Selby closed his eyes. “Why didn’t she tell us?”
“John begged me to protect her name. When I told her there would be an investigation, she almost fainted. I impressed upon her the importance of not telling anyone, even her family. The consequences were too high. I knew there would be an inquest and if anyone had spoken the truth there would be doubt in the investigator’s mind.”
“Then why did you tell your mistress?” Selby bit out.
Matthew shrugged, glancing away from Jennette’s brother.
“He wanted to look better in her eyes,” Ancroft replied. “I’m sure we both can understand that.”
Matthew nodded again. “And let’s not forget the power of brandy to loosen a man’s tongue,” he said bitterly.
“No one will believe Vanessa,” Ancroft said with confidence. “In fact, I need to return to the party and make certain all the biggest gossips know that Vanessa is nothing more than a drunken, disgruntled former mistress.”
Ancroft quietly shut the door behind him, leaving Matthew alone again with Jennette’s protective brother.
“I owe you an apology,” Selby said, sincerity lining his voice. “I had no idea what you did to protect my sister.”
“You weren’t supposed to know. No one was.”
“Why did you do it? Did you love her then as the rumors implied?”
Matthew shifted in his seat. “I didn’t love her then. There was an attraction but that was all.”
Selby laughed softly. “And yet you say you didn’t love her?”
“I did not.” God, he wanted this finished. He needed to talk to Jennette, not her infuriating brother.
“Then why? Why lose your name over an accident that you didn’t cause.”
“Because no matter my feelings for Jennette at the time, John was my best friend. I could not let him die worrying about what would happen to her,” Matthew replied as anger laced his voice.
“Damn, Blackburn. Are you deliberately trying to get me to like you?” Selby asked, then stood as if to leave.
“I don’t give a rat’s arse if you like me, Selby. I only care about how Jennette feels about me.”
Selby threw his head back and laughed. “Good man, Blackburn.”
“I need to see her. She won’t understand why Vanessa knows what happened.”
Selby shook his head. “Give her time. Avis will tell her why Vanessa knows.”
“She needs to hear it from me,” Matthew insisted, rising to his full height.
“And she will. Tomorrow. She is going to have to come to terms with what happened. If you try to see her too soon, she will only send you away.” Selby paused by the door. “My sister has a tendency to be a little stubborn.”
“A little?”
“Don’t worry,” Selby opened the door and smiled back at him, “you shall come to love that about her, too.”
As the door shut behind him, Matthew whispered to the empty room, “I already have.”
“I really must go home,” Jennette insisted to Elizabeth for the fourth time in the past fifteen minutes.
“Your brother and Avis will come to get you soon.” Elizabeth looked anxiously out the window.
Jennette clenched and unclenched her fists. There had to be a way to get home before her mother or brother. Once they arrived, there would not be a chance to leave. They would attempt to talk her out of going away. Everything will work out, they would say in condescending voices.
But she knew better.