Page 64 of When the Viscount Seduces
“I can’t imagine you are; however, if she tells people, you will then have to fight against rumor and innuendo.”
“Don’t we already do that by the nature of our reputations?” Lazarus asked, finally dropping into a chair. He’d barely slept last night, and he was exhausted.
“I suppose, but no one is out there saying we are fathering children out of wedlock with the granddaughter of a viscount.”
Lazarus flinched as if he’d taken a physical blow. “I may be rakish, but that is beyond the pale.”
“Since it’s likely you didn’t even do it, you can’t marry her.”
“I don’twantto marry her. But I suspect if I tell her this, she’ll insist it was me. She needs to marry in haste, and why not snare a viscount?”
“While I also sympathize with her predicament, this is an awful way to keep herself from ruin. She made a mistake.”
“What if she didn’t?” Lazarus said, feeling sorry for the young lady. “Plenty of women are coerced. Or worse.”
Shefford pressed his lips together. “I would hope that hasn’t happened here, but perhaps you should find out. In the meantime, I am happy to speak on your behalf. I will also send word to the innkeeper and ask him to provide an alibi for you. In fact, I’ll send someone who can make the trip there and back with extreme haste.”
Lazarus sagged against the back of the chair. “You would do that for me?”
“Of course. We must also see who at Haverstock Hall can recall anything from that night. I forget if you had your valet with you or if one of their retainers assisted you that week.”
“It was one of theirs. Could your man interview him?”
“Of course. I’ll instruct him to interview as many people as he can.” Shefford grimaced. “He won’t return by Monday, however.”
Even so, this was more hope than Lazarus had possessed an hour ago. “I’ll have to ask her for more time. I’ll also tell her I don’t think she’s remembering what happened correctly.”
“That’s a polite way of calling her a liar,” Shefford said with a smirk.
“I hate doing that, but I did not do this. Perhaps I can offer to help her call out the true father.”
“Unless it’s someone she can’t marry. She would much rather wed a viscount, and her family will want that too. You said her mother knows.” Shefford narrowed his eyes briefly. “Have you considered speaking to the mother and telling her you know this is a ploy to entrap you in marriage?”
Lazarus blew out a breath. “I had not. I was too focused on the shock of it all. I am grateful for you and Droxford having level heads.”
Shefford arched a brow. “You spoke to Droxford?”
“Last night. I was, to borrow your phrasing, distressed. I hadn’t even thought to find you yet.”
“You went to Droxford first?” Shefford laid his hand against his chest. “I’m wounded.”
“No offense intended, but he is the most upstanding of our set and possesses an extremely level head.”
“He’s made his share of mistakes, but you are correct in that he is better behaved than we are.”
“Perhaps it’s time we corrected that.” Lazarus stood, feeling weary. “If I can survive this disaster, I am definitely changing my ways. You should consider it. Where were you last night and today?”
“Behaving badly. Don’t ask me to change,” Shefford said, rising. “I’ll just endeavor not to get drunk enough that I can’t remember what I was doing.” His lips lifted in a quick, humorless smile.
Lazarus realized that Shefford didn’t ever drink to that level of excess, at least not that Lazarus could recall. How had he never noticed that before?
“Anyway,” Shefford continued. “I don’t give a fig about my reputation, as you well know.” He flashed a genuine smile then. “I’ll send for my man immediately.”
Lazarus stood. “Thank you. Who is this man, anyway?”
Shefford shrugged. “Just someone I employ from time to time. What will you do about this young woman? What’s her name?”
“Miss Melissa Worsley.”
