man in England that I would marry!”
“Er, I’m afraid that you don’t have much choice in the matter,” Sir Edward muttered.
“What do you mean?” she demanded, glancing from one set face to the other.
“Nell,” Robert explained, “you were alone through the night with him. It doesn’t matter that, uh, nothing happened between you. The point is that you were with him in an intimate setting with no chaperon. If it is discovered you will be ruined.”
Nell’s chin went up. “I don’t care! I will not marry him. My reputation is my own and I don’t give a fig what some filthy minded people may think.”
“But I do care,” said Julian silkily. “I do not want it bandied about that I seduce and ruin young women. Nor would I deliberately bring shame and scandal upon my family—even if you would.”
Nell’s fists clenched at her sides. “I would do nothing to dishonor my family—even,” she said between her teeth, “if it meant I had to marry you. But do not forget that no one else knows what happened.” She glanced nervously from one grim male face to the other. “And as long as we do not speak of it, no one need know.”
“What about Tynedale?” Julian taunted. “He’ll know.”
“He knows that I escaped, but he doesn’t know about this place or you!”
Robert and Sir Edward exchanged a glance. “We will see to Tynedale,” Sir Edward said. “While his abduction failed, he must be brought to account.”
“And how,” asked Julian, “will you do that? You cannot bring him before the magistrate—not if you want tonight’s events to remain secret. And if you chose a duel to settle the matter, that act would give rise to speculation as to its cause. Sooner or later the reason for it would come out. And, consider if you will, Tynedale might not be above blackmail.”
“Blackmail, but how?” asked Nell. “Of course he could threaten to tell that he abducted me, but what would be the point? And if he did reveal what happened, he would face rejection and scorn. He would not dare.”
“Can you be so certain?” Julian inquired with a lift of his brow. “He is a desperate man—and vindictive. He might not care about the consequences.”
“Hmmm, you are right, we cannot run the risk that he would not try his hand at extorting money from us,” agreed Sir Edward, nodding. He sighed. “And we would certainly pay to keep him quiet.”
“Oh, this is utter nonsense!” declared Nell. “We could remain here all day and come to no conclusion.” She looked at her father. “Papa, I am very tired. I am chilled to the bone, dirty and hungry. Please, may we just go home and put this dreadful experience behind us?”
The sound of an approaching vehicle caused them all to freeze. They listened intently as the sound of horses’ hooves and the jingle of a harness grew near. A moment later the vehicle slowed and Nell held her breath, half-hidden behind her father. Please, she prayed, let them travel onward.
Her prayer was not answered. A male voice called out, “Hallo, the house! Sir Edward, are you there?”
Sir Edward looked undecided as he glanced at the others. “It is Humphries—he must have recognized my carriage parked outside.”
“Not,” Julian asked in hollow accents, “the Lord Humphries who is married to Lady Humphries?”
A strident female voice was heard. “Of course he is there. Are you blind? That’s his coach, his crest is upon the door and that is his coachman, Travers, as you very well know. I wonder what Sir Edward is doing here? Help me down so that we may investigate.”
Sir Edward cast a look at Julian and smiled grimly. “The very same. And I see by your expression that his lady’s reputation as the greatest gossip in London is known to you.” He sighed. “I am afraid that this changes things, my lord.”
Julian shrugged. “I already offered to marry your daughter, sir. Lady Humphries’s arrival does not affect that.”
“I am not,” Nell hissed, “going to marry you.”
“You don’t have any choice,” Julian replied, an unwarranted feeling of satisfaction building within him.
The next instant, an elegantly attired gentleman and a small, equally splendidly dressed woman entered the room.
“Ah, there you are, my friend,” said Lord Humphries, his kind blue eyes alighting on Sir Edward. He glanced around, a frown puckering his forehead. “Is something wrong?”
Lady Humphries spied Nell and taking in her bedraggled appearance, she smiled brightly. Here was scandal, as sure as she was born. Her birdlike gaze fell upon Julian and her eyes widened. Wyndham! Now this was most interesting, indeed.
Flicking aside the skirts of her russet and fawn traveling gown, she marched up to Nell and questioned, “Why Nell, dear, whatever has happened to you? You look ghastly. And Julian! My boy, what is going on?”
While Nell stared at her in dumb horror, Julian stepped into the breech. “I take exception to your words, Lady Humphries,” Julian murmured, as he bowed and kissed Lady Humphries’s outstretched hand. “You are speaking to my bride-to-be, you know,” adding with the charming smile for which he was famous, “and I will not have you casting aspersions on her undeniable beauty.”
Even against Lady Humphries that smile had its usual effect and she smiled girlishly—despite having celebrated her seventieth birthday the previous month. “Your bride-to-be!” she exclaimed. “Oh, the hearts that will be broken over this announcement.” She looked around. “But tell me, why are you all here?”
Her question paralyzed the Anslowes. But still holding Lady Humphries’s hand, Julian said smoothly, “An accident. The storm, you know. Sir Edward had given me permission to pay my addresses to his daughter and I thought a ride in the countryside to a private little meadow I know of would be an appropriate place to lay my heart before Miss Anslowe.” He smiled conspiratorially at Lady Humphries. “My instincts were correct and having received the answer I longed for, we were on our way back to London when we were overtaken by the storm…a, uh, wheel came off my rig, leaving us stranded, and we were forced to seek shelter here.” He waved an encompassing hand toward the silent Anslowe family. “Fortunately, before there could be any hint of impropriety, knowing we were in an open carriage and that we would be caught unprepared by the storm, Sir Edward and Robert arrived. The storm was at its height and we, er, decided it would be unwise to travel back to London. We spent the night here, together. We were just preparing to leave when you arrived.”
“I see,” murmured Lady Humphries. She knew very well that she was being fed a Banbury story. There was a great deal that was being left unsaid, but short of calling Wyndham a bald-faced liar, she saw no way of learning more. What she did know, however, was fascinating enough. Why, once it was learned, and she would make certain that it was learned, that she had come upon the newly engaged couple under such extraordinary circumstances, she would be the most sought-out person in England this winter. Everyone would want to hear the story from her lips—and she was certainly eager to tell it.
Smiling at the quartet, she murmured, “Well, if there is nothing that we can do for you, we shall be on our way.” She looked arch. “I will look forward to reading your announcement in the Times.”
