Page 62 of Saving a Scoundrel
“Of the most intimate kind. You see, I saw you two last night outside of the Termage.”
The lady in red.Ellie narrowed her eyes but held her tongue.
“But you should be warned that his feelings, whatever he told you to get you to accompany him upstairs, are false. He and his friends had a bet to see who could ruin the purest of debutants this season, namely you.”
Who would do such a vile thing? Certainly not Lucius. No, she wouldn’t believe it. “Whatever my relationship with Mr. Grisham is, it is certainly not any of your business.” Ellie stood. “I think you should take your gossip elsewhere, Lady Pierson.”
“Oh, poor thing. You are so besotted, but you’ll never be enough for a man like Lucius. You should run on home to daddy.”
Ellie’s temper ratcheted to full steam at the woman’s condescension. Her hands fisted at her side.
“What the hell are you doing here, Rosemary?”
Ellie turned. Lucius stood in the doorway, his expression ominous. Lady Dearborn and Susanna right behind him. He stalked across the room and placed himself between her and Lady Pierson.
“You have no business talking to her. You have no business being in the same room as her.” He growled.
“I simply thought she should know your true intentions.”
“You know nothing about my true intentions. Everything you do is purely in self-interest.”
“Does she know about your work at the Birdcage?” Lady Pierson leaned around him to sneer at Ellie. “Take off your rose-colored glasses, dear. He’s nothing but a whore in gentleman’s clothing.”
Lucius took a menacing step closer to Lady Pierson. “And you, Rosemary, did you enjoy your evening with Jim? I wonder how your husband feels about being cuckold by his wife and an ex-convict.”
Ellie thought she might faint. Lady Pierson was the vilest woman she had ever known. Susanna slid an arm around her waist, and Ellie was glad for the support. Lady Dearborn pushed past them. “That’s quite enough! Nobody comes into my house and insults my people.” She grasped Lady Pierson’s arm. “You and I need to have a chat on your way out, Lady Pierson.” Lady Dearborn hauled the other lady across the room.
Lady Pierson turned back as she was pulled from the room. “If I can’t have you, no one else can. I will ruin any relationship you cultivate. Mark my words, Lucius Grisham!”
“You certainly will do no such thing.” Lady Dearborn gave a great tug on the woman’s arm, and they disappeared through the door into the hall.
Lucius ran a hand through his hair. “Ellie, I’m so sorry that you had to witness any of that. What did she say to you?”
Still in shock at the woman’s parting words, Ellie swallowed hard to clear her throat. “Were you involved with that woman?”
“Yes. For a time, but I ended things with her weeks ago. I swear.”
Ellie turned to her friend. “Susanna, can you excuse us, please? I need to speak with Lucius alone.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Once Susanna had left the room, Ellie turned to Lucius. “How could you have been involved with a woman so vile?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I guess it was easy. I met her after I’d been cut off, and she was generous with her gifts. We only saw each other occasionally.” Lucius shrugged. “She had become more possessive lately; that is when I broke it off with her.” He shook his head. “No, that’s not entirely true. Ellie, the truth is it was because of the time we spent together. In comparison to how you made me feel, I just couldn’t be around her anymore.”
He stepped forward, his hand outstretched. But Ellie stepped back. She couldn’t believe that he had been intimate with that woman like he had been intimate with her. Perhaps she had been wearing rose-colored glasses, because she hadn’t thought about the other women he had bedded. But now, she couldn’t seem to rid herself of the image of Lucius kissing Lady Pierson, of them tangled together naked in his bed. Ellie pressed a hand to her mouth.
“Ellie.” Lucius took a cautious step toward her. “Tell me what you are thinking—”
“And the bet? Is that true?” She had to know all of it now, even if the truth hurt.
He froze. “She came to tell you about the bet. Of course, she did. Yes, there was a bet made between Danvers, Comstock, and Quincy.”
“And you?” she whispered, her heart breaking.
“Technically, yes. But only so I could keep the others away from you. If they thought I was after you too, then I could keep you close.”
