Page 76 of Ruined by the Wrong Earl

And their nights…

Never had she imagined such passion. Her skin heated thinking of their bouts of lovemaking. Still, one thing was missing. He had never proclaimed his love. She shouldn’t expect it. Their arrangement was based on their mutual convenience.

Love had never been a part of the bargain, and she’d been afraid to confess her feelings.

She reached for her notebook and dipped a quill in an inkwell. She was a scientist and scientists based decisions on facts first. She would make a pros and cons list. It would help to settle her rioting emotions. She also understood that she must organize her thoughts before she mentioned the offer to Ralston. He would help her make a decision. She would never accept any offer without telling him.

At one point she’d been hopeful she could be with child. She’d always been regular and could anticipate her menses. If she were, it would make her decision easier. She would not travel and risk her pregnancy. As if to crush her hopes, her menses had come that morning.

Her fingers tightened on the quill. She had to begin somewhere. She drew a line down the center of the page and labeled ‘pros’ on the left and ‘cons’ on the right. She began on the left. She was up to seven bullet points when a loud rapping on her door disturbed her.

‘What is it?’

Mrs Hanning entered holding a paper in her hands. ‘Pardon my intrusion, my lady. One of the maids reads the gossip rags. I tell the staff not to read such nonsense, but nonetheless, they—’

Nora was confused by the housekeeper’s ramblings. Mrs Hanning was always composed and proper. ‘It’s all right. What do you have there?’ Her gaze went to the paper in her hand. The woman was holding it so tightly Nora was surprised it didn’t tear.

‘It’s the Tatler, my lady.’

Something about the way the housekeeper’s voice wavered made the hair on Nora’s nape rise. ‘What does it say?’

‘Your ladyship and his lordship.’ The housekeeper thrust it at her. ‘Again, I never pay much attention to Society gossip, but this may have consequences.’

Nora took the sheet from her. ‘Thank you for coming to me straightway.’

The housekeeper bobbed a curtsy and left. As she read the item, Nora felt ill.

The love story of Lord and Lady Ralston is a farce. Turns out, their engagement came about when the lady was caught in his bed at a duchess’s house party in Cornwall. The scandal was as scorching as the country heat. One wonders, was the Earl forced to propose to prevent an epic scandal from ruining his growing influence in the House of Lords?

The paper dropped from her limp hands to flutter upon her desk. A terrifying realization washed over her. Would her mistake hurt Ralston’s political endeavors? Could it damage what he held dear, his political career? He was close, so close, to having his bill pass. The gossipmongers would feast on the story. If he lost after all his work, he might never forgive her.

Nora’s thoughts spun. How could she douse the fire before it consumed them? Who could help? She needed her own ally, someone with significance and influence in Society who could quell gossip or turn it in another direction.

Lady Weber.

She had grown closer to the lady after their private tea, and she sensed she would understand her predicament. She also knew she would have to be honest. Lady Weber was no fool and if Nora wanted her help, she must be truthful. Lady Weber was the most influential member of the beau monde she knew. She held social power and the other ladies listened to her. If she was on Nora’s side, then it would help with the gossip, maybe even turn it in her favor. It was a risk, but one Nora was willing to take. She would explain to Lady Weber how she had been desperate to get out of an unwanted betrothal to another man and that she wanted to be sure Ralston was not harmed by unnecessary gossip. She would even tell her about her offer to travel abroad. If leaving would help quell damaging gossip, then she would do what was necessary. Nora stood and snatched her reticule from the table. Rushing down the stairs, she didn’t bother to have a carriage brought around. She hurried down the street and hailed a hackney.

She needed help and she would do whatever it took to get it.

With a bounce in his step, Ralston climbed the front steps into the coffee house. Within a week’s time, his bill would be up for a final vote in the House. Without the fierce opposition from Lord Weber and his contingent of opponents, he expected it to pass.

Adler was waiting for him at a table, a coffee sitting by his right hand. His friend’s expression was not friendly. ‘Ralston, what took you so long?’

‘Am I late?’ He didn’t think so. He pulled out a chair across from Adler and sat. What was bothering his friend?

‘The gossip rag, the Tatler, is ablaze about you and your wife.’

Ralston’s brow furrowed. ‘What?’ He noticed the paper at the table.

Adler held up the infamous gossip sheet. ‘It says your love match was not as loving as you let on but rather a necessity because you two were caught in flagrante at the Duchess of Everly’s house party in Cornwall.’

Ralston frowned. He was annoyed by it. ‘Christ! No one reads that trash. And it’s now over two months ago.’

Adler gave him a look of disbelief. ‘I read it. And I can assure you, the pompous wives of the nobility read it, as well. And besides, didn’t you marry in order to avoid a scandal?’

His friend had a point. ‘Let me see for myself.’ He snatched the paper from Adler’s hands and read the column with rising dismay. He may be a married man, but the Tatler had wide distribution and his bill had yet to pass. As for his future and Nora’s…

‘Ralston!’