A Little Bit Sinful(29)

“Who was that gentleman you were speaking to earlier?” George asked.

Clarissa ignored the heat that surged through her. “That was Mr. Rodale. He is a dear friend of the family.”

“I see.”

“What is it, George, do you have something to say about Mr. Rodale?”

He eyed her for a moment, then nodded slightly. “I am concerned for your welfare. I’d hate to see a man such as he tarnish your impeccable reputation.”

The words shocked her, so much so that she nearly missed the fact that the music had ended and their dance was over. “Thank you for your concern. I can assure you that my reputation is quite all right.” She realized with alarming clarity that she was angry with George. He was the one who had lied to her, who had treated their relationship, or whatever it was, so casually. And yet he had the nerve to feign concern. The fact that the concern was warranted did not escape her mind. Her reputation should be in tatters now as many times as she’d been alone with Justin, kissed Justin.

George escorted Clarissa back to Ella, then he bent over Clarissa’s hand and walked away.

“What was that?” Ella asked.

“I believe George and I just had our first fight, only he doesn’t know it and I didn’t say anything.”

“I’m not certain I followed that. Still want something to drink?”

“Most definitely.” Perhaps she should have had Justin teach her how to sip some scotch. She could use something a little strong at the moment.

They reached the refreshment table and instead of selecting lemonade, which Clarissa had intended, she chose a glass of champagne. The bubbles teased her lips as she took a hearty sip.

Ella eyed her, surprise etched in her features. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not particularly.” Clarissa scanned the room, the couples twirling around the middle of the ballroom, and then she spotted George. He stood over near the French doors that led to the balcony and he was obviously speaking with someone, but his body blocked the person from Clarissa’s view. And then George shifted, held his arm out and Franny Cooper took it and then he escorted her outside. “Look at that.” She nodded with her head.

Ella followed Clarissa’s gaze to the couple as they left the ballroom. “A dance with you, a walk with her.” Ella sighed. “He’s certainly keeping up appearances as far as not letting on to which one of you he’s going to pick.”

Clarissa considered that a moment, wondered if right now he was kissing Franny in the gardens and if Franny would enjoy it more than Clarissa had. If only Rebecca were still alive to give her guidance. What if she didn’t want to marry George, then what? It wasn’t as if there were other prospects. She’d set her sights on George so early on, after the incident with Christopher, that she hadn’t really encouraged any other would-be suitors.

Ella stilled, then nudged Clarissa in the ribs. “Listen,” she whispered.

Clarissa’s hand gripped her champagne glass and she focused on the people behind them.

“Well, that is not what I heard about him,” one woman said. “No, I had heard that Mr. Rodale blackmailed someone to invite him to this very ball. Can you imagine?”

“It is not as if he’d have to resort to such extreme measures,” another woman said. “His brother is a duke, for heaven’s sake. Certainly if the man wanted to be a part of polite society, his brother could garner him invites.”

“Lois, you always do give everyone the benefit of the doubt. That man is a bastard and he has no place in this ballroom with the rest of us,” the first woman said. “I don’t care if his father was a duke and his mother was nearly French royalty, it doesn’t make it right.”

Clarissa grit her teeth, feeling quite indignant on his behalf. Yes, she’d thought those very things about him, but she’d never say them in public. And now that she’d actually heard them out of someone’s mouth, she could see how truly ugly the sentiment was.

“It is not his fault, the choices his parents made,” the other woman argued.

Precisely. Clarissa tugged on Ella’s sleeve. “I don’t need to hear any more of that,” she said once they were out of earshot. She didn’t want a reason to feel defensive for him. It wasn’t as if she could actually say anything on his behalf. That would really start the gossip flying.

“Do you know who his mother was?” Ella asked. “Do you believe she was a French princess or some such thing?”