Page 47 of Air Affair

A warning bell went off in Rory’s head at the mention of her former fiancé. How very like Edward to spoil a wonderful morning.

“Edward? Here?” her father asked. “He was supposed to stay away this week and let things cool off. We had an agreement.” He folded his newspaper and shoved it to the side.

Oh no. Papa was still trying to mend things with Edward? She thought all the men he’d invited to her birthday meant he’d given up on the ‘gentleman’ from Connecticut.

“He is most insistent, sir.”

“Very well. Show him to my study. I’ll be with him shortly.” James bowed and departed. “Aurora, you had best make yourself scarce. You’ve done enough damage with the senator. I don’t want you making things worse. We can wait to fix this mess of an engagement until next week when you’ve both calmed down.”

“I think I’ve lost my appetite,” she said, biting back a sharp retort about what a worthless scumbag Edward was. “I’ll just finish my coffee and head to my room.”

Her father nodded and strode off.

Edward. Why would he choose today of all days to come to see her father? Whatever he was here for, it couldn’t be good.

As she was about to leave the breakfast table, James returned. “Miss Belmont, your father has asked to see you in his study immediately, if you would be so kind.”

She had a thousand questions but none that could be answered by the poor man sent to deliver the message. “I’ll go right away.”

Knocking, she was immediately beckoned into her father’s inner sanctum. She was rarely granted entry to this hallowed place of business. The entire room was done in dark wood paneling, with built-in bookshelves lining three of the walls. An imposing desk dominated one side of the room, another modern creation by Ruhlmann—more evidence of Eleanor’s influence. The more classic Louis XV chairs surrounding the desk were vestiges of her mother’s décor.

Her father looked like a storm cloud about to burst. His face was redder than usual, and his brow was deeply furrowed as he looked at her. He clenched his jaw and his fist, as Rory wondered what on earth could have made him so furious.

Edward sat in one of the chairs opposite her father’s desk, a smug glint in his eye.

“Aurora June Belmont,” her father bellowed.

“What is it, Papa?” She grasped the back of the chair next to Edward, not daring to sit until she knew what was going on.

“I’ve never been so ashamed in my life.” He picked up a marble paper weight and slammed it down again.

“Papa, what happened?” She’d never seen him so furious, not even when the Vanderbilts refused to attend his wedding to Eleanor.

“Edward says you spent last night in the company of a man named Albert Jones. You were heard having…” He paused and stared at the ceiling. “Relations. And it was confirmed that the bed in your hotel room was empty. Do you deny it?”

“Papa, there must be some mistake. I⁠—”

“Yes or no, Aurora. Do you deny having relations with Mr. Jones?”

Was there any way to stall, any possible way to escape? They knew her bedroom was empty and that someone was in the room next to hers, but did they know for certain it was her?

“What makes you think I was the woman in Mr. Jones’s bedroom?”

“The Pinkerton I hired heard him use your name,” said Edward, looking triumphant.

How dare that snake hire a Pinkerton to trail her? This was beyond outrageous, not that she had a viable excuse. She gave Edward a dirty look then turned to her father.

“Papa, I can explain.” Her mind spun, grasping desperately at straws, but there was nothing.

“Can you? I would very much like to hear this explanation.”

She didn’t have one. She was caught as neatly as a rabbit in a trap. Her shoulders slumped, and she closed her eyes.

“I don’t deny it. It was me.” At least they didn’t know she was with Hank. The damage would be limited to her. This was what she got for fleeing her cage and tasting freedom, even if only for a few hours.

“I’m disgusted, Aurora. Thoroughly, utterly disgusted. That my daughter would do something like this is unthinkable. You’re lucky Edward is still willing to marry you.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Edward still wanted to marry her despite this? If ever she’d needed proof he was marrying her for money, this was it.