“And just when were you going to inform me of this?” Lady Ashton placed both hands on her hips. “Bloody, bloody hell, Henry—how is he?”
Lord Ashton winced. “Language, my dear,” he reminded, indicating their guest. “Umm, he should survive.”
“How in heavens name did this happen?”
Justin colored even more deeply. “I’m afraid I’m to blame,” he answered, unable to look her in the eyes. “I called him out.”
Her face flushed with emotion. “This is outrageous! Kindly explain yourself. Why the devil did you shoot one of our dearest friends?“
He took a deep breath. “As I have told your husband, I will not go into particulars, but Lord Branford … hurt my sister in the gravest possible manner, after giving me his word that he would not toy with her feelings.”
Cecilia went white. “I don’t believe it for an instant, Mr. Chilton.”
“Do you think I wish to believe it myself?” exclaimed Justin in a low, pained voice. “But he admitted it when confronted by my sister.”
“I think you must go into the particulars, sir, if we are to get to the bottom of this terrible accusation.”
Justin shot a confused look at Ashton. “It is not exactly something that can repeated in front of a lady,” he faltered.
“You may rest assured that Lady Ashton is difficult to shock,” said Ashton dryly. “When you enter the matrimonial state, you will understand.”
Justin still looked hesitant.
Cecilia laid a hand on his arm. “Mr. Chilton, you may rest assured that neither my husband nor myself engage in idle gossip. Your sister’s privacy is safe with us. And to fathom this disturbing situation, we really must know what has happened.” A pause. “We only want to help.”
Justin shuffled his feet. “Lord Branford entered a bet at his club. The wager was £500 that … that he could m-m-mount my sister.”
Cecilia gave a horrified gasp. “No! I don’t believe that for an instant! Sebastian would never have done such a thing. May I ask how you learned of it?”
“We overheard a private conversation. Between two gentlemen who were trying to decide just how to warn us.”
She shook her head. “Sebastian would never ruin an innocent girl.Never.”
“B-But when Alex asked him if it was true, he said yes!”
Cecilia frowned in thought. “Theremustbe an explanation for it.”
“What possible explanation could there be for such a thing?” asked Justin, his voice rough with anguish.
“I don’t know.” She turned for the door. “But I intend to find out.
“W-What do you have in mind?” demanded Lord Ashton.
“Naturally I’m going to pay a visit to Sebastian.”
“He won’t let you in. I’ve already tried twice today.”
“Hmmph.” She gave a toss of her blond curls. “We’ll see about that.”
“Wait! If you insist on trying, I had better go with you”
“You will do no such thing, Henry.”
The door shut with a noise that sounded suspiciously like a slam.
Lord Ashton cast a baleful look at Justin. “I wish you better luck in managing a wife than I seem to have.”
For the first time in a while, a ghost of a smile stole to the young man’s lips.
