by Abigail Agar
“If you were a good mother at all, you would keep your daughter away from the dreadful nobility. You ought to have kept a closer eye on Emma if you wanted to make sure that she was not fraternising with that man and putting her own reputation at risk,” Liza said, choosing to return to false accusations.
Emma watched the exchange between the two mothers, both angry, both bitter, both with a fight in their bones. She could see how each of them wanted what was best for her daughter, but she could also see how each one of them wanted what was best for their own name as well.
Liza was angered by the fact that her reputation had been ruined and her own mother was angry that she was being questioned as a mother. There was so much rage between the two of them that Emma began to question whether or not they would ever come to terms with their individual spite.
But Emma knew that she had to be brave and stick up for herself. She had started to, but when her mother had interjected, she had been entirely grateful. Now, she needed to be the bold one. She had to state her own peace.
“Miss Lockhart, I need you to hear me,” she said in a calm, steady voice that put a stop to the line of heated venom that had been drawn between the two mothers.
Liza turned to her and gave Emma her full attention, although her eyes were still slitted with disgust.
“Nothing has happened between myself and the Earl of Thornbury. I have not compromised my virtue, I have not been alone with him outside of the public eye. I have done nothing at all that would cause my chasteness to be called into question,” Emma began.
Liza pursed her lips, as if ready to retort, but Emma was not slowing down in her statements, in her declarations of innocence.
“However,” she continued. “I am the one who is able to make decisions regarding my own life. Although I would never be in a position with a man that might question the integrity of myself, my family, or the gentleman, it is up to me to decide that. Even if I did want a relationship, an honest and chaste and acceptable courtship, that would be my choice.”
“What are you saying?” Liza asked.
“I am telling you to mind your own business and stay out of it,” Emma said, stern and frank.
Liza’s jaw dropped, not having expected the response.
“You have no involvement in my life or my choices. I urge you to remember that because I want nothing more to do with you and I have nothing more to say to you. Leave us alone,” Emma said.
“I am doing this for your own good. For your own protection,” Liza said. It was clear that she had convinced herself of this and that Liza very nearly even believed the lie that she had been telling time and time again.
“You are doing it because you are every bit as selfish as the earl was,” Emma spat back.
With that, Liza’s eyes took on a glare more hateful and cruel than any that Emma had previously seen from her.
The woman rushed past them and out the door, leaving her own home rather than staying in that space with them.
Emma and her mother looked at one another with a knowing, understanding appreciation. They had done all that they could for now.
“That woman is a fool,” her mother said.
“That woman is grieving everything that she lost and she has decided that the only way to push through it is to destroy a man who had nothing at all to do with her misery,” Emma said with a sigh.
Her mother nodded, looking just as sad and distressed as Emma was.
The tenement was dim and depressing and the two of them looked at one another and nodded in agreement that they should get out of there. Of course, Liza would come back once she trusted that they had left and there was no reason for the two of them to stay.
Emma tried to find some sympathy for Liza. After all, the poor woman had been treated miserably. She hadn’t expected the things that had happened. But her actions since were within her control and she had chosen to be an awful villain instead of moving on and being a better person than the late Earl of Thornbury.
Liza had been given every choice and opportunity to forgive the man, but she had not. And instead of holding her anger against him, she had redirected it to a young man who had nothing at all to do with any of it.
“Well, what do you say we go home and make some soup?” Emma’s mother asked.
“I think that is a perfect idea,” she replied. But there was a worry stirring in her heart and Emma knew that she had to ask the question.
“Do you think Father knows what has been said? Do you think that he will believe it or be angry with me?” she asked.
Her mother shrugged.
“I will speak with him. There is nothing that we can do about everyone else for now. Your father loves you and he will understand. You have never given us reason to doubt,” her mother said.
Emma nodded, hoping that things really would remain peaceful with her father. He had worked so hard for them and she couldn’t bear the thought of him being subjected to scrutiny because of all of this, along with her mother. She realised that this must be how the earl felt about his own mother.
But Emma tried to be strong. However Liza might respond, she was ready.
