Page 59 of The Theory of Earls (The Beautiful Barringtons 1)

The duchess immediately turned and pushed both Carstairs and Miss Turnbull forcefully down the hall. “Do not so much as breathe a word of this or you will regret it,” she threatened. “It was merely a trick of the light. They were only playing the piano.” As she shut the door, Margaret could hear Carstairs bemoaning the fact he’d not gotten to see the trout.

“You did this on purpose,” Margaret said beneath her breath to Welles.

Welles gave her a stony, unapologetic look.

“You were playing bloody Chopin with the door open, knowing I would investigate.” A small cry left her, and she pushed her fist against her mouth. “You’ve ruined it.”

His jaw hardened at the accusation. “Have I?”

“Welles.” The duchess’s voice was imperious. “This is beyond the pale, even for you.” Her gaze landed on Margaret, eyes full of pity and disappointment. “Ruining a young lady because you can.”

“Amanda—”

The duchess took a step forward, piercing Welles with an icy stare. “Take the servants’ stairs down and return to the ballroom from the direction of the terrace. I must try to mitigate the damage done to Miss Lainscott.”

Welles stood from the bench. “I do not need to be reprimanded as if I were a schoolboy.”

“Do you not?” The duchess whirled on him, clearly furious. “Congratulations, Anthony.Youhave succeeded in copying your father’s previous selfish behavior. Howproudyou must be to have ruined Miss Lainscott atmyball. Yet another shot fired in your unending desire to further insult and shame the Duke of Averell. Andme.” Her voice shook with anger. “Howdareyou. Miss Lainscott is under my care. My patronage.” She shook her head. “You have finally become the very thing you despise—the father you remember.”

Welles fell back, eyes wide open in shock from her attack. “Amanda—”

“In the future,Lord Welles, you will address me as Your Grace.” The duchess was fairly trembling with rage, her tone scathing and glacial, so unlike the easy affectionate way she usually addressed Welles.

Margaret flinched as well. She’d caused this. Why hadn’t she just gone to the library? Taken one look at Welles and fled.And to what end?Looking down at her hands, Margaret could finally see the ridiculousness of her plan to force Carstairs into a compromising position. Her scheme had been flawed from the start, even more so now.

One of the duchess’s statues wore more expression on their carved marble faces than Welles did. Pain radiated from his eyes as he regarded his stepmother. Abruptly, he bent in an exaggerated mockery of a bow. “Your Grace.” His glance ran briefly to Margaret, but there was no warmth in his beautiful eyes.

The duchess shut her eyes as if she couldn’t bear to look at Welles a moment longer as he strode in the direction of the door. Once gone and the sound of his steps faded, her lids fluttered open. Pity, regret, and disappointment were thrown at Margaret in equal measure.

“What have you done, Margaret?” She came forward, fingers grazing over Margaret’s shoulders. “Let us try to make you presentable again. We haven’t much time.”

Margaret choked back a sob. The duchess had never called her by her given name; that she did so now told Margaret just how distressed she was.

“I blame myself. I saw the way he looked at you. Wondered at his request for you to accompany us to Lady Masterson’s party. He said it was for Romy’s sake.” Her hands flitted over Margaret’s shoulders and neckline. “Theo mentioned his interest. I should have warned him off. He’snevertoyed with a young lady of good virtue so boldly. And now he’s gone andspoiledyou, my dear Margaret.”

She wasn’t a rotten piece of fruit someone forgot to toss. “No. It wasonlya kiss.” Welles pressing his lips up her naked body flashed before her eyes and she pushed the image away. “Nothing more happened between us tonight.” That at least was the truth. She’d beenspoiledbefore ever setting foot in the conservatory.

The duchess wasn’t listening, all her focus on gathering the pins that had fallen from Margaret’s hair. “I worried he saw you as a challenge of some sort. Thank goodness Carstairs caught me and asked the way to the library, else there is no telling what would have occurred. Welles had promised Carstairs and Miss Turnbull a look at a stuffed trout mounted on the wall.”

Margaret’s breath caught. The last remnants of hope this debacle had been accidental fled with her words. Welles had told her he would leave Carstairs in the library. Alone.

Her knees buckled suddenly.

Oh, God. Winthrop.

The duchess caught her elbow.

“Now you musn’t despair. We may yet be able to brave this out. We’ll go down together. You’ve been withmethis entire time,” she instructed. “And I willensurethat this is made right.” The duchess was steely-eyed. “You can count on my discretion but unfortunately not that of Miss Turnbull.”

Margaret barely heard her.

Welles had lied. He’d never meant to help her at all.

---