Rufus swallowed hard, his narrowed eyes finding Elisa once more. She blanched under his stare. “He will leave you one day, when you are older and he is still a young man.”
“You tried to kill us both, Rufus, because you’re an unhappy man who can’t abide joy in anyone else. All I feel is pity for you. You’ll die a lonely old man.”
Rufus looked back at Vaughn. “Take her then,” he said. “I care nothing for her. But I can strip you of your title, your lands, and your money.”
“If you want to let the world know I am not your son, then so be it. I don’t need a title. I have my mother’s home, Kirkaldy, and that is all I want. You are not my father…and for that I thank God.”
Rufus looked down at his lap once more and Elisa realized that his sting had been pulled. The last shot he had thought to be such a powerful one had had no effect whatsoever. Again, facing the truth squarely had disarmed the enemy.
Vaughn took Elisa by the hand. “One last thing,” he murmured. He led her to the middle of the dance floor and everyone again silently moved out of their way. Vaughn walked a full circle around her, confronting everyone, before halting to face them all.
“My name is Vaughn Wardell, Viscount Rothmere and this,” he said, motioning to Elisa, “is the woman I intend to marry.”
Gasps filled the room.
“You all believe Elisa a wicked woman, but she has been wronged by all of you who refused to consider the truth because it is unpalatable. Her husband was murdered, her son taken from her, and her reputation ruined. She was cut off from the world she knew, shunned by all. And for what?” He scanned the room. “Because her husband had been unfaithful.”
“For god’s sake, man, this is not the place!” a man called out. “There’s women here, innocents…”
“They more than anyone else here need to hear this!” Vaughn shouted back. “Every man here already knows or suspects the truth of what happened to Elisa’s husband, but you have turned your backs on that truth because it was easier to believe the story that was concocted instead. Elisa was innocent of all but loving her husband. All of you here know that Roger was a blatant womanizer.”
There was a feminine gasp at this outrageous statement, but Elisa noticed that Caroline and other women of her age did not gasp. They knew, or suspected, the truth.
“We all know the woman in whose bed he was found and we all know the husband that was forced to take up the duel against him. When Roger conveniently got himself shot for his efforts, the husband found it would be less embarrassing if he claimed that it was he who dallied with the lovely, untouchable young wife—Elisa—rather than admit his own wife had strayed. And you, all of you, supported him in this effrontery! You did nothing while this young woman lost everything. She did nothing to deserve such cruelty.” Vaughn spun on his heels, pointing at them. He was furious—the tendons in his neck straining as he shouted at them all.
Elisa saw that some of the men were nodding. And she realized with a welling sorrow that Vaughn had it right: the men, many of them, knew the truth, or suspected it. They had let her be cast out from their world in order to support their fellow man.
Vaughn shook his head. “I’m going to marry this woman,” he said, lifting her hand to his lips. He smiled warmly. “I don’t care if you approve or not. I’m marrying her because I love her and you can all go hang.”
He smiled at her and tugged her gently toward the door. “It’s over,” he murmured to her. “We can leave and never look back.”
The silence that followed them was deafening. It was a roar and Elisa held her breath, half expecting a bullet to shatter that silence.
But what did shatter it was a single clap. Vaughn stopped in mid-step, as did she. They both turned, seeking the source of the clap, as another clap sounded.
Behind them, walking the length of the ballroom floor towards them, was Natasha, slowly clapping her hands together, a fierce, determined look on her face, her tear-stained eyes glittering with intensity.
Another clap joined hers. Elisa spun to find the source and saw Caroline had joined her hands together. Tears streaked her face, too. Next to her, William also began to clap.
The clap was taken up by others, more and more quickly, until it had spread about the room, gaining in intensity until they turned to face a crowd that no longer condemned, but who had obviously, by their acclaim, accepted them for who they were. The clapping grew to a thunderous applause.
Vaughn turned Elisa around to face him, and before the entire room took her face in his hands and kissed her thoroughly.
More historical romance in the Scandalous Sirens series:
Dangerous Beauty.
During the night of the annual, prestigious Sweet Pea Ball, two lives are about to be changed completely.
Natasha is one of the most beautiful women in London. Thanks to Vaughn Wardell, the man she once thought she loved, she has learned not to suffer fools and finds most men arrogant beyond tolerance. Her mother, however, will have her married before the end of this, her third season, no matter what it takes and Natasha will fight her every step of the way.
