Page 25 of Pursued Beyond Treachery (Harrowed Hearts #2)
When they reached a secluded alcove, Susannah dug in her heels, pulling her arm free. “Madam, you have said quite enough. I need to return to my party.”
“Do not speak to me thus, you sniveling brat. You should be grateful that I have even noticed you at all this season. I could ruin you and your family in an instant, but I have chosen to be generous. In return, you will obey me.”
“You can have nothing so serious to claim. My parents' reputation is unblemished.”
“But it will not be when I have your father’s debts called in and have him sent to debtor’s prison.”
Susannah sucked in her breath. “My father’s debts?” The words were barely audible but must have been loud enough for Aunt Guthrie, for she smiled triumphantly.
“Yes, and if you do not want your brothers and sister to go there as well, you will stay away from Lord Newhurst. My Harriet has taken a liking to him, but you keep throwing yourself at him like a hussy. I have seen the way he looks at you.”
“Like one looks after a sister. You must know we have been acquainted nearly all our lives.”
“No, like one looks at a lover. Tell me, have you tried to seduce him much like your mother did my brother?”
“I beg your pardon.” Red rushed to Susannah’s cheeks at such an accusation, but another part of her heart beat out the same words over and over. A lover, a lover, a lover. Did he really look at her in such a manner? Had she been blind all this time? Mr. Kendall’s words filled her mind.
“You heard me. I order you to stop your dalliances with Lord Newhurst or you shall force my hand.”
“I’ve not—”
“I know what I see, Susannah. Now give me your word, or I shall go to Mr. Guthrie right away and have him contact your father’s creditors.”
She swallowed, tears burning in her eyes. “Lord Newhurst is an intimate friend of the Stanfords. I cannot simply avoid him.”
“You can and you will. If he is over to the house, declare you have a headache.”
John would never understand, but the thought of causing her family so much distress terrified her.
There was no way around it. No one would want the contents of their home and they needed every bit of the land to live on.
She had no doubt her father’s debts were great indeed, for she’d witnessed the way her parents had economized over the years and Mama’s doctor bills had been no small sum.
Perhaps she could petition her grandfather to intercede. He was not the kindest man, but when his own grandchildren’s living was at risk, surely he’d help. Then again, he’d not even had the decency to attend her mother’s funeral.
She tried a different tactic. “If you ruin my family, it will reflect badly on yours. One knows that if one member falls the rest are found guilty as well.”
The woman’s dark eyes hardened. “I am willing to take that risk. Are you?”
Susannah hung her head.
Aunt Guthrie leaned in, her foul breath puffing in her face. “And do not dare speak a word of this to those friends of yours, nor your family, or I will make sure no man of good standing will ever want you again.”
“That is not possible. I have done nothing worth censure.”
“No, but a woman’s reputation is very brittle. One wrong word from the right source can break it.”
The steady click of a cane on tile brought Mrs. Guthrie’s attention around. Susannah’s eyes widened when Lady Braithwaite stepped out of a nearby alcove and approached.
Her appearance was a timely reminder of how ruthless the Ton could be.
In all Susannah’s experiences with the woman, she’d not uncovered any reason for Society’s disdain.
And yet, she’d heard whispers of intrigue, seductions, even murder connected to the lady’s name these last few weeks.
In Lady Braithwaite’s case, she had enough money to ignore the gossip, but Susannah had none.
Ice formed around her heart.
When Lady Braithwaite stopped before them, gold flecked eyebrows rose over staggering green eyes. “Mrs. Guthrie.” She gripped the top of a gold-handled walking stick. “What brings you to such a secluded area?”
“Nothing of consequence,” Aunt Guthrie crooned. The change in her demeanor was so sudden that Susannah stared at her like she’d grown a second head. “I was merely having a word with my niece. We are incredibly close, as you must know, and I wanted to ascertain how she was enjoying the dancing.”
The woman actually placed an arm around her back and Susannah had to clench her teeth until her jaw hurt to keep from pulling away. Frustration battled with fear. How could the woman claim such intimacy moments after threatening her?
