Chapter 21

"What are we going to do? We'll have no servants left at this rate," Roxanna said, pacing up and down the drawing room as Dawson stood by the hearth.

As news of the rumours about him had spread, so had the anger of those who had come to believe it. Several of the servants had handed in their notice and were now refusing to work, and Dawson had received several of the tenants that morning, each telling him they wanted nothing more to do with him.

It was all a terrible mess – the result of rumour and hearsay. On returning to the ballroom after Aurelia's father had dragged her away, Dawson had discovered the extent of Silas' attack on him, with the whole ton now believing he was involved in the running of a criminal organization back in Kentucky.

"We'll manage. They weren't exactly the hardest of workers," Dawson replied.

He did not particularly care if the servants resigned their positions, but he did care about the truth. It was all a lie – Dawson had never been involved in anything of a criminal nature.

But back in Kentucky, there had been rumours – rival businessmen trying to gain the upper hand. Dawson's ranch had been a successful – and legal – operation. But jealousy – that ugly word that had returned to haunt him again – had reared its ugly head.

He had heard these rumours before, but Dawson had hoped they had remained across the Atlantic rather than finding their way from America to England.

"Yes, but what about the rest? Can't you see what this means, Dawson? You can't just brush it aside. You're an earl. An earl can't … be a criminal," Roxanna said, and Dawson glared at her.

"I'm not a criminal, Roxanna. You know that as well as I do. It's someone spreading rumours," he said, shaking his head.

"But who?" his cousin exclaimed.

Dawson felt certain it was Silas – though he did not know how the son of the Viscount Salisbury had discovered a rumour circulating in Kentucky. But it was Silas who had made the threat, and Dawson knew he had no choice but to accept the lies would continue to spread – and grow.

"Silas Emmons – the man who wants to marry Aurelia. He'll stop at nothing to discredit me," Dawson replied, and his cousin sighed.

"I wish we'd never come here. And I'm sure you do, too. Give me a broken fence and a runaway herd of cattle any day," she said, shaking her head.

At that moment, a knock came on the door, and the butler – one of the few servants not to have handed in their notice – announced the arrival of a visitor.

"Mr Reuben Banks, My Lord," he said, and Dawson looked up in surprise.

He was not expecting Reuben – nor any of the Banks family – and as Aurelia's brother entered the room, he stared at him in disbelief.

"Dawson, I need to talk to you," Reuben said.

He was breathless – as though he had ridden hard from Canford House – and now Dawson offered him a seat by the hearth as he and Roxanna looked at him expectantly.

"What's happened? Does your father know you're here? I doubt he'd be pleased about it," Dawson said, recalling the look on the baron's face the previous evening.

Reuben looked apologetic, and he shook his head and sighed.

"I'm sorry, Dawson. My father was wrong to judge you like that. But there's something more you need to know. It's about Aurelia," he said, and now he explained how a rumour was circulating about Aurelia being seen in the company of a man in the garden unchaperoned – it was set to ruin her, and as Reuben's explanation came to an end, Dawson shook his head, angry at what he had heard.

"That's preposterous. She told me herself – she refused to meet Silas like I asked her to. It's him – he's the one who's caused all this," Dawson exclaimed, clenching his fists in anger.

If he had been back in Kentucky, Dawson would gladly have challenged Silas to a fight – to a duel. His honour was at stake – his reputation already in ruins – and now Silas had also spread a vicious rumour about the woman he purported to love.

"And now our father intends for them to marry. My parents think it's the only way to rescue her honour," Reuben said, and Dawson breathed a deep sigh and shook his head.

"But she can't marry him. It's preposterous. She doesn't love him. He's nothing but a greedy, jealous man whose manipulated her into doing what he wants – and your father, too. She won't go along with it, will she?" Dawson exclaimed.

There was no doubt as to his own feelings towards Aurelia – he had fallen in love with her, and the more he thought about what Silas had done, the stronger his feelings for her grew. He could not allow this man to ruin both their lives, to drive a stake between them and force them apart …

"I fear she has no choice. But there's more. I sent my valet to make… discreet enquiries about Silas and his mother. He needs Aurelia's dowry. That's why he wants to marry her. He doesn't love her. He loves the money he'll get from marrying her. That's why I came, Dawson. I know how she feels about you. I've seen the two of you together, and I can only hope you feel the same way about her, too. Will you put a stop to this?" Reuben asked.

Dawson knew he had to do something. He could not stand by and allow Aurelia to be married to a man she did not love – a man who would use blackmail and jealousy against her. And neither could he allow the woman he had fallen in love with to be snatched so readily from him.

Silas had sought to destroy his reputation and manoeuvre himself into a position whereby he could be the one to marry Aurelia and claim the prize, but Dawson was now determined to thwart him, though he knew he had yet to convince Aurelia's father of his own innocence.

"I will, yes – if I can. But … well, will he believe me when I tell him I'm innocent of what he thinks I'm guilty of?" Dawson replied.

He did not entirely know what the baron believed – what rumours had been spread – even though he was determined to quash them. Reuben nodded.

"I think so … he was too quick to judge you. But … well. Is it true? Please, tell me it's not. I've risked my own reputation, too," Aurelia's brother said, and Dawson shook his head.

"It's not true. None of it is. Back in Kentucky, there were rumours. But they were spread by my business rivals. There's no truth in them, and I'd hope your father realizes that. I hope you do, too," Dawson said.

Reuben paused momentarily, his eyes narrowing as he furrowed his brow. But it was Roxanna who spoke next.

"Oh, Reuben. Do you think I'd let my cousin be involved in something like that? If you don't know him, you don't know me," she said, folding her arms.

Her words had the desired effect, and a smile came across Reuben's face as he shook his head.

"I'm sorry I doubted you, but … well, she's my sister, and I don't want to see her hurt. She's impressionable – and easily led," Reuben said, and Dawson nodded.

"And she has been – by Silas. No, Reuben – I'm not a criminal; I'm not any of the things those people have been saying about me. I might be a little rough around the edges, but I want you to know that I care deeply about your sister, and I'd never do anything to harm her. I love her," Dawson said.

It seemed strange to say the words out loud – to admit the growing feelings in his heart. Love was not something he had experienced before – not like this, at least. There had been other women in the past who had roused his feelings, and there had been times when he had come close to commitment. But this was different. Aurelia was different, and Dawson knew he could not let her go without a fight …

"You're a good man, Dawson – I saw it from the start – and I'm sorry for the way you've been treated. The ton can be a cruel place, that's for certain. But know this – you have my full confidence, and I know my sister feels the same for you as you do for her," Reuben said.

To hear him say these words brought a sense of relief to Dawson. He was overjoyed, for he had not known whether Aurelia felt the same. He had hoped she did, but to hear it said brought a sense of the utmost joy, and now he could no longer stand idly by and watch as his chance was snatched away – their chance.

"I have to speak to your father. I've got to persuade him to change his mind – to see Silas for what he really is," Dawson said, and Reuben nodded.

"Find Aurelia. It's best if this comes from the two of you," he said.

"But where is she?" Dawson asked.

"Riding out – you'll have to go quickly. My father was on the way to see Silas as I left. But he won't agree to your marrying Aurelia without her there, too. You've got to hurry," Reuben said, and without waiting any longer, Dawson hurried out of the drawing room, calling for his horse to be saddled and intending to find Aurelia before it was too late.