Page 24 of Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Duchess (Wallflower Season #3)

Harry’s door opened and he stepped out into the hallway. His hair was mussed, and he had clearly been asleep. He strode down to his cousin. “What in the blazes is going on? It’s like a circus here with all this noise and raised voices. Miss Avery? Why are you here outside Lord Radford’s door?”

“I—uh,” Kate stuttered.

Andrew squeezed her hand. “She was not standing outside of Lord Radford’s door. You are mistaken.”

“Well, there is one way to settle this. I shall speak to the man myself.” Before he could stop her, his grandmother rapped on Lord Radford’s door with her cane.

After a long moment, Lord Radford opened his door wide. His smile was feral and his eyes gleamed. He was in his element. “How may I help you, Your Grace?”

The Dowager Duchess opened his door wide and spotted Julia. “Miss Roves! This is most distressing.”

Harry’s face turned a mottled red, and he dashed to Lord Radford’s door and pushed him aside. “Julia? What is the meaning of this? Why are you in this gentleman’s bedchamber? I demand an answer!”

Julia’s hair was in disarray, and she had clearly pulled her dress up in haste. Tears streamed down her face. “I can’t marry you, Harry. I just can’t.”

More doors opened in the hallway. Andrew knew that this would be the end of Julia Roves if everyone saw her dishonor.

He knew what he needed to do. “This is not the time to discuss this. Everyone return to your rooms. We will meet downstairs in the drawing room in fifteen minutes. Everyone else go back to bed.”

His voice brooked no argument, and doors were hastily closed.

Harry’s face had gone from dark red to a pale white.

His anger was palpable. Through tight lips, Harry said, “I will thrash you, Darian, until you are an inch from death and then I shall ride you to the gates of hell myself. You have gone too far.”

Lord Radford smiled, and his teeth gleamed white in the low light. “You are a fool, Harry. I am simply taking the debt you owe me. Your betrothed was settling your account.”

Julia gasped. “You truly dishonor me with your words, my Lord.”

Andrew stepped between Harry and Lord Radford. “Not here where every eye can see. Downstairs.” His jaw tightened. This was a disaster. He turned to Kate. “Kate. Can you escort Miss Roves?”

“Yes.” Kate’s voice was small and contained none of its usual vigor. She grabbed her friend and dragged her from the room. The two women hurried down the hallway.

He turned to the open door. “Radford, I trust you will answer for this?”

Lord Radford smirked. “Give me a moment to dress and I will meet you downstairs. It should prove entertaining.” He closed the door in Andrew’s face.

“He is a horrible man,” the Dowager Duchess said. “I am just beside myself. This is all too much. Lady Pembrooke, can you escort me back to my room? I must lie down.”

“Of course.” Over her shoulder, the Dowager Viscountess gave Andrew a questioning look.

“Miss Avery is still an honorable woman,” he said.

Satisfied, the Dowager Viscountess of Pembrooke helped her friend down the hallway. Andrew grabbed Harry’s arm and pulled his cousin away from Lord Radford’s door. When Harry began to protest, Andrew growled and moved him down the hallway. “Not here.”

Fifteen minutes later, Andrew and Harry waited in the drawing room. Kate and Julia arrived with the Dowager Viscountess. A moment later, Lord Radford strode into the room.

“I think everyone should have a seat. Emotions are high and we need to be calm.” Andrew motioned his cousin to a chair as far away from Radford as possible.

Once everyone had been seated, Andrew said, “Miss Roves, I believe we need to hear from you. What were you doing in Lord Radford’s bed chamber?”

“I don’t know. I--” Her voice broke, and Julia’s eyes welled with tears. She shook her head. In a low voice, barely above a whisper, she said, “Marrying Harry would be a mistake.”

Harry started from his seat, but Andrew put a restraining hand on his cousin. “What do you mean, Miss Roves? You agreed to the marriage.”

Julia heaved a sigh and Kate reached over and held her friend’s hand.

She looked up, her green eyes filled with regret.

“I am sorry, Harry. I can’t marry you.” Harry clenched his jaw.

If not for Andrew keeping a hand on his cousin’s shoulder, he would have dashed across the room and hit Radford. Andrew squeezed his cousin’s shoulder.

“I don’t care about your indiscretion, Julia. We will wed.” Harry bit out the words.

“But I don’t love you,” Julia said, her voice sad.

“I don’t care. Love will come with time.

Besides, you have made a fool of yourself with Lord Radford.

No other man will want you. You would be smart to marry me before the rest of the guests hear of your deceit.

” Harry’s voice was cold. His face was as hard as marble and his eyes glittered menacingly at Julia.

Kate gasped. No matter what Julia had done in a momentary lapse of judgment, Harry’s words were harsh and cruel. Andrew turned to her and gave a slight shake of his head.

“Cousin, you should not speak to Miss Roves in such a manner.”

“Just leave, Radford. You have taken your pound of flesh,” Harry said, bitterness wound through every word. “Was it your plan all along to dishonor Julia as payment for my gambling debt?”

Lord Radford barked out a laugh. “Not at all. It was an opportunity that presented itself and I took it. I shall take my leave in the morning before dawn.” Before anyone could say anything else, Lord Radford stood and strode out of the room.

His footsteps echoed in the room long after his departure.

Everyone was quiet, unsure of who should speak.

The Dowager Viscountess cleared her throat. “I fear that the gossip will be untenable, Julia. It was foolish of you to throw away your marriage to Harry for a brief indiscretion with a rake like Lord Radford. I have no idea what I will say to your parents tomorrow.”

Julia sobbed. “I am sorry. I—”

“It doesn’t matter. As I said, we will still marry and that will stop the gossip.” Harry’s voice was firm.

“I don’t wish to marry you,” Julia said. Despite her tears, she lifted her chin. “I don’t love you. I am sorry, Harry, but I don’t.”

“I have done too much to get you to be my wife. You will not abandon me now.” Harry said. He shook off Andrew’s arm.

“What do you mean, Harry? What have you done?” Andrew said. His suspicion began to grow.

Harry scoffed. “I simply put a flea in someone’s ear and let the rest take care of itself. I have loved Julia for too long to allow her to marry someone like Nicholas Avery.”

Kate gasped. She had found her culprit.