Page 8 of Snowbound with the Earl (Snowbound #2)
“He asked me to wait for him inside, and when he came in, he-he...” Miss Halifax’s face turned red, and she buried it in the handkerchief.
Graham turned to Dorsey. Lady Dorsey and Lady Bonneville stood behind Lord Dorsey in the drawing room now, staring at the group assembled in the parlor.
He wondered, fleetingly, why Lady Bonneville was dressed for travel then dismissed the thought.
“Dorsey, you must believe me. I never touched the girl.”
Dorsey’s gaze flicked to Miss Halifax and then to Graham.
“Are you calling my daughter a liar?” Halifax demanded. “She says you took advantage of her last night, Evergreen.”
“I am telling you she is mistaken.”
Dorsey held up both his hands in a gesture of peace. “Evergreen, this lady claims she was in your chamber with you last night. Do you have any proof otherwise?”
Graham looked at Miss Halifax. She averted her eyes and began to weep again.
Clearly, she was miserable at having to lie.
He looked at her father who was making a good show of being angry, but Graham saw the smugness underneath.
Then he looked at Dorsey. How was Graham supposed to prove he went to bed alone?
“I have proof,” said a female voice. Graham glanced at Mrs. Halifax, but she was looking behind her.
At Lady Bonneville.
Lady Bonneville lifted her chin. “Miss Halifax was not in his chamber last night because I was.”
Graham’s jaw dropped. He met Lady Bonneville’s gaze and it was hard as mahogany. “My lady,” Graham began.
“Do not try and protect my reputation, Graham,” she said.
“I assure you it can withstand a bit of tarnish.” She looked at the others gathered, her gaze never flinching.
“You all remember how I went upstairs early last night, claiming I had a headache. My maid will confirm that she helped ready me for bed and then gave me a candle so I might make my way to Lord Evergreen’s chamber.
I waited there for him.” She cut her eyes to Graham.
“A rather long wait too,” she said. “But I can’t complain. ”
While she spoke Miss Edmonton and Lord Foster entered the drawing room. No doubt the guests were being drawn at the sound of raised voices.
“Lady Bonneville,” Graham began, “there’s no need to...” He wasn’t certain how to continue. He wanted to say there was no need to prevaricate, but he couldn’t accuse a lady of lying.
But Lady Bonneville just waved a hand, dismissing him, and pushed into the parlor.
She sat on the couch next to the red-eyed, slack-jawed Miss Halifax.
“Shame on you for jumping to conclusions,” she said to Mr. Halifax and his wife.
“No wonder this young lady is weeping. Mrs. Halifax, you say your daughter was not in her bed last night. I’m certain you must have looked in on her before the card games ended.
I imagine they lasted well into the night. ”
“We played until after midnight,” Miss Edmonton said, her voice a bit shaky. “I went up with Miss Halifax and saw her go into her chamber. Hers is right across from the one I share with Mama. Mama was up reading, and she can verify it was almost a quarter past twelve.”
“Evergreen and I finished our brandy,” Foster added, “and then went up ourselves just before half past the hour.”
“Yes, I heard you and Graham talking quietly as you came up,” Lady Bonneville said to Lord Foster. “You were discussing the snowfall.”
Graham had no idea whether they’d been talking of the snow or not, but Foster nodded. “Yes, it had been snowing all night, and we remarked that the wind had picked up.”
Lady Bonneville put an arm around Miss Halifax’s shoulder.
Miss Halifax was taller than the viscountess, but somehow Lady Bonneville managed to look stronger and more formidable than the girl.
Graham could not imagine anyone challenging her.
“There now,” she said to Miss Halifax. “No more tears. You will not be forced to marry Lord Evergreen. It was all just a misunderstanding.”
“Thank you,” Miss Halifax said, turning her face away and into Lady Bonneville’s shoulder.
Graham looked at Mr. Halifax, whose face was red. He’d clenched his fists in an obvious sign that he did not appreciate his plans being thwarted.
Graham looked at Dorsey, who looked relieved, and then shifted his gaze to Lady Dorsey. She couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face—or perhaps she didn’t want to. No doubt she was congratulating herself on bringing another couple together.
But Graham had not been with Lady Bonneville last night.
He didn’t want to be with her. He’d treated her abominably, and yet, she’d saved him at the cost to her own reputation.
A widow needn’t worry about her reputation as much as an unmarried lady, but that didn’t mean widows weren’t expected to be discreet.
No doubt Lady Bonneville’s confession would be the talk of the guests’ drawing rooms over Christmas, and from there the story would spread.
Which meant Graham had a bigger problem than almost being trapped into marriage with Miss Halifax. He was now indebted to the only woman he’d ever loved, the only woman to whom he’d given his heart, and the one woman who’d thrown it back at him, stomped on it, and left him bleeding.