Page 42 of Dare to Risk it All

The marquess turned, looking askance at being addressed so informally by a maid. His expression grew troubled as he stared at her, but Greer did not wait for him to recognise who he was speaking to, just grabbed hold of his arm.

“Raphe is in trouble,” she said, tugging at him, which was akin to tugging on the side of a large brick building.

He was going nowhere he didn’t want to go. Her words, however, seemed to penetrate, and his gaze fixed on her with more intelligence than she had perhaps credited him before now.

“Where?” he asked succinctly.

“The refreshments room. Oh, please hurry.”

He strode off, with Greer now hurrying to keep up with him.

“Dare, with me,” he barked as he passed, and Dare did not hesitate. He simply turned and followed Bainbridge without question.

They got to the refreshments room just in time to see Raphe’s opponent crash through the door, slide over the marble floor, and smash into a small console table. A porcelain figurine set atop the table fell on his head and then to the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces. The noise inevitably drew attention. Raphe staggered out, his nose bleeding and the sleeve of his coat torn away from the shoulder seam. A roar of sound from behind him was the only warning he got before Plumpton appeared behind him and leapt upon his back, punching him in the side of the head.

“Bollocks,” Bainbridge said, and lunged for the fellow.

Between him and Dare they strong-armed a flailing Plumpton against the wall.

“What are you doing to my boy?” screamed an alarmed female voice as a big-boned woman with protruding eyes and a prominent chin sailed through the gathering crowd, elbowing people out of the way left and right. “Plummy, darling, you’re bleeding!” she wailed, hurrying towards her son.

“Mama, this brute attacked me,” Lord Plumpton said, pointing at Raphe, who by now looked thoroughly disreputable.

“De Ligne?” she said, staring at Raphe in outrage. “How dare you! Bainbridge, I demand to know why you allowed this… this revolting reprobate in among civilised people.”

“He’s my friend,” Bainbridge replied, giving Plumpton a look of deep distaste. “I have no idea what’s he’s doing here, however. Didn’t invite him. Wouldn’t. Snivelling little rat.”

“He came with me,” his mother said, looking outraged.

“Well, I don’t like him,” Bainbridge said, folding his arms. “And I never invited him. What’s he mean by coming here and causing trouble?”

“I-I never did,” Lord Plumpton stammered.

“Yes, he did!” Greer piped up.

Before she could say more, Raphe shushed her and tugged her behind him.

“Let me go!” she insisted, struggling against his grip.

“If anyone recognises you—” he hissed, but Greer was beyond listening to him.

Raphe was being blamed for something which was entirely her fault, or at least hers and Lord Plumpton’s, but certainly not his. He’d been doing the honourable thing and protecting her. She would not allow him to suffer for that.

“Lord Plumpton pinched me and tried to… to take liberties,” she shouted to Bainbridge, over the general hubbub.

“Is that so?” Bainbridge said, his scowl growing ferocious.

“The chit’s lying,” Lord Plumpton said, his colour deepening. “I never laid a finger on the little tart.”

“I’m not lying!” Greer said, her cheeks blazing.

Her heart thudded unpleasantly as more and more people gathered, all of them riveted by the shocking scene. Now everyone was staring at her, and she knew full well she was risking her reputation. It would only take one person outside of her family and friends to recognise her and spread the tale, and it would ruin her beyond saving. Someone had to explain what Raphe had been doing, though, that he was the honourable man here, not the troublemaker.

“The bitch is lying. No doubt she’s his doxy,” Plumpton said, puffing himself up with righteous indignation. “Everyone knows De Ligne is a vile libertine and a drunk. He attacked me with no provocation whatsoever!”

Gasps of shock and a low muttering of disapproval moved through the ever-increasing crowd and Greer’s panic grew by the moment. They would blame Raphe for this. It wasn’t fair!

“You’re a horrid liar, and I bet any of the other maids here would have endured the same experience!” she retorted with fury.