Page 59 of The Earl's Disguised Governess
Together, they entered the assembly hall.
Chapter 21
“Mother, I shall take another carriage,” Ernest told his mother later that evening as they left Little Harkwell to attend the ball.
“Oh, do not be so ridiculous, Ernest. How do you think that will look to those in attendance?”
“I care little for that, as you well know.” He avoided her gaze. “Have a safe journey.”
“Ernest, get into the carriage, you foolish boy.”
He stood his ground. They stood outside, the carriage door open. Lady Katherine was already halfway into her seat when he stepped back.
“I shall not play this game of yours any longer,” he told her, his voice clipped. “You have ruined Claire’s life—”
“Ah, it is Claire now? My, my, you are getting informal.”
“We are good friends,” he muttered. “But the point remains. You have ruined her life here in Bath, and I am trying to salvage it for her. I do not wish to be around you.”
She only laughed as if it were no matter. “Ernest, Miss Gundry should be kneeling before me in thanks that I have not sent her packing. Not just to London but for good. I have not ruined her; she ruined herself with her deceit. She lied to you, dearest. What sort of an honest woman does that?”
“What would you know of honest women? You will not tell me the truth about your involvement with Lady Samantha, nor will you dare to speak of my father.”
Lady Katherine’s face contorted in surprise, as if every time he spoke back to her like this, she was shocked. But she recovered quickly, as she always did.
“Everything I do, Ernest, is only to protect you. My investigation into Miss Gundry’s backstory did reveal her involvement with Lord Simon Tuberville. I know of his father, and he is a very pleasant, agreeable man. I should think he would like to know that the woman his son pined for years ago is alive and rather available.”
“Mother, do not—”
“I shall certainly not have her ruin my own son’s reputation,” Lady Katherine hissed.
“And the marquess will not have his son marry a mere governess.”
“Titles can be reinstated easily, Ernest.” There was something in her tone that he did not like. Something hidden—something he could not quite identify. “Once you have had your fun and exhausted yourself in London, you shall see how right I have been this whole time.”
“Right or not, I shall not ride with you. Have a pleasant time at the ball, Mother.”
He shut the carriage door and called for a footman to bring around a different one.
***
The assembly hall Graham had organized for the charity ball was large and spacious, filled with nobility all in their finest, turning out to honour Archibald. The sight pleased Ernest as he walked in and immediately spotted Lady Samantha. Of course, she would be in attendance. He was taken aback by how many people surrounded her. She had thought herself shamed out of Society, but there she was, wholly accepted.
In a beautiful pale green gown, Lady Samantha looked as though she was a leaf floating through a river of sorrow, and he could only imagine how many people would have approached her, offering condolences over Archibald.
Beyond her, he noticed Graham among a group of board members, including Mr Stevens, who pointedly avoided Ernest’s gaze since their squabble at the hospital a month ago.
Towards the back of the room, the Tuberville brothers watched the ballroom, talking with one another. When they noticed Ernest, Lord Simon nudged Lord Victor and urged him forwards. Lord Victor was so like his brother, only younger. A handsome face, dark hair, and green eyes, which no doubt had women fawning over. And then there was the identifiable scar on his lip.
Lord Victor glanced away, sheepish, as he approached Ernest.
“My Lord,” he greeted, nodding his head.
“Ah, so you can speak,” Ernest scolded. “You were not so amenable to greeting me that night on my property.”
“Do not worry, Bannerdown. I am sure my brother shall be on his best behaviour. Is that not right, Victor?”
“My very best,” the younger brother swore.