Seth Harrow is an uncouth Irish sea captain fresh from the colonies of Australia. He’s dressed as a lord and carries a secret that will tear London society apart. He’s in London for one small task before heading to Ireland. He has no time for giddy debutantes and the hypocrites of society, but must deal with them both to achieve his goal.
In one watershed night, Seth and Natasha will face hatred, bigotry and soul-searing passion. The outcome will plunge them into a maelstrom of love, life...and death.
Look for Dangerous Beauty on Amazon!
_____________
Other books by Tracy Cooper-Posey
Eyes of a Stranger, Contemporary Romance
Chronicles of the Lost Years, Romantic Mystery
Case of the Reluctant Agent , A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
Dare to Return, Romantic Suspense
Diana by the Moon, Historical Romantic Suspense
Red Leopard, Erotic Romantic Suspense
“Solstice Surrender” in Winter Warriors, Erotic Paranormal Romance
Heart of Vengeance, Historical Romantic Suspense
Silent Knight, Romantic Suspense
Lucifer’s Lover, Contemporary Romance
Black Heart, Erotic Romantic Suspense
Thief in the Night, Erotic Romantic Suspense
Masquerade’s Mate, Erotic Historical Romantic Suspense
“Cameo Role,” Erotic Romance/Horror
Beth’s Acceptance (Writing as Teal Ceagh), Erotic Urban Fantasy Romance
Ningaloo Nights, Erotic Romantic Suspense
Betting With Lucifer, Contemporary Romance
Solstice Surrender, Erotic Paranormal Romance
Mia’s Return (Writing as Teal Ceagh), Erotic Urban Fantasy Romance
Sera’s Gift (Writing as Teal Ceagh), Erotic Urban Fantasy Romance
Eva’s Last Dance (Writing as Teal Ceagh), Erotic Urban Fantasy Romance
Dead Double, Romantic Suspense
Carson’s Night (Writing as Teal Ceagh), Erotic Urban Fantasy Romance
Dead Again, Romantic Suspense
Kiss Across Time (Writing as Teal Ceagh), Erotic Urban Fantasy Romance
Beauty’s Beasts (Writing as Teal Ceagh), Erotic Urban Fantasy Romance
Destiny’s Trinity (Writing as Teal Ceagh), Erotic Urban Fantasy Romance
Blue Knight, Erotic Romantic Suspense
Kiss Across Swords (Writing as Teal Ceagh), Erotic Urban Fantasy Romance
Blood Knot, Erotic Urban Fantasy Romance
Fatal Wild Child, Romantic Suspense
Bannockburn Binding, Erotic Futuristic Urban Fantasy Romance
The Royal Talisman, Erotic Historical Romantic Suspense
Delly’s Last Night, Erotic Romantic Suspense
An Inconvenient Lover, Contemporary Romance
Byzantine Heartbreak, Erotic Futuristic Urban Fantasy Romance
See http://T
racyCooperPosey.com for details on each title.
Other books by Julia Templeton:
Keiran The Black, Erotic Paranormal Romance
Now & Forever, Erotic Paranormal Romance
Dangerous Desires, Erotic Historical Romance
A Dangerous Game, Historical Romance
Masquerade, Erotic Historical Romance
Parlor Games/Border Lord, Erotic Historical Romance
Second Chance, Erotic Time Travel Historical Romance
The Bargain, Erotic Historical Romance
Return To Me, Erotic Paranormal Romance
The Conquest, Erotic Historical Romance
Sinjin, Erotic Historical Romance
Victor, Erotic Historical Romance
Rory, Erotic Historical Romance
Trail Boss, Contemporary Romance
Little Miss Independent, Regency Romance
About the Authors
Tracy Cooper-Posey is an Amazon #1 Best Selling Author. She writes erotic vampire romances, hot romantic suspense, paranormal and urban fantasy romances. She has published over 40 novels since 1999, been nominated for 5 CAPAs including Favourite Author, and won the Emma Darcy Award. Her website can be found at http://TracyCooperPosey.com
Julia Templeton writes historical, time travel, vampire and contemporary romances, enjoys collecting and reading research books, traveling, haunting bookstores and libraries, riding motorcycles, and spending time with friends and family. Her website can be found at http://JuliaTempleton.com