Page 5 of A Story of Love

“Fortunately, you had the intelligence to give the story to somebody wiser and more experienced. That is how one learns to be a journalist, Lori. It takes time; don’t get ahead of yourself and try to run before you can walk.” And then he’d smiled in a condescending way that had made her seethe. “Watch me and learn, my dear child. Watch me and learn. Oh, by the by,” he’d added once he was satisfied that she had been put in her place. “I am going to dinner with Mr. Merrow on Friday. He is looking for new and exciting work to publish and I shall be sure to mention your manuscript to him.”

David knew exactly what sort of hope to dangle in front of Lori to keep her compliant. It had physically pained her to keep her tongue between her teeth, but she’d swallowed her pride and fury, accepted the paltry payment for the story she’d delivered, and resigned herself to getting no credit for it.

As she read through the article today, she recognized more than a few of her sentences, verbatim.

“You thieving turd,” she muttered, angrily biting into a piece of toast.

It didn’t surprise her that Parker had stolen her work. What did surprise her was the liberties he’d taken with some of the information she had provided. Several of his accusations had no foundation in fact. At least not any facts that Lori knew of.

The more she read, the more agitated she became. By the time she reached the last paragraph her breathing was fast and ragged, and her skin prickled with perspiration.

Good Lord! David had taken the information she’d given him and distorted it almost beyond recognition.

Unless he had other information that he’d concealed from her? She couldn’t imagine why he would have done that, but surely it had to be the case because he would never dare to make such allegations without proof to support them.

Would he?

“Good morning, Lori.”

Lori jolted at the sound of Freddie’s voice. “Good morning,” she muttered absently, commencing to re-read the story, hoping it wasn’t as reckless as it seemed.

“Lori?”

She tore her gaze away from the paper and looked up to find Freddie holding a special edition of The London Times.

“What? Why are you—” she broke off with a squawk when the headline—in bold block letters—leapt out at her: Emory Wayne Arrested as Leader of Child Prostitution Ring!

“Emory Wayne?” she repeated faintly.

Freddie nodded. “It appears that one of England’s most respected religious leaders has been engaging in more than reform.” She gestured to the copy of The Mercury in Lori’s hands. “I read that earlier, before this extra became available. David Parker will be facing a libel suit. And losing it. I hope you didn’t have any part in this article, Lori.”

Lori wordlessly took the newspaper from Freddie.

“My God!” she gasped a moment later, having read only the first few paragraphs. “This says Lord Severn provided the information that led to Emory Wayne’s arrest—along with dozens of others. And this all happened last night!” Lori kept reading, her whimpers of shock turning to groans of despair by the time she reached the end. She flung the paper onto the table, buried her face in her hands, and moaned, “Dear Lord. This is a disaster.”

For a moment there was nothing but the distant sound of street traffic. And then Freddie spoke. “Lori?”

Lori dropped her hands and looked up.

“Is this”—Freddie gestured to the newspaper, “why you confronted Viscount Severn at the ball last night?”

Lori grimaced. “Oh, you noticed that?”

“I was not the only one who noticed.”

“My name was not on the story.” The excuse sounded lame even to her own ears.

“No, but I daresay that is because your Mr. Parker thought to steal all the glory for himself.”

“He’s not my Mr. Parker,” Lori retorted, uncomfortably reminded of Lord Severn’s accusation. She sighed. “But you’re right, Freddie. Only his greed saved me from making a terrible fool of myself.”

“I’ll be astounded if Severn does not bring suit against Parker.”

Lori nodded, too dispirited to speak.

Freddie gestured to the crumpled copy of The Mercury. “I cannot believe Lord Severn told you any of those lies.”

“He never told me anything.” Well, that wasn’t true. He had told her that she would be very sorry if the paper printed the story. And she was sorry, although not as sorry as Parker probably was.