Page 44 of A Maid's Fateful Courtship
Yet, even as Ethan attempted to right himself, Matilda did not attempt to move away from him. It made for an awkward setting, and Ethan was trying hard to stop himself from tipping over. Within seconds it was a lost battle, for he lost his balance and soon found himself prone on the floor... with Matilda falling on top of him.
Looking down at him with shocked looks on their face, was Cynthia and Thomas.
Chapter 35
“I would like to know what the hell you are doing manhandling my sister?” Thomas cried angrily, his eyes ablaze and face flushed as he reached out to help his sister from the floor.
“I assure you, sir, it was a complete accident,” Ethan tried to explain as he too got himself up from the floor and straightened out his attire.
“You are a liar and a brute. I demand that you explain your intentions towards my sister!” Thomas' voice became even louder, furious at what he had witnessed. He was determined to confront Ethan if only to save his sister's reputation.
Matilda dashed over to stand with a very shocked Cynthia. Ethan looked over at Matilda. His hands shook from the exertion of the. He found himself unsure over how it had all happened in the first place. One minute he had been passing Matilda a book, and the next-
“Thomas," he began, hoping to calm the situation. "I meant no ill intentions towards your sister. We—”
Matilda burst out into loud sobbing wails, interrupting Ethan as he attempted to explain himself.
“I am so very sorry, brother,” she howled, covering her face with delicate hands. “I must confess to you that Lord Ethan took advantage of me."
Ethan stared at her with wide eyes, whatever could she mean?
"Go on, sister, you must be brave and tell me what has happened here," Thomas encouraged her, still staring at Ethan with smouldering eyes.
"He... he had a hold of my hand, and he refused to let me go. I …I tried to pull away …but …he only pulled me closer," she bleated as Cynthia held her hands.
"Do you say that he forced himself upon you?" Thomas called out unable to believe it.
"In my shock at his overwhelming strength, I fell upon him. I am so embarrassed by my predicament," she announced, stopping for a moment and looking over at Ethan. "How could you have done this to me, Lord Ethan?”
Ethan was stunned at the words coming out of Matilda’s mouth. He found himself unable to deny her accusations, he was so shocked by her lies. What had got into her to say such things? She knew that he would never take advantage of her. Why should he? She meant nothing to him in that way.
“That is not how it happened,” he tried to reply, but Thomas moved to stand in front of him, confronting him like an enraged bull.
“Are you accusing my sister of misleading us?” Thomas glowered.
“I was helping her to choose a book because—”
“And why then, sir, were you both alone together? Did you plan it that way? Have you tricked my sister?” Thomas was relentless in his efforts.
“I must admit to the truth, brother,” Matilda interrupted once again, dabbing at her damp eyes.
For a moment, Ethan hoped that she might have come to her senses. At last, she was going to speak the truth and explain it was all an accident. But his hopes were soon shattered.
“Lord Ethan lured me over to a bookshelf, on the pretence of choosing a book for me. When I went to accept it, he would not let go of my hand. He …he leaned closer to me, and... and then he attempted to kiss me.” At that, Matilda wailed out a pitiful cry. Ethan's head spun with the lies that Matilda was telling her brother.
Fighting back the urge to call her a charlatan, knowing that would only make matters work, he took a conciliatory tone. “Lady Matilda, please, believe me, I meant no disrespect towards you. But you must tell the truth. That is not how the accident unfolded—”
Before Ethan could finish his sentence, Thomas lunged for him with a speedy backhanded slap. The force of it stunned Ethan as he took a step backward, wavering dizzily. The warmth of trickling blood ran from his nose, and he felt nauseated as he reeled. For a brief moment, he was unable to focus. His head spun from the unprovoked assault and the room seemed to float in his vision.
“How dare you try to take advantage of my sister?!” Thomas shouted at the top of his voice, for all the household to hear his threat. Moving over to Matilda, he pulled her into a protective embrace. “And then you try and blame her, you cad!”
Cynthia could see that Ethan was struggling to stand up, so she ran over to him. Placing her arms around him to help him stand, she offered her lacy handkerchief to help with his bloodied nose. Ethan was still dazed from the force of the impact but allowed his sister to lead him to a chair.
“What is this ruckus? I can hear you all from the other end of the house?” a loud voice boomed as the Marquess entered the library. He looked on in horror at his bloodied son.
“I will tell you what is going on, Lord Ellsworth,” Thomas spoke up first. “Your son has not only insulted my sister’s integrity, but he is a liar and a beast!”
“Oh, Father!” Cynthia called out with a gasp. “As we entered the room, it appeared that Ethan was dallying with poor Lady Matilda. Did you find her alone, Ethan? Is that what encouraged you to behave in that way? Did not you realise that you were putting her very reputation at risk?”
