Secrets of Sloane House(93)

He went on. “But we also both know that this is not as big of a shock to you as you are pretending it to be. Douglass’s behavior has ruined your chances for a successful match as well. No man of good standing wants to be tainted by such an association.”

Mrs. Sloane clenched her hands together. Mr. Sloane looked stunned. Veronica paled further, and his own mother looked shaken. Rosalind looked dazed.

Only Douglass sat complacently.

And that, Reid believed, was the most telling reaction of all.





CHAPTER 33

But Douglass’s apparent complacency was soon replaced by a dark look.

“I had no idea your gifts included such oratories, Armstrong,” Douglass murmured with a tightness in his voice. With wooden movements, he stood up, crossed the room, opened a cabinet, pulled out a bottle and snifter, and poured himself a shot. When he sat down again, Reid noticed that the muscles around his lips had loosened, but there was an increased amount of stress looming at the corners of his eyes.

For the first time since they’d arrived, Reid felt a small amount of relief. At last, Douglass was rattled. Maybe far more shaken than any of them realized.

Mr. Sloane coughed. “Forgive me if I am mistaken, Douglass, but you have not once denied either Reid’s or Carlotta’s claims. Why not?”

“I don’t believe this is the time or the place, Father.”

“Forgive me, but I disagree,” Mr. Sloane said. “You are here with your family.”

“And with the Armstrong family. And with a . . . a maid.” Douglass rolled his eyes. “Forgive me if I don’t harbor the same allegiance to them that you feel toward yours.”

His father closed his eyes with a sigh. When he opened them again, anger lit his features. “Douglass, did you violate this lady?” he barked. “Do you know what Reid is alluding to?”

“He knows,” Veronica said, her eyes flashing. “Everything Reid said is true. Douglass is the reason I’ve become the laughingstock of our social circle.” Bitterness poured through her voice. “And because no one in polite company will dare mention what Douglass has done, they only point out that the wealthiest woman in their midst is slowly becoming an old maid.”

After shooting a spiteful glare her way, Douglass shrugged. “I might have been a touch too eager with my attentions. But it is certainly nothing to be concerned about. It’s not like I have really harmed anyone.”

His father slumped. “So the allegations are true.” Turning to Reid, he said softly, “How much does this woman want?”

Reid exhaled. The family’s response wasn’t too much of a surprise, but it was still disappointing. Here Douglass wasn’t even bothering to refute Eloisa’s claims, and yet all his parents were worried about was saving his reputation.

“She is not asking for anything,” he said at last. “I, however, would like Douglass to tell us about the other women he’s ruined.”

“The other women were of no account.”

“I believe one of the others was a maid in your household.”

Douglass lurched to his feet, frustration evident in the lines of his face. “That blasted girl! I gave Nanci more than enough to keep her silence. She took every penny and promised not to tell. So what did she say, Armstrong? Or was it Rosalind who talked?” he sneered. Turning to her, he glared.

“What did you learn? Did she tell you all about Wooded Island? Did she tell you how she went with me easily enough? Did she lie and tell you she was with child?”

Reid stared at Douglass, stunned as his worst fears came to light. “I wasn’t speaking of Nanci.”

“You hurt Nanci too?” Veronica was on her feet now. “She’d been with me for years!”

“She was nothing. Just an uppity lady’s maid.” His voice lowered, took on a far more bitter tone. “And she knew she was in good looks too. Every day, she taunted me. Teased. It wasn’t my fault that I could no longer ignore her.”

Warily, Reid glanced at Rosalind. Her face was ashen but she remained composed. His mother was holding her hand. She looked shocked. Mr. Sloane sat motionless while the lines around his wife’s lips increased.

As Douglass and Veronica continued to argue.

“Douglass, you should have left her alone,” Veronica said with a fierce glare. “After all, she was a servant in our home.”

“But that was all she was. She was only a servant.”

Veronica folded her arms over her chest. “You must have hurt her feelings if she left so abruptly. Where did she go?”

“I don’t know and I don’t care. I gave her enough money to go anywhere she wanted.” Brushing a piece of lint from the arm of his suit jacket, he eyed the rest of the room. “Wasn’t that enough?”