by Robyn DeHart
It was time for her to take action. If she was to marry George, she needed to give him that extra push to make the commitment. Tonight’s ball would be the perfect time. People would still be reeling about recent events. It would be all anyone was talking about. Until tonight.
Until Clarissa Kincaid compromised herself.
…
Everything was planned to perfection, and even though the entire scenario made Clarissa feel slightly nauseated, she felt certain it would all work. By the end of the night she should very well be engaged. She scanned the ballroom looking for her future intended. He stood across the room next to Ella’s brother and two other gentlemen. They had glasses in their hands and held them up every now and again in an almost salute to one another. Men were strange creatures.
“Are you quite certain you want to go through with this?” Ella whispered next to her.
“Yes, it is the only way,” Clarissa said.
Ella shook her head vehemently. “Not true.”
“What are my other options?”
“You could not marry George.”
“He is the man I’m supposed to marry. We’re a perfect match.” Or at least they were supposed to be the perfect match. She’d spent so much time believing that, could she question it now? Especially in light of what she’d seen of George. Still, Clarissa intended to follow Rebecca’s recommendation. She knew from experience that her own personal instincts left much to be desired. So despite her doubts, Clarissa intended to adhere to her late sister-in-law’s suggestion.
If she were to rely on her own choice, she’d end up married to a gaming hell owner, not at all a suitable choice for a lady. Besides, she’d been pursuing George her entire adult life—she couldn’t turn back now. If she walked away from George, then who was she? What did she know of herself if she didn’t know that she was meant to be his wife? And who would she marry? There weren’t any other men lining up to pursue her. She wasn’t eccentric enough to be a successful spinster.
Ella shook her head, her perfectly coifed curls bounced with her movement. “I don’t think so. I don’t believe you suit at all. You’re vibrant and funny and I hate to see you waste your life married to him. I don’t trust him.”
“You’re only saying that because you’ve known him forever. Since you were a girl. You don’t know him the way I do.” But even as she said the words, they felt false to her.
“Well, you’ll certainly be able to say that after tonight.” Ella eyed her. “I wish you would reconsider, but I know you and once you have your mind set, nothing will change it. I will help, as I promised I would, but know that I’m not happy about it.”
Clarissa swallowed hard and nodded. “Duly noted. I promise to do the same someday when you set your cap for some gentleman I don’t approve of.”
“How do you know that will happen?”
“I know you and no doubt you’ll fall for some poet who has no income and doesn’t like to wear undergarments.”
Ella’s eyes widened. “My goodness but you’ve become rather worldly.”
Clarissa turned her attention back to George. When he came to retrieve her for his dance, Ella was supposed to send him to meet her elsewhere. The room she found was perfect and no one would be the wiser. It wouldn’t even take a kiss or a touch. Once they were found alone together, she’d be compromised. George would be urged to marry her. He’d come to his senses and propose.
Now was the time. She looked at her friend. “Wish me luck,” she said.
“Most definitely.” Ella grabbed both of Clarissa’s hands and looked her straight in the eye. “I’m not leaving you in there for very long. I don’t want him to ravish you. Oh, Clarissa, do be careful.”
Clarissa squeezed her friend’s hands and nodded. She made her way to the room where she was to meet George. It was a billiards room, but one that was apparently no longer in use. Lord Wooten had recently purchased all new billiard tables and had moved them into a larger room upstairs, leaving this smaller room completely unused.
There were currently three billiard tables in the room and it looked as if they’d also brought in some unused chairs stacked against the far wall. There was a door at the other end of the room that she assumed led into a closet. There were no windows and no one had passed through the corridor outside while she had stood there earlier in the evening.
It was perfect. She would grab his attention by letting him know that she knew of his favorite game. Then when Ella found them alone, he would do the honorable thing and marry her.
George was a good man.
She paused, considering what she was about to do. Never did she think she’d be one of those women who trapped a man into marriage, but she needed to do this before she did something with Justin Rodale she couldn’t undo. Once she was officially betrothed to George, then she and Justin could simply be friends.
She had been so close to asking him to make love to her the other night. She’d so wanted it, with him, but that was the terrifying part. She was supposed to be with George. Not Justin Rodale. Rebecca had never cared for Justin; she’d always said he was too surly. Of course that wasn’t the way he was now, and Clarissa couldn’t help but wonder what her dear sister-in-law would think of Justin the man. She didn’t have long to consider it though as the door creaked open.
“Clarissa, are you in here?” George asked. He poked his head in and saw her. “What are you doing in here?”
“I thought you might enjoy seeing what I’d found in this room.” She motioned to the tables behind her. “I’m told they’re quite old and worth something to collectors.”
He stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He paused. “No chaperone?”
“No, it’s just me. But no one uses the room, so we’re safe.”
He moved forward to the table and stopped at one in particular. “Mahogany wood, good detailing.” He moved around each side. “All eight legs seem sturdy and the pockets are in excellent condition. Very interesting. I was not aware Lord Wooten was an avid billiards player.”
