“That is also different,” she retorted, ignoring the flush of heat to her cheeks. “You insisted on protecting me. It was all completely innocent.”
“As his behavior might be. That is all I am pointing out.”
Gory had not counted to thirty before Allendale tore down the stairs and stormed into the parlor where they had both just taken seats. Julius rose and stepped in front of her, partly to greet Allendale, but mostly to block her betrothed from approaching her.
Allendale peered around Julius’s broad shoulders to stare at her. “What are you doing here?”
Gory had leaped to her feet the moment he strode in and now curled her hands into fists. “I might ask the same of you. What is going on here?”
Julius place a protective arm around her, though Gory sensed it was more to protect Allendale from her wrath rather than the other way around. Oh, she dearly wanted to poke the bounder in the nose.
She knew just the spot to strike, too.
The delicate cartilage along the bridge of his nose ought to get that blood gushing effectively.
“It is not what you think,” Allendale said in a rush, emitting a deflated breath.
“Then clarify it for us.” Julius was still hovering protectively close to her and now placed a possessive arm around her waist, once again likely protecting Allendale rather than the other way around.
“Why did you not tell me about the child?” Gory wanted to grab the nearest heavy object and hurl it at Allendale’s head. “Or the young lady?”
“Because it is none of your business,” he said.
Gory gasped. “I was to be your wife! Did you not think I had a right to know?”
Allendale stared at her a long moment. “Was?”
“That’s right, past tense.” Gory felt no pleasure nor vindication now that the moment of confrontation had arrived. “I cannot marry you. How can you think I would ever agree to exchange vows with you after you’ve fathered a child with another woman? You had to have known of her condition when you proposed to me. How could you demean me in this fashion? How could you treat her so abysmally? And what do you plan to do with the child? You cannot place it in a foundling home. I will never forgive you if you do this to your own daughter.”
His eyes widened. “You think she is mine?”
The comment took Gory aback. “Whose is she, if not yours?”
Allendale’s lips were in a thin, taut line as he said, “I cannot tell you that.”
“And you think I will simply accept this and pretend all is well between us? That will never happen. The wedding is off. Our betrothal is off. I hope never to see you again. It is for the best, isn’t it? Ours was never going to be a love match.”
“Love?” He laughed harshly. “No, Gregoria. Ours was never going to be that. Do you know why?” He pointed upstairs. “Because that disaster is what love gets you, ruin and an unwanted child. And again, not my child.”
“And you would have me believe this? Then what are you doing here?”
“Helping me out,” a young lady said from the doorway.
Gory’s heart went out to her, for she looked so fragile and her skin was so pale. “Miss…I’m sorry if our shouts disturbed you. Lord Thorne and I came here to make certain you were all right. We did not mean to frighten you.”
The vulnerable girl glanced at Allendale. “Tell Lady Gregoria who I am. She deserves to know.”
Allendale walked over to the frail thing and led her to the settee. Once she was comfortably settled, he turned to Gory. “This is my uncle’s ward, Sarah Martin.”
“The blame for my situation,” Sarah said, “lies squarely with me. Marriage to the father is impossible. He is a married man. The Allendale family has disowned me, as I feared would happen. But it still did not stop me from behaving recklessly. Only Lord Allendale took pity on me and has come to my aid. If his uncle finds out he has helped me, he will be furious and take it out on him. For this reason, we’ve had to maintain utmost secrecy.”
“Oh.” Gory glanced in dismay at Julius.
“He is quietly trying to find someone honorable and kind to marry me. That chore has taken up much of his time. And now I’ve ruined your wedding plans, too.”
“No,” Gory said immediately, “this changes nothing. I’m so sorry, Allendale. As things are…it can never work between us.”
Allendale looked exhausted and defeated.
