Of course, she had.
“She says you made a spectacle of yourself at a gaming hell with Lord Kittrel.” The lady sat up straight, poured herself her own chocolate, then pinned Lilah with a heavy gaze. “Very well. Tell me everything.”
Lilah folded her hands across her stomach. “Carter is correct.”
Lady Byrn narrowed her eyes. “I didn’t doubt it. The servants know everything.”
It was true, especially since Lady Byrn often rewarded Carter for sharing good gossip.
“Well? Come on, don’t be coy. Tell me it all.” She leaned forward eagerly. “Is Lord Kittrell going to marry you?”
Lilah was startled by the pain of that question. It cut sharp enough that her throat closed down, and she could only shake her head by way of an answer.
Lady Byrn pursed her lips. “He’s an honorable man, and he’s ruined you. I think we can find a way to force him.”
“What?”
“Don’t be so naïve. If any other man had seduced you, you’d be out of luck. But Lord Kittrel? Carter claims he carries a purse specifically to give to thieves when he’s attacked. Can you imagine? But he’s got a level head, no vices beyond his strange sister, and best of all, he’s an earl.”
She didn’t need anyone to sing the man’s praises to her. “Lord Kittrel won’t offer for me,” she said firmly. “And in case you’re wondering, he did not… we did not…” She struggled to find a way to explain exactly what had happened, but apparently Lady Byrn didn’t care.
“I’m sure you didn’t. He’s not one to debauch anyone.”
“Then—”
“But your reputation is still ruined.”
LiIah shrugged. “I didn’t have much of one anyway.”
At that, her adoptive mother dropped her cup down on the saucer with an angry click. “Good God, Lilah, I cannot understand why you continue to fight me on this. Day in and day out, I hear you say, ‘They won’t accept me. I’m a bastard. They won’t invite me.’” Lady Byrn huffed out a breath. “I have worked tirelessly to show you as more thanjust a bastard. I’ve told you of your Scottish nobility, and your father’s ancestry is above reproach. You’ve grown into a capable woman, and I won’t hear another word about you not having a good reputation before last night. I worked too hard to ensure it!”
It was true, and Lilah acknowledged that with a quiet apology. “I have not thanked you enough for that. You brought me in when you didn’t need to. I would have an entirely different life—a much poorer one—without you.”
“That’s right.”
Lilah stepped forward and pressed a kiss to the lady’s cheek. Their relationship had never been easy, but there was affection on both sides. “I am sorry I have disappointed you.”
“You haven’t disappointed me yet!” the lady cried as she encouraged Lilah to sit down on the edge of the bed. “But we must execute our campaign precisely. It is no small thing to capture an earl, Lilah, but somehow you have done it. And now we must force him to come up to scratch. It’s the honorable thing to do.”
“Forcing a man to marry me is not honorable.”
“Pish-posh. I’m talking about his honor.” She adjusted her position on the bed such that she no longer lounged but sat forward with clear determination. “Now tell me everything. Don’t leave any detail out. I want to know why you went to that gaming hell and what exactly Lord Kittrel’s part was. There will be something there to trip him up.” She grinned. “I had a note from his sister, you know. Last evening. She said you would be spending the night with her. Very smart of him to cover your tracks like that. Nevertheless, if Carter found out that you were at the Lyon’s Den, then everyone else will know, too. We haven’t a moment to waste.”
Lilah looked at her adoptive mother. The woman was focused and happy. She was planning a social campaign, and she was thrilled that Lilah might force an earl to the alter. What a coup that would be to get a bastard wed to an earl.
“I thought you wanted me to live with you for the rest of my life. I would manage the house. We would bounce the grandchildren on our knees.”
Lady Byrn tilted her head in confusion. “Well naturally that’s what I thought. I’d done everything to make you take, but it didn’t work. Even Sayres couldn’t force it, and I know he worked very hard at that.”
“You and he together waged an aggressive campaign.”
“Well, it worked for Gwen,” the lady said with a wave of her wrist. “That was one worry off my mind, I can tell you.” She clapped her hands in delight. “I never imagined you would get an earl as well. We shall make the rounds this afternoon. We must tell everyone that he took you to that place, and in your innocence, you agreed.”
“No, Mother,” she said. “I forced him to take me.”
“That doesn’t matter. He’s a man, and it was his responsibility to stop you. That’s what we’ll say—”
“No.”