Free Scandal at Dawn (A Regency Rhapsody Novella) by Elizabeth Cole

Blake?” he asked, keeping his voice even despite the feelings erupting inside. It was all he could do to not sweep her up in his arms right there.
    Olivia heard the light tone, but the strength with which he gripped her own hands betrayed his emotion. “I was worried about you,” she replied simply. “Was I supposed to wait patiently to find out if you bled to death?”
    “That was precisely what you were supposed to do, though I am glad you ignored convention.” He raised one of her hands to his lips, sending a shiver down her spine. He smiled as he felt her reaction. Then he recalled the matter at hand. “But that still doesn’t explain
how
you knew to come.” Throwing propriety to the winds, he embraced her. Olivia was happy to let him, and didn’t care who saw it.
    “I received an unsigned letter, telling us about the duel,” Emily explained. She recognized Robert clearly then, and glared at him. “And I expect I know the source of it now. So you
weren’t
lost the other day.”
    “Not physically,” he admitted. “I wanted to see who Miss Blake’s second was. It was enlightening. In fact, you could say our previous meeting was helpful in setting me on a new path.”
    Emily frowned, but before she could reply, yet another vehicle thundered up the lane. St George’s own carriage pulled up right behind the hired cab Emily had procured.
    “Oh, dear,” she said in a resigned tone. “We’re all in trouble now.”
    The man burst out of the carriage with the force of a small hurricane. “What is the meaning of this?” he bellowed, charging the group standing beneath the vast elm tree. He headed straight for Adrian, who still had Olivia in his arms. But before he could shout again, Crombie groaned, catching his attention. “Who is this unfortunate man?” He stared at the man on the ground, with the surgeon hovering over him.
    Emily spoke first. “His name is Jonathan Crombie. He was the one spreading the false rumors about Olivia and Baron Norbury. When Norbury discovered he was the source, he challenged Crombie to a duel to defend Olivia’s honor.”
    St George wavered, looking at Crombie, then Adrian, then back again. “Is that true?” He addressed the question to Crombie. “You attempted to destroy my niece’s reputation?”
    Crombie only gasped as the surgeon wound more gauze around his torso. Robert looked annoyed and strode over to the wounded man. He prodded Crombie with his foot. “Tell the man.”
    “It’s true,” he said sullenly.
    “But why?” St George was mystified. “Do I even know you? Has our family offended yours in some way?”
    “No,” said Crombie. “Just wanted to vex…Norbury.”
    “By ruining my niece? What do you mean?”
    “He discovered Lord Norbury wished to marry Olivia,” Emily clarified. “So Crombie raked up old rumors about Norbury’s reputation to make you wary of him, and then added fresh ones about Olivia to dash any marriage on the rocks.”
    “I still don’t understand,” St George said, looking bewildered. “Why would he do this? Hurt so many people?”
    “Because he’s a disgusting, pathetic worm,” Robert said, smiling thinly. “Tell Mr St George, Crom.”
    “Yes,” Crombie muttered, glaring at Robert.
    “Yes, what?” Robert prompted. He twitched his boot meaningfully.
    “I’m a disgusting, pathetic worm.”
    Robert beamed at St George. “See? He admits it.”
    St George shook his head. “This is too much to comprehend before breakfast. And poor Olivia…” He turned toward his niece, and was quickly absorbed in the quiet drama of the couple he’d sworn not two days ago he’d never give his blessing to.
    Emily was left to watch Robert Griffin, who colored slightly under her gaze. “You have not apologized,” she said.
    “What should I apologize for?”
    “Pretending to be a stranger when you knew better. Sending a letter to a woman you were never introduced to. Waking me up far earlier than I like to watch a barbaric