Page 97 of Educated By the Earl (Second Sons of London 1)

“I wanted you,” the earl pleaded.

“No, you didn’t. You convinced yourself you did because Lord Middlefield was interested in me. You wanted what you couldn’t have.” She gazed at him steadily. “And now you have lost everything you did have. Your reputation will forever be in shreds for having deliberately engineered an attack on and ordering the murder of a fellow peer. No one will invite you to their social affairs. No one will wish to be seen in your company. No man will box with you or pretend to be your friend. No lady will dance with you. No one will enter into any kind of business dealings with you.

“You, Lord Ellington, are forever ruined.”

He looked at her, no longer confused. Quickly, his eyes darted about the ballroom to confirm what she had said. Tessa saw the contempt on the faces of every member of theton.

The earl’s gaze returned to her and his face revealed his true nature as his venomous hate became obvious.

“You bitch,” he growled, his hand raising to strike her.

Tessa reacted quickly, glad she stood close enough to him to slam her knee into his groin, a move Louisa had taught her cousins years ago. One Tessa had never thought to use.

Until now.

Lord Ellington gasped, his fist falling as he doubled over, clutching himself.

The entiretonalso gasped collectively.

Lord Wethersby emerged from the crowd near her, touching her elbow. “Are you all right, Lady Tessa?” he asked.

“I will be when this filth is removed,” she replied.

“Gladly,” the viscount said.

Lord Wethersby moved to Lord Ellington and jerked him to his feet. Several other gentlemen stepped forward, taking hold of the earl, and the group hustled him from the ballroom.

A cacophony of voices erupted about her, the shock of the moment now over. As usual, Polite Society needed to gossip about what they had seen.

Louisa appeared. “You were magnificent, Tessa. I am proud to be your cousin.” She embraced Tessa.

Adalyn joined them and the three cousins tightly clung to one another.

Then Uncle Edgar touched her shoulder. “I believe it best if we all leave now, my dear.”

Tears freely flowed down her cheeks as she took his arm and he escorted her from the ballroom. Her aunt and uncle joined them.

“You have given Polite Society something to talk about for years to come,” her aunt said, slipping her arm about Tessa’s waist. “And you have made women proud. You stood up to that horrible man. Why, you can do anything, Tessa!”

Through her tears, she said, “All I want is to be with Spencer.”

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