Geoffrey hastily stood when Dr. Haines entered the drawing room. Giving the doctor no time to say anything, he demanded, “Well, is it as I thought?”
Dr. Haines frowned. “I would prefer to wait until Mrs. St. James joins us.”
“I’m paying your account. You answer to me! I insist you give me the results immediately!”
To Monty’s intense satisfaction, the doctor remained firm. “As I said, we will wait until Mrs. St. James is here.”
About to argue further, Geoffrey shut his mouth and sank back into his chair at a repressing look from his solicitor. He contented himself with alternating between looking sulky and casting daggerlike glances at the doctor.
Finally the door to the drawing room once again opened, and Ria swept into the room. She looked to Monty—who was admittedly biased—composed and every inch the lady.
Ria sat on the first chair she came to, giving an inaudible sigh of relief that her legs had managed to carry her this far. The last thing she needed to do was collapse in a heap in front of Geoffrey. That would heap further humiliation upon humiliation.
Monty silently took up his post behind her. Her protector. Her confidant. Her friend.
Willing her hands not to shake, she smoothed down the front of her skirts, lifted her chin, and looked at the doctor.
Taking this as a signal, he cleared his throat. After a nod in her direction, he turned to Geoffrey, his expression grave. “Sir, after my examination of Mrs. St. James, I can categorically say your accusation has no foundation. Mrs. St. James is not a virgin.”
At his words, Ria exhaled the breath she had been holding. She watched in fascination as Geoffrey’s face turned white then red.
“That’s not possible!” he choked out. “Their marriage was not consummated. It wasn’t. It can’t have been. I don’t believe it.” As he spoke, his voice rose in pitch until the last sentence was delivered at a shrill scream.
The doctor’s countenance became rigid. “Are you saying I am lying, sir? Or perhaps that I am merely incompetent?”
Reginald Smythe diffidently touched his client’s sleeve. “Please, sir. The doctor has given his verdict. You must accept it.”
His face white, Geoffrey roughly shook his solicitor’s hand off. As he did so, a piece of paper fell out of his coat and floated unnoticed onto the floor.
“No! I’ll get another doctor! I’ll get a hundred doctors. I don’t care how many it takes, I’ll—”
His solicitor interrupted him. “Sir, the courts gave permission for this examination, but only this one. They would never agree to another. You will have to accept that Mrs. St. James is your uncle’s legal heir, and as the estate was not entailed, his will stands. She inherits everything.”
“Rubb
ish! Do you think I’ll stand for that! His estate is mine. It’s always been mine. I’ll—”
The loud tinkling of a bell interrupted his tirade. In immediate answer to Ria’s summons, Flowerday entered the drawing room. Through the open door behind the butler, two tall footmen and the hall boy could clearly be seen.
Ria stood. “Mr. Danielson will be leaving now. Thank you, Flowerday.”
Geoffrey rounded on her. She recoiled at the look on his face as he said, “You bitch. I don’t know how you did it, but I know I’m right. I’ll get you. I’ll show the world what a scheming, devious—”
It wasn’t the protestations of the doctor and the solicitor that made Geoffrey abruptly stop. It was the sight of Flowerday and the two large footmen entering the room.
From the looks on their faces, it was evident to everyone that if Geoffrey did not go willingly they would happily, and no doubt unceremoniously, toss him out.
As the servants quickly flanked him, Geoffrey, with a final glare that encompassed everyone there, stormed from the room.
All the room’s occupants breathed a sigh of relief when they heard the front door close.
After an awkward pause, the solicitor turned to Dr. Haines. “I appear to be without the means of getting back to London. Might I trouble you for a ride, either to London or to a livery station so I might hire a coach?”
“Of course. I’m returning to London and would be happy for you to accompany me.”
As they both turned to Mrs. St. James to bid farewell, she graciously asked, “Would you like some refreshments before you begin your journey?”
Embarrassment made both hastily decline her offer.