Forever Mine Rumor 00 (2011) by Delilah Marvelle

Author:Delilah Marvelle
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance, Fiction, Historical, General
ISBN: 9781426834110
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2011-12-01T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Three

What would Nathaniel make of this? I dare not fathom.

—From the diary of Lady Augustine Jane Ascott

“The devil you will!” the earl boomed, his aging face flaring within the shadows of the candlelight in the entrance hall that lead out of the house. “This is madness. Madness!” Adjusting his Turkish robe, he gestured rigidly toward the open door where his footmen lingered. “Fetch my wife and daughter. Fetch them both at once!”

Leonard jumped toward both footmen, blocking the entrance and pointed at each of them with a clarity no port could sway him from. “My driver is armed, gentlemen. Touch either lady, I will order him to shoot. Do you understand?”

The footmen paused and glanced back at the earl.

Leonard rounded the servants and stared the earl down. “Your wife will return to you in time. After she oversees your daughter’s honor.”

The earl slowly stepped back. “What is this? Why are you doing this? I already agreed to see you both married upon your return from Scotland.”

“Sadly, my lord, I am not about to leave her in your care for another night. Not after what she told me. And not given the way you speak of her as if she were the one who is unsound. ’Tis obvious who is truly unsound. And she and I will prove it.”

Lord Sumner’s face tightened.

“Whatever foul business led to the disappearance of your son,” Leonard continued, “it ends with me tonight. I will not have her living with this burden and will endeavor to lift that burden at every turn.”

A cool, stone look hardened that face. “You know nothing of what happened. Nothing.”

Leonard leaned toward him. “I have heard rumors, my lord, but what I heard from your daughter’s lips tonight is what sickens and astounds me. How do you breathe knowing your son may very well be dead because of your disreputable associations? And how do you breathe knowing that your own daughter will never know peace because of it?”

The earl edged back. “Atwood meant far more to me than you or anyone else will ever know.”

Leonard narrowed his gaze. “Defy what I deem is best and I will ensure this entire affair is made public. I have nothing to lose or hide. Can you say the same? And do you honestly think anything I say or do could compare to the disappearance of your own son?”

Tears streaked those gray anger-hardened eyes. “I never—”

“Sumner,” a female voice echoed from behind them.

Leonard jerked toward Lady Sumner who solemnly stood cloaked in a black velvet cape that hid her traveling gown.

Augustine silently stood beside her.

Lady Sumner set her chin and stared the earl down. “I will oversee what is left of her name. Better this than having her disappear into the night on her own, never to be seen again.”

The earl whirled to face her. “Have you lost the last of your mind, Anne? Do you not realize what people will say? They will accuse our daughter of the worst.”

Lady Sumner’s features remained cool and emotionless.

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