Page 70 of When the Viscount Seduces
Lazarus felt a pang of guilt. He was the one who’d dragged his friend and cousin into things. He should not have involved them in his secret meetings with Gwen. But then, when he’d initiated them, they’d been entirely about improving his reading and memorizing his speech. Lazarus could never have predicted that he would fall in love with his tutor.
Looking at Shefford with concern, Lazarus asked, “Is the rumor that bad, or are people discounting it since Eberforce started it?”
“It’s too early to say, but I’ve heard it from two different people now. I daresay if you went into the ballroom, heads would turn in your direction. More than they already do, anyway.”
Dammit.Gwen had likely returned to the ballroom. Was she suffering from everyone staring at her and whispering? His heart ached to think of her being subjected to that. And yet, if he went to the ballroom and they were there together—even if they weren’ttogether—the gossip would grow.
“I need to leave,” Lazarus said, moving toward the entrance hall.
“Yes, let’s,” Shefford replied. “I hear the Siren’s Call luring us.”
Lazarus had no desire to go anywhere but home, but perhaps Jo might know something about why Eberforce was doing this. Was he really just seeking vengeance over a bloody waistcoat?
As they left Jordan’s house, Shefford looked over at Lazarus. “You’ve had quite the couple of days. Perhaps you should become a monk.”
“That is the best idea you’ve ever had,” Lazarus replied. Though he’d no plan to join a religious order, Lazarus vowed in that moment that he would remain celibate until he could be with the only woman he would ever love.
CHAPTER 16
Ducking into the ballroom, Gwen hoped her absence hadn’t been noted. She’d told her mother she was going to the retiring room and had left with alacrity to avoid any discussion or her mother accompanying her. She still felt flushed and quivery after her encounter with Lazarus.
That had been truly scandalous, but she didn’t regret a moment of it. Indeed, she would race right back into his arms if she could.
As she looked about for her mother, she saw Min and Ellis coming toward her. They looked…intent, especially Min.
“There you are,” Min said without preamble. “We’ve been looking all over for you.”
“I was in the retiring room, then I went outside. I was feeling a trifle overheated.” It was as good an excuse as anything.
“You may wish you’d stayed outside,” Ellis said ominously.
Gwen tensed. She glanced around them and realized several people were looking in her direction. Had she not situated her gown correctly after her interlude with Lazarus? Panic streaked through her, as she glanced down at her skirts. They were exactly as they should be, hanging to the floor. Gwen swept her handsover her backside to make sure nothing was wrong there either. Thankfully, all felt right.
Min ushered them to the edge of the ballroom. She spoke in a low, urgent tone. “There is a rumor racing through the ballroom that you have been carrying on a liaison with Somerton.”
Gwen’s neck prickled at the notion that everyone was talking about it, but it wasn’t as if she hadn’t known it was coming. Honestly, her parents should have let her stay at home tonight. Except, if she had, she would not have spent that wondrous time with Lazarus.
“The gossip is that you’ve been meeting him at Tamsin’s house, which you have,” Ellis said with a slight grimace.
“But not to carry on an affair,” Gwen said. “He was helping me with dancing and how to better converse with prospective suitors.” She couldn’t reveal the real reason and would let her reputation wither and die before she did.
“You don’t seem surprised,” Min observed.
Not surprised, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t tense now that the gossip had started. “Eberforce wrote to my parents about it this afternoon. He alleged the affair because he’s observed us both calling on the Droxfords’ around the same time. He can’t have seen us actually meeting one another, however. Indeed, I don’t know how he even knows we were there at the same times.”
Min frowned deeply. “He lives on the same street as Tamsin. He likely saw you both arriving and leaving and made up a story that would be damaging to you. He is the absolute worst rogueever.”
“I would call him out if I could,” Ellis said with a sneer.
“And if he were smart, he’d refuse and apologize,” Min replied firmly. She glanced toward Gwen. “Ellis is rather good with a pistol, if you didn’t know.”
“You are both such dear friends,” Gwen told them with a smile, though she was uncomfortably aware of a good number of people starting at her. “Do you know if people believe this rumor? Or do they know Eberforce started it? I’d like to think people would recognize that he has an ulterior motive.”
Min gave her a sympathetic look. “I’m not sure they all know that about Eberforce. His treatment of you after the Almack’s incident was not common knowledge. However, everyone is aware of Somerton’s reputation, so as soon as they hear he was having a liaison with someone, they are, probably, inclined to believe it. I’m sorry, Gwen.”
Should she tell them what Lazarus had said to her? That he loved her and wanted to marry her? She was nervous to do so, afraid Min would say he wasn’t being honest, that he was a rogue. Instead, she decided to tell them what her father was doing to combat the rumor. “My father sent word to Markwith asking if he would like to negotiate a marriage settlement.”
Min’s and Ellis’s eyes rounded as they gaped at her. “Is that what you want?” Ellis asked.
