Side by side, the two of them could weather the storm of any scandal.
***
Fiona paced in circles around her bedroom. Charlotte, having received no responses from Fi to any of her questions about why there might be an inspector from the Home Office in their drawing room, sat on the bed and watched with an anxious look.
Charlotte, a perfectly sweet and kind girl who would bear the brunt of any scandal Fiona caused. It would be her who would be shunned by society and unable to make a good match. Fiona had to leave before that happened. She had to go home to Abingdale. London was fraught with too many dangers.
Lady Luella. The duchess. Inspector Patterson.
No, she couldn’t stay. She would pull Lord Chester aside tonight and show him the signed patent and hopefully that would be enough for him. Then, parole conditions be damned, she would go to Ben’s town house and hide there until the issue of her assault charges could be resolved.
By the end of the week, she would be on the next mail coach out of London.
She was staring out the window, her head leaning against the glass, when the door whooshed open and Edward entered. She could tell it was him even without turning around just by the way her heart skittered and the hairs on the back of her neck lifted.
“Charlotte, out.”
There was a muted scramble, quiet footsteps on the floor, and then the door shut with asnick.
He sighed, long and weary, and she turned to look at him. The furrows of his brow were deeper, the lines around his mouth more noticeable. “I know you don’t want me to reveal the truth about your sex to the magistrate until after you’ve signed your contract with Chester, but I think it’s best if I go to the courthouse tomorrow, explain the whole situation—why Finley exists, your relationship with Tucker and Alastair—and ask him to dismiss the charges. All you did was throw a poorly aimed tomato.”
She didn’t hesitate. “Aye.”
He looked up in surprise, no doubt expecting her to argue. But this situation was beyond her. It had escalated so far out of control she felt like a piece of falling ash, being buffeted in different directions.
She needed his help. She’d needed it weeks ago; she was only just now getting over her own pride enough to admit it. “I’ll go with ye, though,” she said.
“Fi,” he said, his frustration seeping through. It would be easier for him without her. He could be all royal and demand rather than ask. God only knows what he’d say about her to get the magistrate to agree if she weren’t in the room.
Foolish. Idiotic. Naïve. She could imagine all of those words coming out of his mouth, and he wouldn’t be wrong.
“This is my mess, Edward. I agree that we need to resolve this as soon as possible and I’ll accept yer help because, heaven help me, I need it. But these were my choices and I’ll be the one to account for them.”
He nodded, and even though she could see it went against all his instincts, he agreed. “Fine.”
“I’ll speak to Lord Chester tonight and insist his solicitor draw up contracts tomorrow. Hopefully we’ll be able to sign before my charade becomes public knowledge.” Because what man would want to go into partnership with someone who lied so easily?
Just as easily as she lied to Edward. He’d asked her if she’d seen Tucker and she’d pretended she knew nothing. If she was going to be honest with him, she would tell him about last night. The inspector had asked for her whereabouts, and she’d let Edward unknowingly provide a false alibi.
Edward, there’s more you should know…
The words were on the tip of her tongue, and despite all the terrible things that were happening, she felt a sense of relief that the lies were about to be over.
“Ed—”
He crossed to her, gathering her in his arms and resting his cheek on her hair, cocooning her in his warmth. “It will all be well,” he murmured. “I’ll sort it all out, love. I promise.”
Tomorrow. She would tell him the truth tomorrow.
Chapter 30
Edward waited alone at the bottom of the stairs. Fiona was running late, and his mother wouldn’t appear until everyone else had arrived and was waiting.
There was still time to call off Charlotte’s madcap scheme. His mother knew Fiona was Finley; this charade was no longer for her benefit. The biggest threat was Lady Luella and how she would react when tomorrow’s copy ofThe Timesreached breakfast tables without her anticipated engagement announcement.
It was highly likely that would be the impetus she needed to begin gossiping about Finley’s true identity. Once she realized she was not going to be the new Duchess of Wildeforde, she’d have no reason not to start the scandal of the season.
Two weeks ago, that would have frightened him. His family at the center of the year’s greatest scandal had been his greatest fear. Now, he couldn’t give a damn. His only hesitation was Charlotte and how a scandal might impact her ability to find a husband. Once that was achieved, thetonwas going to see just how little Edward cared for their good opinion.