Chapter 33
Eric stepped out of the coach and into the air of London. He was surprisingly excited to be back in the city that he called home. Although there was smog in the air, he hardly minded. Everything was familiar and that was far more important.
Deciding to walk to his estate, where he expected that his mother would be, Eric noted that the stares in London were far worse than those he had received in Finchley.
Eric saw a friend from one of the gentlemen’s clubs not far ahead and he made his way over to him.
“Ah, Lord Gringham, how are you this afternoon?” Eric asked.
The young man, perhaps a year or two younger than Eric, turned and looked at him with wide eyes.
“L-Lord Thornbury. Good afternoon. What a surprise to see you…out and about…” Lord Gringham replied.
Eric paused before asking his question.
“And why should it be a surprise?” he finally managed.
“Well, with all that is…going on…” Lord Gringham said, his voice a hush, as though it were some conspiracy that they were discussing.
Eric straightened his back.
“Please be frank with me, Lord Gringham. I am aware that there are rumours regarding my fraternising with a young woman, but we both know that the vast majority of young men do just that and there is actually evidence to back it up. As I have done no such thing and there is no evidence to the contrary, why are you behaving with such uncertainty?” Eric asked.
He had tried to be gracious, but everyone knew that Lord Gringham was newly married and had quite a flirtation going with the young woman’s sister. Many people wondered if he had an affair taking place with her. His wife had appeared quite oblivious.
So if anyone was going to judge Eric, even if the rumours had actually been true, he would not have expected it to be the man who stood before him.
“Lord Thornbury, I fear that it is the evidence that has everyone so…concerned for you,” Lord Gringham said.
“Good heavens, will you just be out with it? What are they saying now? And why are you taking so long to say anything?” Eric asked, having had enough of it.
Lord Gringham shifted uncomfortably, having been thoroughly scolded.
“I speak of the fact that the young woman is with child,” he said.
Eric did not register the words for a moment. But then, finally, it dawned on him what Lord Gringham was actually trying to say.
“With child? You mean that everyone believes that I have got Miss Sproul pregnant?” he asked, her brows drawn together with disbelief.
Lord Gringham shrugged, looking away at other passers-by, apparently not knowing how to tell Eric.
“Ha! That is a new one. And the most foolish one yet that I have heard,” Eric said.
“You say it is not true?” Lord Gringham asked, as though the thought had
never occurred to him.
“Of course it is not true. Miss Sproul is merely an acquaintance. I am very fond of her and I would love to court her, but as it is, we have barely been in one another’s presence. Our only times together alone were walking in public and one meal, which also took place in a public setting,” Eric said.
Lord Gingham raised an eyebrow and Eric knew the fragility of his story. It was not common to have a meal with a young woman in public, so why should anyone believe that nothing took place before or after that event?
“I mean it. Miss Sproul has the highest quality of character. She would never allow something like that to happen, even if I were the animal that I have been painted to be,” Eric said.
“Yes, well, the vast majority of those in society at the moment believe that you are the very epitome of your father and that Miss Sproul has been subjected to that. If you do not wish for her to be spoken so ill of, it might be a good idea to speak louder. Although, I ought to warn you that I don’t believe you will be listened to,” Lord Gingham said.
“And why is that?” Eric asked.
“This is London. No. This is England. When given the choice between believing you or believing that there is a scandal, you know precisely which one people are going to choose,” Lord Gringham reminded him.
Eric swallowed, his pride already in tatters. How could he not have been more prepared for this? All of London, all of England for that matter, was going to watch his name in the society pages, believing that Miss Sproul was pregnant. And when she was not? Perhaps they would claim that she lost the child, another mark against her.
It was further cruelty that he was not sure how to put an end to.
Eric wished that he had been able to stay in Finchley, to try and put an end to all of this and to make things right. But, alas, he had to get to his mother, he had to assure her that all of this was false and that things would come together.
“Have you a copy of the society pages?” Eric asked Lord Gringham.
“I do not, but they are all over. You may find them just about anywhere. And you will see your name, the first on the list,” his friend warned him.
