‘Please help me, cousin. A little fresh air...’ she said, leading him towards the door.
He scanned the guests to try and catch the eye of some helpful matron on whom he could foist his fainting burden, but no one seemed to be looking his way.
For someone about to swoon, the grip on his arm felt like a vice. As they entered the library, her knees buckled, and hecaught her dead weight. Sweeping her up in his arms, he carried her over to the daybed beneath the window.
She groaned, and he began to chafe her hand.
‘I’ll fetch someone...’ he began as her eyes fluttered open.
Her fingers closed over his hand. ‘No, no. Just sit with me. I will be fine presently.’
‘Can I fetch you a drink?’ Sebastian made to rise again. He could hear voices in the hall outside the library door.
Fanny only tightened her grip, pulling him back down beside her.
‘Fanny, will you let me go? I will be back presently.’
‘Don’t leave me!’ She clutched the sleeve of his jacket as if she was drowning.
Sebastian looked to the door of the library, wondering how to summon assistance, and was relieved to hear Freddy’s voice saying, ‘And of course, the Somerton library has a famous collection of monographs ...’
Fanny sat bolt upright at the sound of her brother’s voice. Sebastian, half rising, his concentration on the door, had no time to deflect the sudden movement of her left hand. Something sharp raked down his left cheek and, as the door opened, she began to scream, a great rending scream that made his ears ring.
Sebastian leaped to his feet, staring down at her in horror as she pulled at her hair and her bodice. A woman in the crowd at the door gave a loud exclamation and Sebastian saw, with mounting horror, the tableau Fanny had presented: the screaming, distressed girl with her torn gown and disordered hair and he... His fingers went to his cheek and came away sticky with blood.
He took a step back from the couch as two women rushed towards Fanny, folding her in their motherly arms. Freddy moved behind the couch, placing a solicitous hand on his sister’s shoulder.
‘He... he attacked me,’ Fanny said between gulps, pointing an accusing finger at Sebastian.
‘I never touched her...’ Sebastian began to say, but his words were lost in the clamour of approbation.
Beyond the crowd, Isabel stood at the door, straight and still. He mouthed her name, but she turned on her heel, her place taken by Matt and Connie. They, in turn, stared at him and the crowd fussing over Fanny. Matt’s eyes asked the question and Sebastian answered with a look of complete despair.
‘Fanny, dear, let these good women take you to your chamber. I will deal with his lordship,’ Freddy said in a loud voice, the last two words heavy with venom.
Too shocked to move, Sebastian became aware of a flash of scarlet as Harry entered the room. His friend moved to his side, followed by Matt and Connie.
Fanny, still sobbing hysterically, was helped from the room and the rest of the crowd ushered outside by Freddy. At the door, Freddy turned to look at Sebastian. His gaze rested on Sebastian’s supporters.
‘I must speak with Lord Somerton alone,’ he said.
Harry stepped forward. ‘Whatever you have to say, Lynch, you can say in front of us.’
‘Very well.’ Freddy walked back into the room, straightening the ruffles at his wrist with deliberate care. ‘I will say what I have to say. You, sir, have outraged my sister, an innocent girl in your care and protection.’
‘I didn’t touch her,’ Sebastian said with gritted teeth.
‘Then how do you explain your face?’ Freddy indicated the cut that dripped blood onto the immaculate white of Sebastian’s stock.
‘She had something in her hand,’ Sebastian replied. ‘I would never?—’
Harry cleared his throat. ‘We believe you, Alder, but it doesn’t matter what we think. It is what the world is going to think.’
Realisation dawned on Sebastian.
‘You mean ...?’
Matt glanced at Harry. ‘The colonel’s right, Bas. As far as the world is concerned, you have outraged the modesty of an innocent girl.’
