Shrewsberry merely grinned and held her tighter. “I don’t think so.”
“If you’re wise, you’ll do as the lady asks,” a dangerous voice said.
Margaret’s heart jolted.George. He was here. Everything would be fine.
#
SHREWSBERRY GAVE Alow snort. “I’m an earl. Above you in every way, Mr. Townsbridge.”
“Except with regard to common decency,” George said. Reaching out, he grabbed Shrewsberry by the throat. The earl’s eyes widened, a sputtering sound emerged from his mouth, and then his hold on Margaret loosened as he was set aside like a discarded piece of unpleasant refuse.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing,” Shrewsberry barked. “That woman there is supposed to be mine.”
Shocked remarks began circling them. George put his arm around Margaret. “Allow me to remind you of your manners, my lord. You will refer to Miss Hollyoak with respect.”
“After she’s been leading me on a merry chase for several months?” Shrewsberry gave a snort of disdain. His words, Margaret noted for the first time, were slightly slurred. “She’s clearly taken leave of her senses. I mean, what woman in her right mind would ever marry an untitled good for nothing rake instead of an earl?”
“Just so you know,” Margaret said with every intention of putting theton’smisguided view of George to right, “you are wrong about Mr. Townsbridge. All of you. He is without a doubt the most honorable, kind hearted, and considerate man I have ever known. There is no one in this world with whom I would rather spend each waking moment. In fact, I love him with every beat of my heart, with every fiber of my being, and nothing anyone says is going to change that.”
“I’m incredibly glad to hear you say so,” George murmured close to her ear. “Because I love you too.”
Without caring about the spectacle they might be making, Margaret threw her arms around him, jostling him so he spilled the champagne from the glasses he held in one hand. She didn’t care, all that mattered was telling the world that this man was right for her, that he deserved her, and that she would happily show her affection for him in public no matter how scandalous doing so was.
“Goodness,” Margaret heard Callie say while Margaret pressed her mouth firmly to George’s, “how utterly romantic.”
“Does this mean they’re now engaged?” Lady Kimberly asked.
“Yes, it does,” Margaret said. She was through with waiting, done with torturing both of them with one more week since they were both certain of what they wanted. She met George’s gaze. “If he’ll have me.”
“This is complete horse shite,” Shrewsberry said.
“Calm yourself, man.” George tightened his hold on Margaret to offer assurance. “You’re clearly in your cups.”
“Nonsense. My evening’s just getting started.” Shrewsberry snorted. His gaze slid toward Margaret. “One thousand pounds. That’s what you’ve cost me, you little ungrateful—”
“Enough,” George thundered. “I suggest you take yourself home before you make more of a spectacle of yourself.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you,” Shrewsberry sneered. He swayed slightly while glancing around. The smirk he wore suggested he thought the crowd was cheering him on when in fact there was nothing but silence now. Which only served to underscore the earl’s public humiliation. And then, as if he were determined to make matters worse, his arm swung out, directly at George, who easily sidestepped the blow while shielding Margaret with his body.
“Come,” Viscount Ravenhurst, one of Shrewsberry’s acquaintances, said as he grabbed the earl by his arm. “Let’s have a look at the billiards room.”
“Let me go.” Shrewsberry tried to shake the viscount off.
“Stop it,” Ravenhurst hissed. “You’re making a scene.”
“As if I care,” Shrewsberry sneered. He pointed at Margaret. “One thousand pounds!”
“Come on.” The Marquess of Dashford came to assist. He grabbed hold of Shrewsberry’s other arm. “You’re not improving your situation with this display.”
“I’m ruined,” Shrewsberry wailed. He made another attempt to free himself, but lost his footing in the process and nearly took Ravenhurst and Dashford down with him. The two men hauled Shrewsberry upright and, with what looked like great effort, escorted him from the room to the detriment of his reputation.
“Oh dear,” Margaret said as she watched the trio stagger off. “It seems his true self has finally been revealed in public.”
“I can’t say I pity him,” George said. “In fact, I think it’s a good thing the world sees him for who he is. It will hopefully stop unsuspecting young women from thinking he’s a good catch.”
“At least this way, they’ll know what they’re getting into if they do choose to marry him.”
“Speaking of marriage, I don’t think I gave you an answer, Margaret, but then again, I am the one who ought to be doing the asking.” He clasped her hands, held her gaze for a moment, then promptly lowered himself to one knee. A buzz of excitement swept through the room.
