Page 86 of A Devious Secret

Chapter Thirteen

Stephen sat at the dining table as he ate his breakfast and read the newssheets. Bandit was resting next to the table and stared up at him with hopeful eyes.

He had just turned the page when Marielle stormed into the room. “What in the blazes have you done?”

Stephen’s hand stilled. “Can you be more specific?”

Hugh stepped into the room with a look of uncertainty on his face. “Have you read the Society page yet?”

“I don’t read that drivel,” Stephen said.

“I think you should,” Hugh encouraged.

Stephen rifled through the page until he got to the Society page. His eyes roamed the articles until he saw one about him.

“Botheration,” he muttered as he started to read the article that referenced his duel with John Paulson.

He brought his head up. “I can explain.”

“Can you?” Marielle asked. “Because Gemma is packing to return to Hawkinge as we speak.”

Stephen shoved back his chair and rose. “For what purpose?” he demanded.

“You fought a duel over a woman and then you kept her in your cabin,” Marielle said, giving him a pointed look.

“I did, but it is much more complicated than that.”

Marielle walked over and removed the newssheets from his hand. “The article also mentions that you frequent gambling hells.”

“That is not true,” Stephen declared. “I abhor gambling hells.”

“Do you deny going to the Scarlet Lady?”

Stephen winced. “I did go, but I can explain.”

Marielle frowned. “It seems like you don’t have an easy answer for anything and that is not going to bode well for you.”

As he reached for his blue jacket that was draped behind his chair, Stephen said, “I know this looks bad, and I will gladly tell you everything, but I need to go stop Gemma from leaving Town.”

Hugh came to stand next to his wife. “I would choose your words very carefully when speaking with Gemma. She seems to believe she is doing the honorable thing for our family by returning to Hawkinge.”

Stephen shrugged on his jacket. “I must assume she has read the Society pages.”

“She did this morning, but Lord Hawkinge informed her yesterday about your debauchery,” Marielle said.

“What I did was hardly debauchery,” Stephen said. “I merely assisted a young woman that was in need of assistance.”

“Did she thank you by sleeping in your bed?” Marielle asked dryly.

“You know not what you are speaking of,” Stephen said. “I can assure you that nothing untoward happened.”

Hugh interjected, “It does look bad for you.”

Stephen walked over to the door and stopped. It would take some time before his coach would be brought around front andhe didn’t want to wait that long. Every second was precious right now since he needed to see Gemma to explain everything.

“Did you bring a coach?” he asked.

“We did,” Marielle replied as she followed close behind. “Would you care for a ride?”