What a Reckless Rogue Needs (The Sinful Scoundrels, #2)(45)

“I distinctly recall seeing Lady Cunningham, whom I’d met once. She was the widow of a much older man. She had the strangest expression when I saw her staring at me from a distance. The word that came to mind was gloating. I ignored it.

“The ballroom was hot and crowded. I do not know how much time passed when I went to get a cup of punch. A footman approached and asked if I was Lady Angeline, and when I said yes, he handed me a folded note. I did not recognize the handwriting. I sought out Charlotte and showed her the strange note with instructions to go up two flights of stairs and knock on the fourth door on the right. Charlotte advised me not to follow the instructions, as it might be a trick. Curiosity got the better of me, and Charlotte reluctantly accompanied me.”

“What happened?” Colin asked.

“When we reached the door, Charlotte begged me not to knock. I told her that I wanted to confront whoever had sent that note. When I knocked, Brentmoor’s voice rang out. I will never forget his words. It was ugly.”

“What did he say?”

“Go away, I’m…well, you can supply the filthy word he used. A feminine laugh rang out. The squeaking of bed ropes told me more than I wanted to know.”

“He is beyond disgusting,” Colin said.

“Charlotte pleaded with me to leave immediately, but I was enraged and knocked repeatedly. The bed ropes squeaked again. I heard the rustling of skirts. When he opened the door, his trousers were only half buttoned. Lady Cunningham smirked at me as she shook out her skirts. Fury raced through me like a wildfire. I was enraged and slapped him. Of course the commotion led others to race up the stairs. I had done the unpardonable by creating a scene. You know the ton will tolerate many things, but not indiscretion.”

“What happened?” he said.

“Charlotte’s brother ushered us downstairs, but by then the gossip was flying. My face was as hot as fire, but I walked down those stairs and through the foyer with my head held high, even though I saw others staring. I thought they would support me, because he had been unfaithful. I was na?ve to believe it.

“My heart hammered, and I kept telling Charlotte I was sorry for ever involving her. After her brother took me home, I was still shaking as I walked into the house. My parents had not returned from the opera. I decided to wait until morning to confess the sorry story, but I did not sleep at all that night.

“You can imagine my parents’ horrified reaction upon hearing what had occurred. My father’s face grew mottled and my mother was pale. When I told them I would cry off, my mother rushed out of the drawing room. I was worried and followed her. She’d gotten sick. The consequences had not yet dawned on me. I was not thinking clearly or I would have realized that breaking an engagement would result in gossip, but I didn’t realize it would get far worse.”

“You were still in shock,” Colin said.

“My father sent round a message to Brentmoor, demanding he present himself posthaste. When Brentmoor arrived, he said it was all a misunderstanding and that he sought relief elsewhere to protect my feminine sensibilities before the marriage.”

“The devil,” Colin said.

“An apt description of him. At that point, my shock had worn off. When I told him that we were no longer affianced, his face paled. No doubt he’d counted on my fortune. After he departed, I was relieved, but it did not last. Charlotte called on me three days later. After my mother left the room, Charlotte reluctantly divulged the horrible news her brother had revealed. Brentmoor claimed he’d…”

“What did he claim?”

“He said he had l-lain with me many times.”

“He should be shot,” Colin said. “Why did I never hear a word about it?”

“Most likely no one would have repeated it to you because of our family connections. I never told my parents about the slur. Mama was a ball of nerves, and Papa wouldn’t even leave his study.”

“Why would anyone believe Brentmoor?”

“We had been affianced for a fortnight, and others had seen him plastered against me in the unlit portion of the gardens.”


Colin scowled. “He planned it.”

“Probably. I will never know for certain. The repercussions were awful. My father refused to see anyone.”

“He blamed himself,” Colin said.

“My mother’s two closest friends called four days later to warn her about the gossip. It was bad. My mother’s friends advised taking me to the Continent. It did no good. My reputation followed me to Paris, though my mother still has no idea.”

Colin frowned. “What do you mean?”

“A number of Frenchmen made me scandalous offers.”

He bounded off the sofa and fisted his hands. She could hear him breathing like a racehorse. “Colin, it is in the past. Nothing can be changed.”

“I will call him out.”

“If you did, it would only make matters worse because it would renew the scandal.”

“He deserves to be horse whipped.”

“The part that keeps me awake at night is what I’ve done to my family.”

“You are innocent,” he said.

“You don’t understand. The scandal will follow Penny. She is the innocent in all of this, and she will suffer by association.” Her face crumpled. “My sweet little sister m-may never have a come-out because of me.”