A Little Bit Sinful(55)

She continued to chatter on while she led Clarissa back into the crowded ballroom. All Clarissa could do was focus on breathing. In and out. In and out. Everything seemed to be moving slower than usual. The people they walked by, their words blurred, the music sounded broken apart, and there was a strange wooshing that pulsed inside her head. She needed to sit down.

Whether he intended to or not, George had just compromised her. And then he’d left. If he’d cared for her at all, he would have come forward then. If he had had any intention of ever marrying her, this should have forced his hand. And yet, he had run. She had been utterly wrong about the nature of his character. Worse still, Rebecca had been wrong. If she couldn’t trust in Rebecca’s guidance, what could she trust in?

“My Lord, if I could have a moment of your time,” the woman said.

Marcus turned to face her and he caught one sight of Clarissa and brought his arm around her. “What happened?” he asked her.

But she didn’t get a chance to answer as Lady Wooten was already talking. “I walked right in on them. Not sure who the man was, though, he scurried out as soon as he could. I do believe her virtue is in tact, though it might not have been had I not entered the room when I did. If I were you I would find out who he was and demand he make right of this.”

“Thank you for your help,” Vivian said. “Clarissa, let’s get you home.”

Well, she had ruined her reputation, but she wasn’t engaged. In fact, she was utterly ruined and more than likely Marcus would send her to the country to save the family any more embarrassment. Two scandals in one year was more than any family could handle.





Chapter Twelve


Justin had seen everything from across the room. His companion rattled on about wagering odds of hazard, but he was not paying him any attention. Instead he’d seen the hostess lead Clarissa across the ballroom and straight to Marcus and Vivian. They had, in turn, escorted her immediately out of the building. Something terrible had happened.

And then Justin saw George Wilbanks step back into the room and glance around. He looked far too suspicious. Justin knew that Clarissa was not thinking correctly and hell if he hadn’t scared her last night. There was no telling what Clarissa would attempt to do.

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment,” Justin said, then walked away from Baron Flick. He moved quickly and caught George by the arm. “What the devil happened?”

George pulled his arm away. “I do not need to have any unwarranted attention from you.”

“Answer my damned question or I’ll give you more attention than you’ll be able to recover from. What was the matter with Clarissa?”

George looked away from Justin, then back to him. “She made a bad decision and now she will have to deal with the repercussions.”

“Did you violate her?” Justin had to physically hold himself back because he was damn near ready to throttle the man. It wouldn’t be an easy fight either. They had nearly the same physique and Justin already knew George enjoyed a good fight.

The man’s jaw clenched. He met Justin’s gaze. “That is none of your damned concern. Now unhand me before I have you tossed out on your ass. I don’t care if you are the brother of a duke.” He jerked his arm away, then straightened his jacket.

“So she is ruined and you deserted her.”

George met Justin’s gaze and stared back unwavering. “I will not be trapped in a marriage I do not want.”

Justin turned on his heel before he pounded the man in the face.

He might not deserve Clarissa himself, but damned if he’d stand by and allow her name to be ruined. The life he could offer her wouldn’t be what she’d dreamt of, and she’d likely not be accepted back in the crowd that had always accepted her. He didn’t have much to offer her, but if she’d have him, what he did have he’d gladly share with her.

…

Clarissa sat in the front parlor of her house while Vivian and Marcus talked about her a few steps away. “I’m right here and I can speak for myself. Stop whispering and speculating and simply ask me what happened.”

Marcus and Vivian stopped talking and turned to face her. Vivian stepped forward. “Of course you’re right, Clarissa, we’re very sorry.” She looked at Marcus. “Come and sit.”

He complied and they sat across from her on the settee. “Whatever has happened, we’ll weather it, as a family,” Marcus said. “Again.”