“Oh, I hear he’s terrible, but he doesn’t know that,” she said.
George laughed. He picked up one of the cues. “The leather tips seem to be original. Clearly Lord Wooten doesn’t actually play very much.” He ran his hand against the wood of the table, then the top. “Why the sudden interest in billiards?”
“I am interested in you and therefore interested in what you like. You do favor this game?”
“Yes, I do.” He narrowed his eyes at her playfully. “Have you been spying on me?”
Well, she had, but not that particular past time. “A woman never shares her secrets.”
“It’s hard to believe that you would have secrets, Clarissa,” George said. “You’re a lady of upmost values.”
“Every lady has secrets. Don’t let any of them tell you any differently.” She shrugged. “I suppose it depends on what manner of secrets, though.” They could only talk for so long.
“I must admit I’m wondering if Lord Wooten would be eager to sell them to me,” he said.
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that he shouldn’t be making large purchases if he owed someone else a large sum of money. But she was still unsure if that had been a complete lie or if he did in fact owe someone money.
“Did you want to go and finish our dance?” he asked.
“No.” She walked over to him and looked up at him. “I was thinking we could do something else.”
“Do you want me to teach you to play?” He gave her a wicked grin and a shiver slid over her body. Not the delicious sort, but the sort that made her feel uneasy, nervous.
He took her by the hand. “Come here, let me show you something.”
She took a deep breath and allowed him to pull her near. If she were going to be compromised, she supposed it didn’t matter if she was found simply in a room alone with him or in an embrace. He pressed his mouth to her in a surprising kiss. He’d pinned her body between his and the billiar
d table.
He slid his knee between her legs. “You are a seductress, Clarissa Kincaid. I would never have known. It’s a nice surprise though.” Then he kissed her again.
She wanted this, she reminded herself. She wanted to be George’s wife, was destined to be so.
His mouth left hers, but trailed down her throat. His warm mouth did little to excite her. “Tell me you want me, tell me you want me to touch you,” he said roughly.
She nodded. “Kiss me,” she whispered. “I want you to kiss me,” she said.
“Clarissa Kincaid,” the female voice sounded from the door. But it was not Ella’s voice. They had been caught, but not at all by a friendly face. Clarissa’s heart fell into her shoes. She held her breath as she turned slowly to see who it was. It was Lady Wooten. But George would step forward and say something to save her, to salvage her name. He’d claim they were betrothed. The room was deafeningly quiet. Clarissa turned back around to find George had slipped out behind her through the other door.
Clarissa opened her mouth, but found she had no words.
“What are you doing in here, young lady, of all the scandalous wanton behavior.” Lady Wooten shook her head disapprovingly. “I am just, I mean I never would have expected it from you.” The woman’s eyes narrowed in on her. “Let us go and find your brother. Right now. Who was that man with you, Clarissa?”
Clarissa took one last look at the door behind her. George had abandoned her. The weight of her faulty decision crashed down upon her and she found it difficult to breath.
“Well, you can tell your brother. I’m certain he’ll make the man do the right thing. You should be quite thankful that I came in when I did. Whoever that man was that was in here with you would most certainly have taken advantage of you and by the way he quickly exited, he wouldn’t have seen to it to marry you.” She pat Clarissa’s hand. “Perhaps your brother can take care of the situation for you, though. Brothers can be quite persuasive when it comes to the honor of their younger sister’s.”
She continued to chatter on while she led Clarissa back into the crowded ballroom. All Clarissa could do was focus on breathing. In and out. In and out. Everything seemed to be moving slower than usual. The people they walked by, their words blurred, the music sounded broken apart, and there was a strange wooshing that pulsed inside her head. She needed to sit down.
Whether he intended to or not, George had just compromised her. And then he’d left. If he’d cared for her at all, he would have come forward then. If he had had any intention of ever marrying her, this should have forced his hand. And yet, he had run. She had been utterly wrong about the nature of his character. Worse still, Rebecca had been wrong. If she couldn’t trust in Rebecca’s guidance, what could she trust in?
“My Lord, if I could have a moment of your time,” the woman said.
Marcus turned to face her and he caught one sight of Clarissa and brought his arm around her. “What happened?” he asked her.
But she didn’t get a chance to answer as Lady Wooten was already talking. “I walked right in on them. Not sure who the man was, though, he scurried out as soon as he could. I do believe her virtue is in tact, though it might not have been had I not entered the room when I did. If I were you I would find out who he was and demand he make right of this.”
“Thank you for your help,” Vivian said. “Clarissa, let’s get you home.”
Well, she had ruined her reputation, but she wasn’t engaged. In fact, she was utterly ruined and more than likely Marcus would send her to the country to save the family any more embarrassment. Two scandals in one year was more than any family could handle.
Chapter Twelve
Justin had seen everything from across the room. His companion rattled on about wagering odds of hazard, but he was not paying him any attention. Instead he’d seen the hostess lead Clarissa across the ballroom and straight to Marcus and Vivian. They had, in turn, escorted her immediately out of the building. Something terrible had happened.
