“Come along, Lady Violet.” Lady Esther linked her arm with Lady Violet’s and pulled her away. “We will return you to wherever you are now staying.”
Lady Violet startled as her eyes grew wide with surprise but did allow Lady Esther to lead her away. “Good day, Lord Ferrard. Thank you for the stroll,” she called back.
Lady Joanna stepped forward, her folded fan in her left hand and struck Eardly on the chest. “You will stay away from Lady Violet. Neither her grandmother, nor her father, would approve or accept your courtship, especially after your behavior with Lady Lucinda.”
What had he done that was so distasteful?
“It was a misunderstanding.”
“We perfectly understood your intentions. Now take yourself away from here.”
Eardly sputtered for a moment then took a step back. “I’ll take myself where I please.” With that, he turned on his heel and marched away.
“What did he do?” Emory asked Lady Joanna.
She frowned deeply. “Take me to where Lady Violet is staying.”
He offered his arm and turned and followed Lady Violet.
“Eardly had a morning visit with Lady Lucinda today. When left alone for the briefest of moments, he attempted to compromise her and then insisted on an audience with His Grace.”
“Which gentleman planted him a facer?”
“None of the bachelor lords,” Lady Esther stated with disappointment. “But my great-nephew, Mr. Copeland,” she added with pride.
Emory grinned. He’d need to buy the man a pint if they ever saw one another again.
“Lord Eardly is financially ruined and must wed well.”
Emory stiffened. If Eardly had attempted ruination of Lady Lucinda at Forester Hall, he’d not hesitate to attempt the same with Lady Violet when she was vulnerable at the inn with only female servants and the innkeeper to watch over her.
“Therefore, my sister and I will be taking her back to Forester Hall where she might be better protected.”
“I will not return home,”Violet informed Lady Esther.
Now that Violet was aware of how far Lord Eardly would stoop to marry into her family, she’d avoid him, and discourage him if her first option was not available.
“It is not safe for you here.” Lady Esther gestured to the inn. “What would your grandmother think? Or your father? They will not be pleased when I inform them.”
Violet wished she would have just continued onto the Harleys and bid the sisters good day. However, it was unlikely to have mattered since they would have encountered Lord Eardly regardless, so she’d no choice but to confess to Lady Esther the truth of her current lodgings.
“I will not return home while my father is holding a house party,” Violet insisted.
“The number dwindles daily,” Lady Esther insisted. “Already two have been sent away.”
“They’ve also found a way to you, leaving you vulnerable,” Lady Joanna insisted as she drew near, escorted by Lord Ferrard.
“One of them wished to find her with honorable intentions,” Lord Ferrard reminded them.
Lady Joanna glanced about. “Why have we stopped here? Have you not already checked on your servants?”
“Lady Violet has taken a room at an inn,” Lady Esther answered with displeasure before she explained to her sister why Violet was no longer at the Harleys’.
“I find it odd that you’d disapprove,” Violet observed. “You, and your sisters, travel the world with few servants and little protection for your safety.”
“We are older, and nobody is going to try and ruin us to marry well,” Lady Esther answered.
“You traveled as such when you were my age,” Violet reminded them as she’d heard numerous stories of their adventures after shunning Society and the Seasons to embark on a grand life. She wished she could do the same and imagined the beautiful places she might visit, but also knew that it would never be allowed.
