about last night.”
“Last night?” Graham bellowed. “Nothing happened last night. Dorsey—”
“There you are,” came a voice Graham recognized as Mrs. Halifax’s. “I was worried when I checked on you last night and didn’t find you in your bed.”
Oh, bloody hell. The whole family was in on it.
“Your daughter was with Lord Evergreen last night,” Halifax said.
“No, she was not,” Graham argued. “Ask Foster. I walked up with him after the card game. He saw me go into my chambers. Alone.”
“He asked me to wait for him inside, and when he came in, he-he...” Miss Halifax’s face turned red, and she buried it in the handkerchief.
Graham turned to Dorsey. Lady Dorsey and Lady Bonneville stood behind Lord Dorsey in the drawing room now, staring at the group assembled in the parlor. He wondered, fleetingly, why Lady Bonneville was dressed for travel then dismissed the thought. “Dorsey, you must believe me. I never touched the girl.”
Dorsey’s gaze flicked to Miss Halifax and then to Graham.
“Are you calling my daughter a liar?” Halifax demanded. “She says you took advantage of her last night, Evergreen.”
“I am telling you she is mistaken.”
Dorsey held up both his hands in a gesture of peace. “Evergreen, this lady claims she was in your chamber with you last night. Do you have any proof otherwise?”
Graham looked at Miss Halifax. She averted her eyes and began to weep again. Clearly, she was miserable at having to lie. He looked at her father who was making a good show of being angry, but Graham saw the smugness underneath. Then he looked at Dorsey. How was Graham supposed to prove he went to bed alone?
“I have proof,” said a female voice. Graham glanced at Mrs. Halifax, but she was looking behind her.
At Lady Bonneville.
Lady Bonneville lifted her chin. “Miss Halifax was not in his chamber last night because I was.”
Graham’s jaw dropped. He met Lady Bonneville’s gaze and it was hard as mahogany. “My lady,” Graham began.
“Do not try and protect my reputation, Graham,” she said. “I assure you it can withstand a bit of tarnish.” She looked at the others gathered, her gaze never flinching. “You all remember how I went upstairs early last night, claiming I had a headache. My maid will confirm that she helped ready me for bed and then gave me a candle so I might make my way to Lord Evergreen’s chamber. I waited there for him.” She cut her eyes to Graham. “A rather long wait too,” she said. “But I can’t complain.”
While she spoke Miss Edmonton and Lord Foster entered the drawing room. No doubt the guests were being drawn at the sound of raised voices.
“Lady Bonneville,” Graham began, “there’s no need to...” He wasn’t certain how to continue. He wanted to say there was no need to prevaricate, but he couldn’t accuse a lady of lying.
But Lady Bonneville just waved a hand, dismissing him, and pushed into the parlor. She sat on the couch next to the red-eyed, slack-jawed Miss Halifax. “Shame on you for jumping to conclusions,” she said to Mr. Halifax and his wife. “No wonder this young lady is weeping. Mrs. Halifax, you say your daughter was not in her bed last night. I’m certain you must have looked in on her before the card games ended. I imagine they lasted well into the night.”
“We played until after midnight,” Miss Edmonton said, her voice a bit shaky. “I went up with Miss Halifax and saw her go into her chamber. Hers is right across from the one I share with Mama. Mama was up reading, and she can verify it was almost a quarter past twelve.”
“Evergreen and I finished our brandy,” Foster added, “and then went up ourselves just before half past the hour.”
