Page 87 of After the Abduction

“No.” He took up the next pistol. “But I don’t know who else I’ll have to face.”

“What in God’s name do you mean?”

Reaching inside his coat pocket, Sebastian withdrew a torn out piece of newspaper and handed it to his uncle. “Read the column headed ‘Secret Elopement.’ It was in this morning’s paper.”

It took his uncle mere seconds to scan it. “Bloody hell,” he said softly.

“Yes.” His voice was laced with self-loathing. “I didn’t believe Juliet when she said the gossip might spread. I thought it was just a little misinformation circulating among servants, that it would go away. After all, if someone had known the truth from the beginning, what reason could they have for coming out with it now? And if they hadn’t known it—well, I didn’t see how they could suddenly stumble upon it after two years.” He checked the pistol’s flint, then added grimly, “But I was wrong.”

His uncle laid a hand on his arm. “It’s not your fault. Even the Knightons said the rumors were vague rumblings.”

“That article is more than vague rumblings. It states quite clearly that Juliet is believed to have eloped at eighteen and then been abandoned by her ‘suitor.’” He gritted his teeth. “At least they said ‘suitor’ instead of ‘lover.’ Though I’m sure that’s what they’re calling me in society. God only knows what they’re calling her. This paper is three days old, so there’s been plenty of time for the nastiness to progress.”

Deuce take it! Lifting the pistol, he fired at the target, but only the click of the empty gun sounded on the lawn.

“I believe you have to reload after each shot, my boy,” Uncle Lew said softly.

Only half aware of his uncle’s remark, he whirled to face him. “By now, they’re tearing her apart for the sheer pleasure of it. She’ll be ostracized by everyone, spoken of with contempt, treated like a whore—”

“Come now, Sebastian, surely it will not be that bad. Knighton will not let it progress that far.”

“How can he stop it?” He rubbed his pounding temple. “And it worries me that the rumor is so close to the truth. What if someone stumbled across the entire story and has set out purposely to ruin her reputation? A spurned suitor perhaps, or some enemy of Knighton’s? What if it’s an act of deliberate malice?”

The possibility had tormented him all morning as he’d prepared to leave. Though the Knightons couldn’t have reached London yet, they soon would. When they did…

His mind conjured up nasty images of Juliet being shunned or forced to defend her actions publicly or groped by men who thought her a loose woman because of the rumors.

“What will you do in London?” his uncle asked.

“I don’t know. First I’ll have to find out who started the gossip and why. Then I’ll deal with it as best I can.”

“And Morgan? What if he shows up here while you are gone?”

“You’ll have to take care of it. He doesn’t need us both looking out for him. Write to me in London if he arrives before I return, and I’ll…” He trailed off. He didn’t know what he’d do. For God’s sake, he didn’t even know what to expect in London. He only knew he had to go. He’d promised her to take care of any gossip, yet he’d let her go off without making any provision for it.

He’d never forgive himself for that.

“Sebastian, I wanted to ask as soon as I heard that the Knightons had gone, but since Boggs said you were too busy to see me, and I did not like to pry—”

Sebastian raised one eyebrow.

His uncle smiled wryly. “All right, so that never stopped me before. But you have never been too busy to see me before. I figured you would tell me on your own eventually. Indeed, that is why I thought you had sent for me this morning, and—”

“What is it you wanted to ask, Uncle?” he said impatiently.

“What happened between you and Lady Juliet that sent them all running?”

Sebastian concentrated on loading the pistol. “I asked her to marry me.”

His uncle sucked in a breath. “Ah. And she did not like the idea?”

“Actually, she accepted my offer. But she had some demands I couldn’t meet.”

“Demands? What—” Comprehension dawned in his face. “Oh, I suppose she wanted you to tell her the truth.”

“No. I’d already done that.”

“You had?” his uncle said disbelievingly.