“There was no wrongdoing at all. Good God, man, my leg was broken clean in two. I could not even stand and could hardly move.”
“Lord Withinghall,” Mr. Tilney said, looking even graver, if that were possible, “you must know that I believe you. I have the utmost respect for you. No one could know better than I the spotless character you possess, the Christian piety and charity you exhibit and have exhibited since you inherited your father’s title. Even at such a young age, your maturity and your chasteness was beyond anything I’ve seen. That is why I believe you cannot be guilty of any wrongdoing. You must also know that I would never spread malicious gossip such as this. I simply seek to know the truth, and I shall defend you in any way that I can. But I do request the favor of knowing the absolute truth in the situation, for whether or not any misconduct took place, I believe this young lady’s reputation is now ruined, and it will not be easily recovered.”
Leorah opened her mouth but looked first at her brother. She wasn’t sure she’d ever before seen that particular expression on his face.
“Miss Langdon did nothing wrong,” Lord Withinghall said evenly. He seemed to be avoiding looking at her. “She had a broken arm from a fall from her horse, and I was merely taking her home.” He spoke in a clear, articulate manner. “It was raining outside, and yes, night fell as we waited to be rescued. My poor coachman lay dead on the road, a man who had served my family since my grandfather’s time.” He seemed to unclench his teeth as he added quietly, “But I don’t suppose any of that will matter to the gossipmongers.”
What? Was he giving up? The horrible sinking feeling in her stomach, however, gave proof to the fact; she knew he was right. There was nothing they could do to defend their reputations. People would think they had done something improper.
Leorah’s chance of marrying at all now seemed nonexistent.
Edward avoided looking at Leorah Langdon as the dire news was laid before them. Their reputations had been forever tainted by the accident that had killed Pugh and caused his leg injury. No one would care that their injuries—his broken leg and her broken wrist—made it extremely unlikely that any serious misconduct could have taken place. It was enough that they had been alone together. At night. For hours.
He searched his mind for a possible way out, for a solution to this problem. Perhaps if he could prove that someone had sabotaged his carriage and purposely caused it to break apart . . . but that wouldn’t be enough. He’d have to also prove who had sabotaged it. And even then, he wasn’t sure that would make enough difference to save Miss Langdon’s reputation.
Of all the ironic things that could happen, to think that he could be the means of ruining her reputation, the girl he had called a “reckless hoyden,” whom he had vowed to avoid.
And yet, if she hadn’t been out recklessly riding her horse alone, a horse with far too much spirit for a young lady, so far from home . . .
His thoughts and attention were arrested by the sound of a question and all eyes on him.
“Excuse me, I didn’t hear.”
The long-winded Tilney looked slightly annoyed at having to repeat himself. “I said, do you deny that you and Miss Langdon were lying on the floor of the carriage together, after dark, alone?”
He glanced at Leorah. She seemed to be holding her breath, her lips parted. Was she hoping he would lie and say that they had not? If they both vehemently denied it, they might be believed. But then again, they might seem the guiltier by defending themselves against two eyewitnesses.
“We were actually on the roof of the carriage, which had turned upside down. But I cannot deny that we were alone and lying down. I can only assert that we were both injured and that nothing happened between us.”
The room was silent. They all knew what this meant. For Lord Withinghall, it could mean a slight setback in his political career, though it might pass over without serious consequences. His enemies, however, would forever consider his claims of individual and personal credibility and righteousness besmirched.
Besides that, what would Miss Hannah More say? No doubt she would be horrified and think him a sinner and hypocrite.
But worst of all was that he was now responsible for this young woman’s fall from society’s grace. As an unmarried girl, she would be forever tainted in the eyes of polite society. Her chances of marrying would be greatly diminished. People would always remember that she had “spent the night with Lord Withinghall in his carriage.” And he no longer believed that proposing to Miss Norbury in the Langdons’ home would be enough to save Miss Langdon’s reputation.
As a man who took his responsibilities seriously, there was only one thing to be done. His cheeks burned at what he was about to do, a heavy feeling in his gut. But he also felt an odd resignation, an unexplained peace, as he took a deep breath and cleared his throat.
“It was an unfortunate accident, and neither Miss Langdon nor I am to blame. Be that as it may, as one who fears God more than man, I want to do the right thing in regard to Miss Langdon’s reputation, to repair what has been damaged. I know of but one way to repair it, and that is to ask you, Miss Langdon, to do me the honor of accepting my proposal of marriage.”
He surprised himself. Even though he had told himself, more than once, that she was dangerous, because of her attitudes and behavior, resigning himself to marrying her did not fill him with the dire feelings he might have expected.
He finally made eye contact with her from where he sat on the sofa with his leg propped up.
Her eyes grew wide. But not with joy or even surprise. No, that expression on her face was a distinct look of horror. Her cheeks turned pink, and her perfectly formed lips opened wider before emitting the sound of air rushing out. She closed her mouth and held her injured wrist close to her middle.
“I suppose I should be grateful,” she said slowly, “for this grand gesture of magnanimity, but I must tell you that your proposal is unnecessary.”
Unnecessary? What was he to say to that? An uneasy silence settled over the room.
“What I mean to say is, I know you are doing the gentlemanly thing by proposing marriage to me.” She spoke quickly, now clutching her hand over her chest. “But I do not wish to marry someone only to save my reputation. And I do not wish you to marry me out of obligation or necessity.”
Her cheeks were flushed, which gave her a becoming air of modesty. She truly was beautiful. Still, he couldn’t believe she would persist in saying no.