He finally found Colin and alerted him to the scandalmongering taking place before their very eyes. Colin spent some time wandering around, talking to various young ladies and their mamas, and came back to report that the stories were being embellished, and becoming more extreme as the rumor mill ground the gossip.
“Anyone would think that Lady Olivia is purposefully deceiving theton, rather than simply living with disfigurement,” Colin reported back to Marcus.
“There is something very distasteful about the way this is spreading,” Marcus declared.
“Lady Cressida had set her cap at you Marcus, and tonight it became evident that your affections were engaged elsewhere. I believe it’s green jealousy turned into vicious revenge.”
“What do you mean, Colin?”
“Anyone who saw you and Lady Olivia waltzing together must have seen the spark between you. Lady Cressida has seen her hopes of being a duchess dashed, and she is lashing out at Lady Olivia.”
Marcus nodded. He suspected Colin had worked out the motivation for the cruel scandal spreading.
“I just heard Lady Connaught telling Viscountess Springford that Lady Olivia Sherwyn has a permanent limp. Anyone with a modicum of sense would know that is utter bunkum. Lady Olivia just danced a waltz at high speed, and showed no sign of disability,” said Colin.
“Even if she had that disability, there is no need to be cruel, and make her into a talking point. Shame on Lady Cressida.”
“Well, I hope she gets her comeuppance very soon,” added Colin. “Oh no, looks like the Sherwyn’s may have heard the rumors. There’s quite a rumpus developing over there.”
Marcus and Colin approached the group, just moments too late to prevent Olivia choking back a sob and leaving the ball. Jocelyn hurried after her. The glint of satisfaction in Lady Cressida’s eyes was unmistakable.
Olivia had left the scene, but Lady Cressida continued and this time she told the avid listeners that Lady Sherwyn’s fiancé, Sir Jonathan, knew the truth and he’d ended their engagement days after the fire at Silverton Hall. Marcus almost saw spittle flying from her mouth as she continued her venomous words.
“I suspect she may be a little, err, unhinged, shall we say after the accident. Sir Jonathon certainly escaped from their betrothal as soon as he could,” Lady Cressida was telling her latest group of listeners.
“I’ve heard tell that Lady Olivia is penniless now. Some issue with the inheritance arrangements,” Lady Cressida continued. “She must be desperate to be here for a season, trying to find some deluded buck to offer marriage.” She paused and looked at the faces which were lapping up her every word. “I mean, who would marry a woman with such ugly scars?”
Marcus could bear this no longer, so he took a breath and stepped forward. As he made eye contact with Lady Cressida, he felt a sensation of cold fear at the emptiness in her eyes.
“Your words are at best thoughtless, and at worst designed to hurt and wound another. Everything which you have said about Lady Olivia is in no way admirable. She lives with scars through no fault of her own. She is trying to make a life for herself and live with her own people in her own society. In order to do that she hides the scars with her hairstyle.
What, Madam, is there to laugh about and spread rumors in any of that?” Marcus said, confronting Lady Cressida. “The way you are spreading these rumors is not the behavior which I would ever expect from a lady of theton.”
Lady Leighton had approached and stood next to Marcus. She placed a gentle hand on his arm.
“I have no wish to make a scandal here and ask you to leave my home. I do however expect you to work hard at refuting therumors you have spread about my dear friend's character,” she told Lady Cressida.
“I don’t think any of her friends pay any attention to her scars. Her character and beauty shines out despite any disfigurement,” Lady Leighton continued. “However, none of us would want to live with a scarred face, and I applaud her bravery in continuing in society and not retreating to the countryside. She lives every day in courage, and you are the opposite, and in spreading such rumors you are showing your true character.”
Lady Cressida stepped back as if she had been struck. Indeed, she has, thought Marcus, struck by the truth.
“I must go and find my friend,” Lady Leighton whispered to him.
“No, this is your event and as hostess you need to be here. I saw Lady Jocelyn had followed her. I’ll go and see if I can find them.”
He met Mrs. Jennings in the hallway, “If you’re looking for her ladyship, then she will be in the library. I don’t know if she will want to see you, a gentleman or not. Lady Jocelyn is with her.”
Mrs. Jennings eyed Marcus with curiosity. “I believe you are genuine in your affection for my lady. I hope that affection helps her deal with this latest cruelty.”
He nodded, unsure what to say.
“If you could suggest Miss Jocelyn returns to her coming out ball that would help. People will miss her, and she will only have one coming out ball,” Mrs. Jennings asked him.
Marcus knocked gently on the library door. Jocelyn came out into the hall and spoke to him in hushed tones.
“She’s very distressed, My Lord. Those words were vicious and cruel. Olivia has been so brave and now the trauma has returned with a vengeance.”
“I’ll speak with her and try to reassure her if I may,” Marcus told her.
