Page 41 of A Gentleman to Avoid (Sherton Sisters 3)

Chapter Fourteen

“Why did you say such a ridiculous thing?”

“What else was I supposed to do? You were in my arms and crying.”

“You could have said someone died.”

Ash didn’t appreciate that she would rather there be a death than an engagement.

“It still would have compromised you.”

“Hardly. The door was open. We weren’t doing anything wrong.”

Crossley interrupted their burgeoning argument. “What were you doing with your arms around my charge, Northcott? I take it you didn’t actually propose marriage to her?”

“I didn’t, but I’m prepared to stand by my word.”

Ashford’s chin rose in challenge as he glared at the earl.

“Do I not get any say in this matter?”

By now, Lady Crossley was standing beside Vigilia, clearly undecided whether she ought to be comforting her friend or glaring at her guest, while she also obviously wanted to throw herself at her husband for some comfort of her own. Vigilia must have realized the same thing. Ash watched as she visibly pulled herself together and put her arm around her friend.

“George, I promise you, I’m perfectly well. This has all just been a bit of a misunderstanding. Do sit down. You’ve been running yourself ragged with your guests. This little dust up is exactly not what you need.”

He wanted to grin but held it behind his teeth as Vigilia clucked over her friend like a mother hen. “Crossley, ring for some tea. We’ll get this all sorted in no time.”

“Your mother is going to kill me,” Lady Crossley suddenly wailed.

“Not in the least. If worse comes to worst, it’ll turn out that you were hugely successful. You managed to ensnare me a wildly successful husband. Mother won’t be bothered that he’s a mere mister.”

Heat climbed in Ash’s cheeks, as he was strangely repulsed by her words. But before he could say anything, there was another interruption.

“The Duke of Wexford has arrived, my lord,” the butler called through the door, prompting a moan from the countess and a growl from Crossley.

“Don’t be alarmed, my dear, this is actually perfect. Wexford will be able to solve everything.” Vigilia’s face didn’t look as completely convinced as her tone implied, but she went quickly to the door and asked the butler to show Wexford to them.

“Vicky, I came just as soon as I could. And no, I didn’t tell your sister,” Wexford announced as soon as he arrived in the room, taking in at a glance that things were clearly awry. “And it seems I’m just in time. What has happened?”

Ash wished the man to perdition, even though he considered the duke a friend. Everyone tried to speak at once, and Wexford calmly took it all in before cutting them all off with the sweep of his hand.

“Enough. I’m not certain what exactly has taken place here, but it sounds to me that it has been a great deal of nothing. Lady Vigilia’s propriety is unassailable. She needn’t marry in haste to prove that. I have no idea how she managed to get ensnared with Lord Bertram, but he is no threat to any of us, except perhaps Northcott,” the duke concluded with a nod at him before adding, “But that is his problem to deal with, and I cannot allow it to touch the ladies of my family. Vicky will be coming with me. We will say her sister needs her.”

Lady Crossley’s weeping, which had been silent up until then, began to include a hiccup, causing more mayhem in the room as Crossley and Vigilia both tried to comfort the woman. Wexford again issued his proclamations.

“Lady Crossley, once this matter has been cleared up, if you are up to it, I’m certain Lady Vigilia will be happy to return to your care. But since she was sufficiently frightened by a fellow guest in your home to write to her brothers-in-law, it would seem best for all involved that she remove for the time being.”

The countess turned to Vigilia with such an expression of reproach written all over her face that Ash was surprised the debutante didn’t crumple at her feet. He could see Vigilia’s chin quiver and her eyes filled with tears, but she held onto her composure as though by a thread.

“I’m sorry, George. I made a muddle of it. I was trying to protect everyone, including you and Crossley.”

“But we were supposed to be protecting you,” the countess insisted with another flood of tears.

To his surprise, Vigilia laughed. “Georgia Horton, are you faking right this minute?”

Even further surprising him, the countess laughed, too, even though it was through her tears. “I’m not faking. You know your mother is going to be most displeased with me for this. It’s unlikely you’ll be allowed to return with us, even if Parliament gets recalled.”

“George, Mother is far too enraptured with Augustus still to care a fig what has happened here. Disaster has been averted, all is well. I shall return momentarily, and we shall carry on just as before.”

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