“I was wrong to assume that the rumors were from Lady Theresa, even if they did make sense.”
“But the question then is, who began them?” Ellen asked, a frown sending gentle lines across her forehead. “And why would they do such a thing?”
Considering this, Susanna shook her head. “I do not know.”
“I have a question,” Lord Lancashire began, his brow furrowed. “Why did Lady Evelina dissuade both her sister and her cousin from stating the truth to the ton? What was it about the rumor that she liked – for if she had not liked it, then she would not have wanted it to remain?””
Susanna’s eyes widened. “You think that Lady Evelina has something to do with all of this?”
“I do not know as yet,” came the reply, “but I cannot see a reason as to why the lady should insist that her sister say nothing. If she cared for her sister, if she wanted to encourage her and support her, then surely she should be doing her utmost to quash the rumors, not leave them to scurry around for so long!”
“Indeed, she should,” Lord Kettering agreed, gravely. “So what does it mean?”
Susanna’s heart skipped a beat. “It means that Lady Evelina might have some purpose in this,” she said, slowly. “Think on it – her uncle is Lord Blackwood so it would be simple enough for her to slip into his study and use his seal.”
“But why?” Ellen asked, her confusion matching Susanna’s. “For what purpose? Why would she write such letters and why would she spread rumors about her own sister and Lord Lancashire?”
Unable to give an answer, Susanna spread out her hands and shrugged, only for the Marquess to lower his head and let out a low groan. She looked at him, wide-eyed, wondering at his reaction.
“I might have a thought,” he said, his shoulders dropping. “And it is all to do with her father, the Earl of Moncrieff.”
19
Jonathan looked into Lady Susanna’s eyes and saw her confusion. The ballroom hummed around them — music drifting from the quartet in the far corner, laughter rising and falling like waves, the warm golden light of chandeliers catching on jewels and embroidered waistcoats. But all of it felt distant now, as though he and Susanna and their small circle of friends had stepped into a pocket of stillness within the noise. Why was it that this evening, which had promised to be so wonderful and filled with so much joy, now had to flood itself with uncertainty and doubt?
“The Earl of Moncrieff and I have had some… dealings in the past,” he started, aware that his words did not hold a good deal of explanation. “I do not know if you recall, Kettering, but my brother had some financial difficulties last year.”
His friend nodded, and when he looked back at Lady Susanna, her eyes had rounded. Evidently, she recalled what he was talking about.
“I told you that I had some matters to take care of, tomake certain they were complete before I could think of returning for you,” he said, reaching out to take her hand although they were in the middle of a ballroom. “They were to do with my brother.”
“Lord Tunbridge.”
He nodded. “Yes, that is so. He had found himself in some financial trouble and, fearing he might lose nearly everything, came to me and confessed all.” With a sigh, he shook his head. “My brother had acted foolishly and had some dealings with Lord Moncrieff. After hearing all that had taken place, I felt quite sure that my brother had been cheated. Therefore, without introduction on another occasion, I seated myself at a card table alongside Lord Moncrieff… and I witnessed him cheating.”
Lady Susanna’s eyebrows shot towards her hairline whilst Lady Ellen gasped audibly.
“To any other, it might have appeared as if he were doing everything well, just as he ought,” Jonathan continued, looking only at Lady Susanna. “But because I was wary, I saw his deliberate actions. Once the game had come to an end, I told him all I had witnessed and reminded him of all that would be at stake should I tell others about it.”
“Goodness.”
Fear lurched in Jonathan’s heart at her reaction. “I hope you can understand my reasons for doing so, Susanna. Lord Moncrieff had threatened my brother, and I could not let that stand. That is not to say that my brother did not act foolishly, for he most certainly did, but he did not deserve to have so much taken from him because of it. Lord Moncrieff showed no honor in taking advantage of my brother’s greenery when it came to gambling and the like. What made it all the worse was that there wasclearly more to Lord Moncrieff’s success than mere luck – and I was determined to expose it.”
Jonathan saw understanding flash into Lady Susanna’s eyes. “Then when you sat with him, what did you experience?” she asked.
He shook his head. “It was just as my brother described. I witnessed his sleight of hand, his sly movements, and the footman who he had under his control – and thus, I challenged him on it.”
“And what did he say?” Lady Ellen asked, moving closer. “Did he confess to it?”
Jonathan nodded. “Yes, he did. Let me say that I did not give him much opportunity to do anything but that, and so, with that in mind, I then spoke to him about my brother. I demanded to know the truth, promising him that I would not tell society about his underhanded ways if he did so.”
“And he did,” Lord Kettering murmured, as Jonathan grimaced. “Reluctantly, I have no doubt.”
The grimace pulled into a scowl. “We did not part amicably, if that is what you mean,” Jonathan stated, thinking it best not to go into particular detail. “But Lord Moncrieff returned my brother’s vowels without question, and nothing has been said of it since. He did not demand the land that my brother had stupidly wagered, nor did he ever come near to Tunbridge again. My brother was given a great shock by all that took place, and I know he will never do such a thing again – but the same cannot be said of Lord Moncrieff. I personally cannot say whether he has continued to cheat and lie, but I would never again sit at a table with him.”
There came a short silence between them all as they each took in what Jonathan had been saying. He only hadeyes for Lady Susanna, relieved that she had not thought poorly of him for what he had done about Lord Moncrieff.
“When you were introduced to his daughters, did they show any awareness of you in connection to their father?” Lady Susanna asked, as Jonathan shook his head. “You were not in any way concerned?”
