“That’s hardly helpful.”
Julian offered her a calm stare. “I will deal with Mr. Cox.”
There was a note of steel in Julian’s voice that Carenza had learned to recognize. She’d never seen him lose his temper, but he could be intimidating when he chose, which was why he was feared by a goodly portion of the ton.
“That’s not good enough,” Olivia said.
Carenza sighed. “Olivia …”
“Don’t try to defend him, Carenza,” Olivia snapped. “You are hardly unbiased.”
“I’ve known Julian all my life,” Carenza countered. “I trust him implicitly.”
“And so do I,” Allegra joined in. “If Julian says he will take care of the matter, he will.”
“I suggest you write back to Mr. Cox, tell him you are considering his offer, and leave it at that, Mrs. Sheraton,” Julian said. “I won’t allow him to spread disinformation.”
“The trouble is,” Allegra said slowly, “he’s not lying, is he? Carenza and Olivia truly were at his inn interviewing men for the position of Carenza’s lover.”
Everyone looked at her, and she shrugged. “I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.”
“He was paid to ensure that their identities remain secret,” Julian said. “And he is attempting to renege on that promise, which means action must be taken against him.”
“I didn’t pay him.” Olivia looked at Carenza. “Did you?”
“Well, you paid well over the going rate for the use of his parlor,” Carenza said. “And I gave him a handsome bonus when I left, which, for all intents and purposes, was a bribe.”
Olivia was still staring at Julian. “What I don’t understand, Mr. Laurent, is how you came to be involved in this matter so deeply that Mr. Cox decided to blackmail you as well. Neither Carenza nor I asked for your help. In fact, you were dead set against the idea, so why is Mr. Cox asking you for money?”
“Perhaps because I attempted to protect the reputations of two ladies I am acquainted with.”
Olivia’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s the worst excuse I’ve ever heard.”
Carenza winced as Julian’s expression turned frosty.
“With respect, I will remind you, ma’am, that if it hadn’t been for you publishing such a provocative advertisement in the first place, there would be no scandal to address.”
“There’s no point looking down your nose at me, Mr. Laurent, it won’t work,” Olivia said. “And I’m not interested in what I did but how you became so involved in the matter. Did you speak to Mr. Cox before the event and offer him money to save our reputations?”
“I did not.”
“Then why is he attempting to blackmail you?”
Carenza looked at Julian and said, “You escorted me out of the inn through Mr. Cox’s house.”
“That’s correct.”
“Then one might assume Mr. Cox recognized you, or found out who you were, and decided to blackmail you.”
Olivia blew out a breath. “I suppose that makes sense, but I still don’t like it.”
“The issue at hand isn’t dealing with the press or the scandal sheets,” Julian said. “I can take care of them. My bigger concern is about those in society who have taken an interest in the matter. They are the people who can affect your standing in society.”
“Such as Mr. Calloway,” Carenza said. “Who didn’t appreciate being sent away.”
“I probably didn’t help with that.” Julian grimaced. “I admit to giving Calloway’s name to the press. He featured prominently in their articles about the matter.”
“That would certainly explain his animosity toward all of us, but he is hardly a powerful figure in society,” Olivia countered.