And then Justin saw George Wilbanks step back into the room and glance around. He looked far too suspicious. Justin knew that Clarissa was not thinking correctly and hell if he hadn’t scared her last night. There was no telling what Clarissa would attempt to do.
“If you’ll excuse me for a moment,” Justin said, then walked away from Baron Flick. He moved quickly and caught George by the arm. “What the devil happened?”
George pulled his arm away. “I do not need to have any unwarranted attention from you.”
“Answer my damned question or I’ll give you more attention than you’ll be able to recover from. What was the matter with Clarissa?”
George looked away from Justin, then back to him. “She made a bad decision and now she will have to deal with the repercussions.”
“Did you violate her?” Justin had to physically hold himself back because he was damn near ready to throttle the man. It wouldn’t be an easy fight either. They had nearly the same physique and Justin already knew George enjoyed a good fight.
The man’s jaw clenched. He met Justin’s gaze. “That is none of your damned concern. Now unhand me before I have you tossed out on your ass. I don’t care if you are the brother of a duke.” He jerked his arm away, then straightened his jacket.
“So she is ruined and you deserted her.”
George met Justin’s gaze and stared back unwavering. “I will not be trapped in a marriage I do not want.”
Justin turned on his heel before he pounded the man in the face.
He might not deserve Clarissa himself, but damned if he’d stand by and allow her name to be ruined. The life he could offer her wouldn’t be what she’d dreamt of, and she’d likely not be accepted back in the crowd that had always accepted her. He didn’t have much to offer her, but if she’d have him, what he did have he’d gladly share with her.
…
Clarissa sat in the front parlor of her house while Vivian and Marcus talked about her a few steps away. “I’m right here and I can speak for myself. Stop whispering and speculating and simply ask me what happened.”
Marcus and Vivian stopped talking and turned to face her. Vivian stepped forward. “Of course you’re right, Clarissa, we’re very sorry.” She looked at Marcus. “Come and sit.”
He complied and they sat across from her on the settee. “Whatever has happened, we’ll weather it, as a family,” Marcus said. “Again.”
She smiled. “I appreciate the support, honestly I do,” Clarissa said. “But in truth, this is all my doing, completely my fault, my choice.” She shook her head. “I’m a fool.”
“Can you tell us what happened?” Vivian asked gently.
“In my desperation to marry, I recklessly and ruthlessly attempted to compromise myself.” She laughed, her voice sounded foreign to her own ears. “And I suppose it worked.” She tossed up her arms in defeat. “I am officially ruined.”
Marcus shook his head. “Seems to be a bit of an epidemic lately.”
Vivian patted Clarissa’s knee. “It has always been the way. Women are forced into lives where we have no choices. We’re told whom we must marry and we’re often sold off to the highest bidder. London is a pot simmering and it’s about to over boil.”
“Lovely metaphor, my dear,” Marcus said.
“Yes, well, it is the truth. And the man in question?” Vivian asked.
“It was me,” a male voice said from the door.
Clarissa looked up to see Justin standing in the entrance to the parlor. His presence was enough to start the wellspring of tears she’d thus far been able to hold off. “No, Justin, don’t.”
“I ruined her and I will marry her,” Justin said, ignoring her protest.
Marcus came to his feet. “We’ve been friends for years, Justin, but if you defiled my sister, I might be forced to hurt you.”
“Oh stop it.” Clarissa stood. “All of you. I know you all mean well, but my goodness. Ever since you’ve returned to London, Marcus, this entire family has
surrounded itself with my actions and tried to fix everything. The fact of the matter is I went to see Justin that night because George told me he owed him money, which as it turns out is a complete lie because all of his gambling is done not at Rodale’s but rather Rafferty’s, a horrific place down by the Thames.” She took a deep breath. “In my utter insanity and drive to marry George, I mistakenly believed him to be an honest man, a true gentleman. I ignored everyone’s warnings. I was so afraid of what choices I might make outside of him, and I tried to coerce him in to marrying me and he walked out. I honestly can’t say that I blame him. No one needs to pick up the pieces of my mess in an attempt to clean it up. I made a mistake, I shall endure the consequences.”
“So you were in the room with George?” Vivian asked. “You tried to compromise yourself?”
Clarissa took a deep breath. “I thought that if George and I were found alone together, it would be enough. He, as it turned out, had other intentions. That was when Lady Wooten found us.” She gave Justin a weak smile. “It was George. Justin is simply being noble.” Tears stung the back of her eyes. Oh how she wished she wouldn’t cry.
Marcus shook Justin’s hand. “I am thankful I will not have to hurt you. I am rather fond of you.”
“I still wish to marry her. We’ve been seen together; everyone will believe it was me. We can simply say we were already engaged.”
“You were never courting me though,” Clarissa said. She’d longed for a proposal from Justin, but not like this, not in a forced situation. “I’m certain everyone knows that, if they’ve even been paying any attention. No one would honestly believe—”
“That you would lower yourself to be wooed by me?” Justin asked sharply.
