Page 17

No. No.This is a cruel joke.

He’d lowered his arms and slapped his hat against his thigh again.

Vangie’s focus dipped to his hand. His white-knuckled fist crushed the hat’s brim. He must have noticed her gawking. He tossed the ruined accessory onto a nearby armchair and curled his lips into a mocking sneer.

Faith, but he was in a foul temper today. Or was that his typical attitude? Had last night’s courteous behavior been the anomaly? Dragging her gaze from Lord Warrick, she sought Uncle Gideon’s eyes. Did sympathy shimmer there? And mayhap compassion? To be sure, but she also glimpsed something more foreboding in their depths.

“Uncle Gideon?” She heard the panic in her shaky voice. Hated herself for sounding weak, but the truth was, she was utterly terrified.

He frowned and rubbed his chin with his thumb and forefinger. “What do you remember of last evening. After you became ill?” He rested his hip on the polished front of his desk.

She licked dry lips before sneaking a peek at Lord Warrick. He remained statue-like, his face devoid of emotion, except for his hostile pewter eyes. “Not much, I fear. I felt unwell, and Lord Warrick assisted me from the ballroom. I fainted then awoke in the lady’s retiring room.”

Blowing out a lengthy sigh, Uncle Gideon eyed Lord Warrick. “You’re quite sure you won’t have a seat?”

“Quite.”

Abrupt. Cold. Final.

Uncle Gideon crossed the carpet to sit beside her. Holding himself stiffly erect, he cleared his throat. “Vangie, you and the viscount were discovered in, ah…an indiscrete circumstance.” His contemplative gaze swept his lordship once more. “Though after questioning him, I am inclined to believe the entire incident was most innocent.”

Lord Warrick raised his chestnut eyebrows, his mouth slanting into a jeering grin. “I’m grateful for your confidence, sir, I’m sure.”

Uncle Gideon ignored him. Vangie could not. Her heart quickened in a peculiar mixture of consternation and relief. Consternation caused by Lord Warrick’s dark temper, and relief that the situation wasn’t dire after all.

“That’s what this is about? My fainting and Lord Warrick helping me?” A heavy yoke lifted from her shoulders. “Faith, it’s all a simple misunderstanding, thank goodness.” Laughter bubbled to the surface again, but she only allowed her lips to tilt upward a smidgeon. It wouldn’t do to skip around the room in celebration, grinning like a jingle-brained ninny. “Surely, there’s no need for matrimony if we,” she met each of their gazes in turn, “agree nothing unseemly occurred.”

“I concur,” the viscount said frostily, a scowl pulling his mouth downward.

Vangie’s smile broadened.

Thank God. Thank God. Thank God.

“No indeed. No need at all.” Her relief was heady, and not even Lord Warrick’s dour expression could wipe the smile from her lips. Gracious, but the man was Friday-faced most of the time. She’d nothing but pity for the unfortunate woman who did eventually find herself his viscountess, poor wretch.

“Nonetheless,” Uncle Gideon said, his voice oddly strangled, as if he couldn’t bear to say the words. “I’m afraid several peeresses saw you in a partially unclothed state, and as deplorable as it is, my dear, they are spreading the most contemptible tales.”

Lifting her chin, she shrugged. “Let them gossip. I know the truth.”

He gave her hand a small squeeze. “Vangie, I promised your mother I’d protect you should anything happen to her.”

“Yes, but—”

He raised his hand, cutting off her objection. “To salvage your reputation, I must insist this wedding take place.” He slid a cursory glance over Lord Warrick. “By God, if there was any other way, I vow I’d take it.”

At Uncle Gideon’s words, her smile waned, and her head swam dizzily. Lord Warrick’s face blurred as a short, sharp pain speared her temple. Raising her hand, she rubbed the spot. Oh dear, not another one. For a moment dread gripped her.

No, no buzzing in her ears or zig zagging aura plagued her. It had only been a nasty pang.

“But nothing happened.” Her gaze riveted on Uncle Gideon, she blindly reached over to grope the carved arm of the settee. “I’m sure Lord Warrick in no way acted inappropriately. He didn’t do anything. He wouldn’t.” She dared a sidelong peep at his lordship. One dark eyebrow hied upward, mocking and condemning, and she quickly averted her eyes at his stony, unsettling stare. “He’s not the type of gentleman who’d…” She trailed off in embarrassment.

Uncle Gideon shook his head, kindness and regret crinkling the corners of his eyes. “It matters not. The damage is already done.”

“Lord Warrick did not molest me while I was unconscious.” Vangie twisted to look fully at the viscount. She knew beyond a doubt what she said was absolute truth.

His eyes warmed the merest bit. “Thank you, for that.”

Ignoring the heat sweeping across her face, she pointed a trembling finger at him while looking at her uncle. “He is as outraged and opposed to this union as I am.”