“I’m sorry. As I recall I was busy that day.” In fact, she’d declined the invitation Callie had issued so she could go riding with George instead.
“It does seem like that has become a habit of yours lately,” Lady Kimberly murmured.
“Not that we mind,” Callie said. She gave Lady Kimberly a chastising look before returning her attention to Margaret. “It is only that we miss you.”
“Of course, we’re also concerned,” Miss Thornton said.
“Concerned?” Margaret couldn’t imagine why.
“You have been spending a great deal of time with Mr. George Townsbridge.” Callie’s whisper was barely audible above the loud chatter of other guests standing nearby. “People are starting to talk, so we thought it best to warn you.”
The nape of Margaret’s neck began to prick. “About what?”
“Your reputation,” Lady Kimberly said in a tone that suggested Margaret’s virtue was likely beyond saving. “He is not the sort of man a young lady ought to be seen with at great length.”
Anger began to gather at the base of Margaret’s spine. She could tell the three women that their concerns were unwanted, she could inform them that it was none of their business who she chose to accept attention from, least of all when her very own parents approved of George. Instead, she straightened and said, “In that case, I fear I must disappoint you since it is my intention to spend as much time with him as possible. The rest of my life, in fact.”
All three women gasped.
“You plan on marrying him?” Callie asked.
Margaret wondered at their surprise. “Why else do you think I’ve been seeing him?”
“To satisfy your curiosity about kissing?” Lady Kimberly asked.
Margaret had no idea what to say to that, so she kept her mouth shut.
“Mr. George Townsbridge is not the sort of man a woman marries,” Callie said while Miss Thornton and Lady Kimberly nodded. “You would do far better if you were to let Lord Shrewsberry court you instead. In fact, he himself claims to be quite keen on you.”
As if on cue, an arm swept around Margaret’s waist and drew her close to a masculine frame. “The truth cannot be denied,” Shrewsberry drawled.
Margaret set her jaw and tried to give him a shove, but the man refused to release her, and people were now beginning to stare. Desperate to make herself clear, she said, “I would not accept an offer of marriage from you if you were the last man on earth.”
“But he’s a respectable earl,” Miss Thornton protested.
“Only in appearance,” Margaret said, still trying to free herself. “Have any of you ever had a conversation with him?”
“No,” Callie confessed while the other two ladies shook their heads. “But he’s handsome and always polite - the very image of gentlemanly perfection.”
“Why, thank you,” Shrewsberry said. He gave the three ladies a dazzling smile that made them all blush.
Margaret rolled her eyes. “I think he may have cotton stuffing between his ears.”
“But you’ve always spoken so highly of him,” Callie said with a hint of incomprehension. She glanced at Shrewsberry. “It’s true, you know.”
Lord help her. Margaret was starting to think she might need new friends.
“I’m sure it is,” Shrewsberry preened while pulling her ever closer.
“I was mistaken.”
“You cannot honestly say you prefer Mr. Townsbridge.” Lady Kimberly looked like she might swoon on account of the horror. “He is a rake, a despicable cad, a no good scoundrel, and a—”
“Say one more disparaging thing about him,” Margaret said, her voice so frosty it left a chill in her own mouth, “and our acquaintanceship will be over.”
“Look, you clearly need to be saved,” Shrewsberry declared with the sort of drama worthy of the stage. “And I am the man to do it. Take my hand in marriage and be my countess!” He spun her more fully toward him, offering her a sharp whiff of brandy fumes as he lowered his mouth to hers. Cheers erupted around them as those who watched mistakenly thought she’d agreed to be his wife.
Margaret leaned back as far as she could to avoid all contact with the presumptuous man. She placed her palms against his chest and pushed, but he was stronger than she and refused to be swayed, though the atmosphere in the room was beginning to shift. It was clear from the fading cheers and muted murmurs that people were starting to doubt her compliance.
“Release me this instant,” she gritted.
Shrewsberry merely grinned and held her tighter. “I don’t think so.”
“If you’re wise, you’ll do as the lady asks,” a dangerous voice said.
Margaret’s heart jolted. George. He was here. Everything would be fine.
SHREWSBERRY GAVE A low snort. “I’m an earl. Above you in every way, Mr. Townsbridge.”
“Except with regard to common decency,” George said. Reaching out, he grabbed Shrewsberry by the throat. The earl’s eyes widened, a sputtering sound emerged from his mouth, and then his hold on Margaret loosened as he was set aside like a discarded piece of unpleasant refuse.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing,” Shrewsberry barked. “That woman there is supposed to be mine.”
Shocked remarks began circling them. George put his arm around Margaret. “Allow me to remind you of your manners, my lord. You will refer to Miss Hollyoak with respect.”
“After she’s been leading me on a merry chase for several months?” Shrewsberry gave a snort of disdain. His words, Margaret noted for the first time, were slightly slurred. “She’s clearly taken leave of her senses. I mean, what woman in her right mind would ever marry an untitled good for nothing rake instead of an earl?”
“Just so you know,” Margaret said with every intention of putting the ton’s misguided view of George to right, “you are wrong about Mr. Townsbridge. All of you. He is without a doubt the most honorable, kind hearted, and considerate man I have ever known. There is no one in this world with whom I would rather spend each waking moment. In fact, I love him with every beat of my heart, with every fiber of my being, and nothing anyone says is going to change that.”
“I’m incredibly glad to hear you say so,” George murmured close to her ear. “Because I love you too.”
Without caring about the spectacle they might be making, Margaret threw her arms around him, jostling him so he spilled the champagne from the glasses he held in one hand. She didn’t care, all that mattered was telling the world that this man was right for her, that he deserved her, and that she would happily show her affection for him in public no matter how scandalous doing so was.
“Goodness,” Margaret heard Callie say while Margaret pressed her mouth firmly to George’s, “how utterly romantic.”
“Does this mean they’re now engaged?” Lady Kimberly asked.
“Yes, it does,” Margaret said. She was through with waiting, done with torturing both of them with one more week since they were both certain of what they wanted. She met George’s gaze. “If he’ll have me.”
“This is complete horse shite,” Shrewsberry said.