Hearing Alexander offer marriage in any other circumstances would have been a dream come true. Marjorie could almost picture it. She would jump into his arms before she even gave him her response, because he would be able to see it in the way she looked at him, the way she spoke to him, and the way his offer made her eyes tear up.
But none of that happened now. His offer of marriage was nothing more than a business transaction. He said it so himself. It would suit them both. He would get the title and his inheritance, while she would be taken care of by his father’s fund, as the will stipulated. Everyone would be content… on the surface.
The way he had presented it assured her that he felt nothing but responsibility for her. Even his offer to set up an orphanage was probably his need to live up to the expectations his father had of him. It had nothing to do with her.
Still trembling with confusion, she almost reached the door of the balcony, when someone grabbed her by the elbow. When she turned her attention to the man in question, she was surprised to see Percival. His cheeks were slightly flushed, and there was a barely noticeable but still present whiff of alcohol about him.
“Percival?” she called out to him, concerned to see him like this.
She could tell that something was wrong, only she did not know what exactly. A cold talon of fear tapped her on the shoulder, as cold as Percival’s fingers still wrapped around her elbow, unwilling to let go.
“That is not what you called me last night,” he grinned wickedly, his voice rising.
Initially, she thought she misheard him, because what she heard was too crude, too incredible to believe. This man had never behaved disrespectfully towards her.
“Are you all right?” she asked, but she did not like this one bit. People were beginning to look in their direction, almost hoping for a scene.
“I must admit, I would be better if you started by calling me darling again, as you did,” he answered, pulling her closer to him, so close that her hands were now pressing onto his chest, but he was keeping her firmly clasped in his arms. “Then followed it with a kiss.”
“What are you talking about!?” she exclaimed loudly, not minding that it was she now who was making a scene. The piercing eyes around drilled holes in every part of her body. Yet no one came to help. Everyone merely watched, eager to see what would happen next, as if this was a stage, and they the audience. “Unhand me, this instant!”
Percival laughed loudly. “That is not what you kept telling me last night, my dear.” He theatrically puckered his lips at her. “Come now, you promised that you would prove your love for me in front of everyone by kissing me as passionately as you did before. You do not wish to make me a liar in front of all these people, now do you?”
A few gasps were heard around her. One of them belonged to her.
“You are the liar,” she said with a voice that was on the verge of breaking. Never had she felt so frightened, not even when she was living on the streets, having to fall asleep hungry and cold.
She tried to wriggle away from him, but he would not let go. She extended her neck backwards, as his lips kept coming at her. She was determined to bite him if he dared to touch her with them.
“Unhand me!” she demanded again more angrily this time. But this only seemed to amuse him even more, while his grip remained as tight.
“You are all the same,” he snorted. “You tease, you make promises you have no intention of delivering. I should have never brought you to my home last night!”
Marjorie felt light-headed. The entire room around her was spinning. She could barely stand on her own two feet. If he released the grip he had on her, she was certain that she would drop down to the ground, like a puppet without its strings.
She looked around, desperate for help. Why was no one helping her? She could not understand what she had done to deserve the look of scorn and disgust on their faces. Why were the ladies pressing their hands to their lips in shock at hearing this man speak such vulgarities that never happened? She could not understand.
“Let go of me!” she ordered once more, but her voice was breaking. She had no more strength left in her. Her reputation, if she ever had any among the ton, was ruined.
“Fine!” he shouted angrily at her, his brows knitting, coming together right between his eyes. He looked like an angry god, about to send thunder and lightning. In fact, he had already destroyed her life with these accusations. There was nothing else he could do to her.
He released her, even pushing her away from himself, as if he too were now disgusted with her. “I do not need a woman of loose morals such as yourself!”
Something inside of Marjorie broke. It exploded. It shattered into a million little pieces, and she doubted she would ever be able to pick them all up again.
“What did you say!?” Suddenly, she heard someone’s voice. It sounded like the choir of the angels, piercing through the darkest of clouds, bringing forth sunshine. It was Alexander.
Her vision was blurry. She could barely see him straight. But she could hear him, and she would recognize his voice anywhere.
Alexander lunged at Percival and grabbed him by the collar. “Repeat it if you dare, you scoundrel!” Alexander’s voice thundered through the ballroom. No one else dared to breathe, let alone say something. Their eyes were fixated on the dramatic scene unveiling right before their eyes, and they were hungry for more.
As for Marjorie, she just wished for this to be over. She wanted to go home and forget about this evening. Only she doubted she would be able to.
She rubbed her eyes, clearing her vision a little. She stared at the two men in front of her, both acting in a way she could not explain. Percival had accused her of spending the night with him and promising more. The thought of doing such a scandalous thing made her blood turn cold. Although blue blood did not course through her veins as it was the case with the rest of the guests here, but she was equally adamant about respecting herself, her body, and her soul. When one had nothing, reputation was the only thing one could uphold to consider himself or herself worthy of someone else. Now, with Percival’s accusation, all that was destroyed.
Seeing Alexander come to her aid, defending her in such a chivalrous manner, almost made her cry. But she would be damned if she would allow herself to cry in front of all these vultures and jackals. She quickly wiped the corner of her eye with her sleeve, then walked up to stand by Alexander’s side.
“None of what he said is true,” she snarled at Percival whose reaction chilled her to the very bone.