“That must be nice to have such a close family. But you will have to excuse me, for I am come to collect Miss Wayland and return her to her party.” The slow emphasis and almost imperceptible narrowing of Lady Braithwaite’s eyes indicated she might not believe the woman.
What did Her Ladyship mean by collecting her? Knowing Lady Stanford’s dislike of Lady Braithwaite, she highly doubted she’d employ her to seek her out. Susannah would not contradict Her Ladyship, though. Besides, the sooner she escaped her aunt, the sooner the threats would stop.
Aunt Guthrie threaded her arm through hers. “Do not trouble yourself, Lady Braithwaite. I can return my niece.”
Was Susannah imagining things, or had Lady Braithwaite’s nostrils flared?
“I think not.” The tiny woman stretched to her full height, her eyes flashing with a warning no one could miss. “ I have come for her, and I shall leave with her. Do not forget who I am, Mrs. Guthrie, for I have most definitely not forgotten who you are.”
Aunt Guthrie shrunk back, her shoulders rounding, but her face grew hard. “I have not forgotten. You heard the woman, Susannah. Go find your friends. Only remember what we have spoken of and do behave yourself.”
She’d probably meant the reproof to sound like a loving aunt looking out for her niece’s reputation, but the threat carried far deeper. Susannah untangled her arm and followed Lady Braithwaite down the hall without glancing back.
Instead of returning her to the ballroom, however, Lady Braithwaite led her up the stairs. She said nothing, which suited Susannah after such a disagreeable encounter. On the second floor she stopped by a large multi-paned window.
“You associate with some very reprehensible individuals, Miss Wayland,” she said softly, staring out the window.
“What do you mean?”
“Only that I have watched you since your arrival and you seem to be attracting all the wrong kinds of attention. Let me give you a word of wisdom. Sometimes snakes dress themselves up in gentlemen’s and ladies’ clothing, and parade about looking for their next victim.”
“What am I supposed to gain from that?”
Lady Braithwaite finally turned to face her. “Be careful who you trust. It hurts to be bitten by a snake. I should know.”
The beautiful woman returned her focus to the window.
A crease in her brow and a shimmer in her eyes were the only indication of distress, otherwise she could have doubled for a statue.
Perhaps a Grecian goddess, cold, distant, and unbreakable…
or nearly unbreakable, as the presence of moisture proved her to be human.
As quickly as the look came, it was swept away under a polite smile. “I was once like you, young, beautiful… and incredibly stupid.”
“Pardon?”
“Please take no offense. I pride myself on being frank and you must know you are a bit naive.”
“I profess, I do not know a great deal about London or the world as a whole, but I would like to think I can be wise.”
“Good. Then you will take my advice, for I will not always be around to rescue you from serpents.”
“You do not like my aunt?”
“Not at all. She thinks too highly of her own importance and by the way she loomed over you, I would guess she is not as close a relative as she claims—at least, she is not as kind.”
“You are correct on both accounts.”
Again silence overtook them.
Finally Susannah asked, “Did Lady Stanford really send you for me?”
“Heavens no. You should know that. Lady Stanford worries my reputation will tarnish hers—not that it is as spotless as it once was. She would never have me fetch any ward of hers. I might taint them by association.”
The way her lips curled at the edges belied her words.
Her Ladyship held no distress at all about her blackened honor.
Perhaps that was why she continued to wear shades of black even though her mourning period had passed long ago.
The rebellion inherent in continuing to don the color even on the dance floors of London would be a statement indeed.
“In that case, I should probably return to my friends. I would not want to distress them.”
“Yes, do.” Lady Braithwaite’s relaxed shoulders came up, as if she were putting on a shield. “We would not want them to think I have corrupted you.”
There was pain behind the statement, although Her Ladyship tried to hide it.
Susannah stepped closer. “ I am pleased with your acquaintance, Lady Braithwaite, and I look forward to advancing it.”
Again those golden eyebrows rose and a tiny smile formed on the stunning woman’s face. “As do I, Miss Wayland.”