Eric groaned. Of course he was first. All of this gossip was very intriguing for those who cared about such things. He should not have been surprised that anyone would try to use this as an opportunity to defame him, but he had not been expecting it in the least and until he found his sister, he had never been the target for any such thing.
Although Eric had departed from Lord Gringham, he still faced the looks and scrutiny of all those he passed until he saw his home up ahead.
There were a few others that he spoke to on the walk, acquaintances or fellow titled men, who looked at him and then looked away until he had the same conversation with them that he had only just had with Lord Gringham. Not one of them appeared to have believed him.
By the time Eric walked through the door and to the sitting room, his mother was already in a state of anxiety.
“Oh, Eric. Oh, my dear son. What is all of this about? Am I to be a grandmother or is it just another attack from that dreadful woman?” she asked.
“Another attack, Mother. I promise you. There is nothing true in it,” he said.
“Then why is that terrible woman doing all of this? Why can she not just let it go and move on?” his mother asked.
“She is a very bitter woman, Mother. Father hurt her greatly. You know how he was. You know the sort of man that he was at times. I did not expect her to take it this far, or maybe it was the scandal sheets that expounded upon the lie. But whatever took place, Liza Lockhart is a very sad woman,” Eric said.
“I care not how sad she is. I do not even care how awful your father was to her. I care that she has chosen to destroy us. You and me. We had nothing to do with the affair. What? Does she believe that I wanted my husband to be unfaithful?” his mother asked, the hurt in her eyes unbearable.
“I am sorry, Mother. I don’t know why she decided to do this. I mean, I am trying to find these reasons, trying to be gracious and understand the hurt that she has felt. But, in truth, I am angry as well. I cannot believe that she would do all of this. I cannot believe that she would hurt and tell a lie about a young woman like Miss Sproul who did nothing wrong at all,” Eric said.
“Is she a very nice girl?” his mother asked, suddenly curious.
“She is lovely, Mother. She is a perfectly wonderful – and chaste – young woman. Were circumstances different, I would beg to court her,” Eric confessed.
“And do you believe that she would accept?” his mother asked.
“I wish that I knew. But with all of this having taken place, I would be far too frightened to ask. You know, she is not of our class and, although that does not bother me, I am uncertain as to how she would feel marrying into this. Society can be cruel, as she is seeing. And their eyes are upon us. I do not know that she would want their eyes to be upon her as well,” Eric said.
“I could not blame her if she had reservations in that regard. But, you know, if she is a good girl, I would not object to a courtship between the two of you. I would support it, so long as these accusations are false,” she said.
“They are false. I assure you,” he said.
She nodded as though appeased.
“Well, if that is the case, you have no choice, Eric. You must fight them. You must go and show the world who you really are and the fact that you had nothing to do with the behaviours of which you are being accused. I do not care who this woman believes herself to be. If Liza Lockhart is lying to the whole of England, it ought to come out,” she said.
Eric agreed and he nodded, but he didn’t know how he could actually come up against Liza Lockhart just now.
“Eric, you must,” she said.
“How? What am I to do exactly to deny something that cannot be proven true or false?” Eric asked.
“You go to her and confront her in front of everyone. You must. I don’t care how you do it so long as it gets done, but that is what I would do,” his mother said.
Eric considered it. Liza was a good manipulator. What if it only made things worse?
In truth, he knew that it didn’t matter. Things could not get much worse and he had to take a stand. It was bad enough when she was attacking him. It was worse when his mother was affected.
And then Miss Sproul has been dragged into it all. Then her name was listed. And now this. Now, Liza Lockhart had hurt her daughter’s very best friend in all the world.
Eric wondered how Amelia was feeling about it all now that it had gone this far. Had she said anything to her mother? Had she taken a stand? And what had Miss Sproul been doing since the news of her pregnancy had been spread?
The poor young woman was probably furious. She must have been livid that Liza had done this, had taken it so far. If Eric was angry and hurt by it all, he could not imagine how Miss Sproul was feeling.
“What do you want to do, Eric? Are you going to go there to fight it or will you stay here to do so?” his mother asked.
Eric looked at his mother and considered the two options.
“If you wish it, I will stay,” he offered.
