Page 10 of His Stolen Duchess

The man became enraged by Lysander’s challenge and looked around quickly, unable to back down with so many people watching. He moved away from Georgina and turned toward Lysander.

“I know your type,” he snarled. “Did you really think you could have your way with her?”

Lysander’s eyes flicked between the young man and the soaked and bedraggled Georgina. “If you hadn’t noticed, she fell into the lake. I went in after her. Anyone with eyes would have seen that.” He took a slow step closer, his voice low but firm. “So, before you accuse her of scandal, you might want to consider the facts.”

“Now, you listen here.”

“No,” Lysander replied with a low hiss. “Youlisten here. This lady fell into the lake. She would have drowned had I not been around.”

The young man’s face darkened with fury as he glared at Georgina’s torn dress. “With her dress ripped like that, do you expect me to believe this was some innocent rescue?”

Lysander’s eyes narrowed, “I had to rip her dress to free her from the rocks at the bottom of the lake.”

Whispers rippled through the crowd like a rising tide.

“His bride, stolen by the Duke of Windermere.”

“He’s been made a laughingstock.”

“Did you see her plunge into the lake? What a scandalous farce.”

The young lord rolled his neck, clearly irked by the murmurs.

“It’s true,” Georgina stepped forward, breaking free from the protective circle of ladies. “He only saved me from drowning, nothing more.”

The irate man spun on her, his eyes blazing with frustration as if she were an easy target. “So, you choose his side? You’d rather fall into his arms than accept the life I offered?”

“I’m only…” Georgina faltered as the crowd tittered, caught between disbelief and curiosity, trying to unravel the tangled tale.

Flushed with anger, the young man sneered at them all. “I am calling off the wedding! I always knew she was a lightskirt, a harlot. The moment I told her, she fled straight into the arms of another man. I’ve never felt more justified. Let her have her secret lover!”

“What? No!” Georgina gasped, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Hey!” One of the three men lurking at the edge stepped forward. “Watch your tongue, Abbington.”

“Oh, I have,” the groom shot back, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. “I could say far worse about her since I came to know her, but I am a gentleman,unlike somein this crowd.”

Georgina gasped. “How dare you!”

The groom turned with a mocking bow. “Good day to you, slovenly trollop.”

With a final glare, he stormed off, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

Georgina finally found her voice and turned to the tittering, gossiping crowd, wagging her finger at them. “Oh, can’t you seereason? This man,” she gestured at Lysander, “meant to help me and nothing more. He’s saved me from drowning!”

The short speech did nothing to calm the crowd, and they only gossiped and giggled more.

“Sir,” she said to Lysander. “I must thank you for saving my life. Perhaps you are the only one who can see reason amongst all this.”

“I have a daughter who’s to be wed soon!” someone called from the crowd. “We’ll be steering clear of all lakes, that’s for certain!”

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

Lysander ignored them, but Georgina’s temper flared. “Enough!” she snapped.

“You can almost see through your dress! Was that a part of the plan? Abandon one groom and snatch another?” another shouted.

Georgina wrapped her arms around herself, shrinking back as the soaked white dress clung to her, revealing more than she was comfortable with. One of the women with the same crimson flush on her face as Lady Georgina ran swiftly to her side and draped a shawl over her.