A Beastly Kind of Earl

“Ventnor,” Nicholas repeated thoughtfully. “Ventnor was Sarah Holloway’s patron. It was he who secured her the position at the theatre. Put lots of actresses’ noses out of joint, but no one could deny she was extremely talented and beautiful.”

Rafe straightened. “Ventnor was your patron?” he asked, but Sally was already turning away, saying, “If that was all, my lord, I must see to the arrangements for our guest.”

“You said you and Ventnor argued over Katharine,” Thea said.

Nicholas wore a rare frown. “There must be more to it than that. Rumors were circulating that one of Miss Holloway’s love affairs was with Lord Ventnor’s wife.”

“That was a lie!” Sally cried, whirling back around.

“And she disappeared shortly after that.”

Silence fell over the drawing room. Another figure appeared in the doorway: Martha, watching, her expression thoughtful. Sally’s mouth was clamped shut. Pink stained her cheeks.

Then Nicholas held out his hands to Sally. “Oh, I do apologize, my dear. I thought everyone knew of your… In London—”

A spoon clattered onto a saucer. Thea was glaring at Nicholas. “So you should apologize, Bishop,” she said. “Rumors and gossip are foul and horrid, and I will not have them repeated. To say that Sally had a love affair with any woman! That cannot be true.”

Thea’s naivety curled through the room like the steam rising from the tea. No one seemed to know where to look.

Sally cleared her throat. “It is a little bit true. As the bishop said, I did have love affairs with women. Such liaisons are more common than many realize, Thea, but no one speaks of it, because those in power prefer to hide women like me.” She made a dismissive sound and her lips curled in a humorless smile. “Watch and you will see,” she added, her tone harsh. “Now Lord Luxborough knows, he will turn me out.”

Rafe hardly heard her. Once more, he leaned back against the windowsill, his eyes roaming unseeingly around the drawing room. Ventnor had been Sally’s patron. Sally had been Katharine’s companion. Ventnor had wanted Katharine locked away. Katharine had died in Rafe and Sally’s care.

Around him, the others were chattering on about Sally’s proclivities as though that mattered a fig. If they had met some of the people he’d met in the world, they’d be as difficult to shock as he.

“Your preferences were well known in certain circles in London,” Nicholas said, reaching for his teacup. “You seemed to flaunt it, even.” He glanced at Thea. “Many male hearts were broken, and a few tidy sums of money were lost by those who wagered they could change her ways.”

“And here comes the sermon about sins. Do make it a good one,” Sally prompted bitterly. “I expect lots of hellfire and gnashing of teeth.”

Nicholas’s eyes twinkled at her over his cup. “I must disappoint you, my dear. I am too familiar with human nature in all its wondrous, confusing variety to pass judgment on the ways in which we love.”

“As for the rest of the rumor: I had no liaison with Lady Ventnor,” Sally said. “She wanted to talk about Katharine, but Lord Ventnor had forbidden it, so we met in secret. Percy Russell saw us. It was he who started the rumors of an affair.”

“About his own mother.” Nicholas shook his head. “Disgusting little snot.”

“The rumors upset Ventnor, and he ordered me to leave London. When I refused, he sent a man with a knife, who threatened to carve up my face if I didn’t go.”

“No! Sally!” Thea was on the edge of her seat. “How terrible of Lord Ventnor to believe such rumors. I grow so tired of people believing false things.”

“Oh but he didn’t believe them.” Sally’s voice dripped with scorn. “Yet people were laughing at him and Ventnor cannot bear to be laughed at. So I came back here. Here was home, and I realized I’d rather be at home than have all the fame in London.” She brushed invisible dirt off her hands. “So, my lords, if this interrogation has ended, I have errands to attend to.”

“No,” Rafe said. “This interrogation has not ended.”

He was dimly aware of the faces turned to him, Thea, Nicholas, Martha, but all he saw was Sally, with her red hair and beautiful features and uncertain eyes. Sally, who had transformed herself after Katharine’s death; Sally, who had benefited from Ventnor’s help.

Sally, who spun on her heel and headed for the door. She was fast, but Rafe was faster, covering the distance in a few long strides. Martha leaped into the room as he slammed the door shut and stood before it like a sentry.