‘Oh.’ Her stomach dropped.
‘There you go.’ Lady Wadlow’s tone was gloating. ‘Not so significant, after all.’
‘What about Amabel?’ Florence lifted her chin. ‘Did she mention anything about the message?’
‘She told you at the time, there wasnomessage!’
‘But maybe she remembered one afterwards? Something she hadn’t thought was a message, but actually…was?’ She faltered, realising how ridiculous the words sounded. ‘Or did she mention something else? Anything that might explain what happened? Even if it’s a tiny detail, it could be helpful.’
‘My daughter was so shocked, she could barely speak at all.’ Lady Wadlow pressed a hand to her throat. ‘I’ll never forget the look on her face. To witness her so-called best friend stealing her suitor! And to think that we were the ones who brought you to London, who fed and clothed you and provided a roof over your head, little realising that all the while we were cherishing a viper in our nest!’
‘Perhaps you ought to go and lie down, my dear?’ Lord Wadlow put a restraining hand on his wife’s shoulder, his gaze flicking nervously towards Leo.
‘Ha!’ Lady Wadlow’s exclamations were getting louder. She was beginning to resemble Cassie, pushing her husband’s hand away, her own practically shaking with fury as she pointed a finger towards Florence. ‘Why shouldn’t I speak my mind? This was your nasty little plan all along, wasn’t it? And if your parents think they can lord it over us when we return to Cumberland, they can think again!’
‘They wouldn’t!’ Florence gasped, shocked by the other woman’s venom. ‘My parents would never do anything like that.’
‘Your parents raised an ungrateful, back-stabbing, conniving little—’
‘That’s enough.’ Leo’s voice was like flint.
‘Why?Youdidn’t want to marry her!’ Lady Wadlow was clearly unable to stop. ‘You would have found a way out of the marriage if you could. You wanted Amabel! Or do you deny it?’
‘I don’t believe I’m obliged to confirm or deny anything. My thoughts are my own business. I would, however, remind you that Florenceisnow my wife.’
‘She’s still a—’
‘Mywife,’ Leo pushed himself to his feet so abruptly, everyone jumped, ‘not to mention the Marchioness of Rainton, and I refuse to stand by while she is insulted.’ He tipped his head back, looking down his nose at the Wadlows. ‘And should I hear any reports of her being maligned in such terms again, or of her parents being slandered, then I shall make it my personal business to have you blackballed by theton. Is that understood?’
‘I say!’ Lord Wadlow spluttered.
‘Similarly, should HerLadyshipchoose to call on you in the future, unlikely though that prospect may be, I suggest that you be at home.’ He turned towards Florence. ‘Do you have anything to add?’
‘Um…no.’ She shook her head, gaping with bafflement and disbelief, as she rose to her feet beside him. Was he really standing up for her? Sounding genuinely angry too? Even if it was only his family name that he was defending, it made her feel better, as if not everyone in the room hated her.
‘Then I believe that concludes our business.’ Leo placed a hand on the small of her back, not even glancing at the Wadlows as they headed for the door. ‘Good day.’
Chapter Nine
‘That was…’ Florence stopped on the pavement outside the Wadlows’ house, unable to finish the sentence, as she stared at Leo. It was hard to explain quite how his defence of her had made her feel. Relieved? Grateful? Flabbergasted? It was all three at once and more. ‘I don’t know what, but thank you.’
‘You’re welcome.’ He was still frowning, though for once not at her. ‘I’m sorry you didn’t get what you came for.’
‘It’s not your fault. You tried to warn me.’
‘I’m still sorry that they upset you.’
‘Maybe I needed to hear it.’
‘So what now?’ He rubbed a hand across his chin, his voice softening slightly. ‘Is there anyone else you wish to visit?’
She hesitated, feeling a tightness in her chest at the question. The Wadlows hadn’t just corroborated Leo’s story. They’d confirmed her worst fears about herself too. Because all the evidence still pointed towards her. And unless she wanted to make a complete fool of herself by going all around London, begging members of thetonfor some alternative version of events, maybe it was time for her to accept the truth about what she’d done, time to acknowledge her guilt and the fact that there was no way out of this marriage. She really was the villain, after all. It wasn’t an easy truth to accept.
‘I don’t think so.’ She wrapped her arms around her waist, as if she could somehow shield herself from a sharp pang ofself-loathing. ‘I don’t suppose anyone else’s story will be any different. We can leave London as soon as you wish.’
‘Are you certain?’
‘Yes, but first I owe you an apology. It seems you were right about me trapping you. There’s no other feasible explanation.’ She sucked in a deep breath and then exhaled again slowly. ‘I still don’t know why I did it. I’ve racked my brains, but all I can think is that I acted on impulse and it was a moment of madness. It’s not an excuse, but IknowI never thought of trapping you before that. If I could go back and change things, or find a way out of this, I’d do it, but I can’t. All I can do is accept the truth and say how sorry I am.’
