“That may be so, but it did not remove the shame and embarrassment from me,” Lord Harlow answered tightly. “And I believe that Lord Fulham was quite serious in his demands. The fool!”
Lord Prestwick made a sound of scorn, and Christina slowly began to move away from them both, hoping that they would not spot her. She had heard more than enough, quite certain that her father had not fared well last evening. That must be the reason for his strange melancholy. Perhaps he had lost more money than he had intended and was now regretting ever attending in the first place.
“Have you found something to purchase, Lady Christina?”
The quiet voice of Lady Newfield made Christina jump, quite certain that there was something of a guilty expression on her face as she looked at her great-aunt.
“I have not,” she stammered, wondering if her aunt had seen her eavesdropping. “I am certain that I shall find something soon, however.”
Lady Newfield’s brows rose, her eyes straying to Lord Harlow and Lord Prestwick, who were still speaking together. “I see,” she said softly, her gaze returning to Christina’s face. “You have not spoken to them as yet?”
“I do not intend to,” Christina answered, aware of the surprise etched onto Lady Newfield’s face. “Now, perhaps we should take our leave? Mayhap I will find something to catch my interest in another bookshop.”
Lady Newfield frowned, her lips pressing together for a moment. “You are confusing me a great deal, Christina,” she said, dropping Christina’s formal title. “You speak of Lord Harlow as though he is the most wonderful gentleman in all of England. Your eyes shine, your cheeks flare with color. And now, when there is an opportunity to speak to him, you shy away almost at once.”
Christina closed her eyes, fully aware that her behavior was, indeed, very strange, and realizing that she was not quite certain what she was doing or why. Her father’s words had unsettled her a great deal and now to know that Lord Harlow had done very well last evening whilst, most likely, her father had done poorly, sent a myriad of emotions rushing through her.
“What is the matter, my dear?” Lady Newfield asked, her eyes searching Christina’s face. “I can tell that you are not yourself. Is something troubling you?”
“Yes,” Christina answered softly, opening her eyes to look at her great-aunt. “It is. But it is nothing of importance. I do not know why I am behaving so towards Lord Harlow, but mayhap it is because we have been acquainted for last Season and the beginning of this one, and yet he has not shown any intention towards courtship.” She sighed and shook her head. “My feelings are involved, but mayhap Lord Harlow is not as worthy of them, as I had thought.”
“Perhaps he is not,” Lady Newfield replied gently, “but there is also a chance that you are not being overt in how you feel, Christina. Have you shown him particular attention? Have you tried to make him see just how eager you are for his company?”
“No, I have not,” Christina answered, honestly. “It would not be proper for me to do so.”
Lady Newfield sighed ruefully and shook her head. “It would be more than proper,” she said firmly. “Sometimes a gentleman needs a little more persuasion on the part of a lady before he is decided in his own mind what he shall do. Has it ever occurred to you that he might be afraid of rejection also? That he might fear that you will refuse him, should he ask?”
Christina blinked quickly, finding that Lady Newfield’s words were only adding to her confusion. “I have never thought of such a thing, no,” she answered honestly. “Perhaps I should...” She trailed off, looking over her shoulder, seeing Lord Harlow catch her gaze. Heat flared in her chest, but she did not allow it to stop her. Instead, she turned from Lady Newfield and made her way towards the two gentlemen, putting a bright smile on her lips as she did so.
“Good afternoon, Lord Harlow,” she said warmly, turning to look at the gentleman next to him. “Might you do me the honor of introducing me to your acquaintance?” She smiled at Lord Prestwick, already aware of his name but waiting for Lord Harlow to make the appropriate introductions. Lord Harlow did so at once, but she did not miss the slight flicker across his brow as he did so. Mayhap he had not expected her to be either so forward or to be so eager to meet Lord Prestwick.
“How very good to meet you,” she said, curtsying quickly. “I would introduce you to my great-aunt, Lord Prestwick, but she is, at present, in the depths of the bookshop.”
Lord Prestwick smiled, and Christina found herself liking him immediately. He had something of a boyish face, and the smile that lingered on it spoke of easy charm.
“I shall be glad to meet her whenever she reappears,” he said, glancing from her to Lord Harlow. “Have you found something of interest to read, Lady Christina?”
Christina sighed and looked at the books with a sorrowful eye. “I have been a little distracted, I confess,” she said with a small shrug. “My father was a little weary today, and I am a trifle concerned for him.”
Lord Harlow cleared his throat, drawing her attention. “I would not be greatly concerned, Lady Christina,” he said, his lips curving in what she presumed was meant to be a reassuring smile. “He was with us last evening at Chadwick House. It was a very long night, with a good many card games, plenty of conversations and distractions, as well as—”
“And a good deal of liquor?” Christina finished, seeing what Lord Harlow had been so unwilling to say. “Yes, I suppose that might account for it.”
Lord Harlow frowned. “He did lose some funds, Lady Christina, I will be truthful with you about that, but it should not be anything of significance to a gentleman such as he. I am sure he will be returned to himself come later this evening.”
“I must hope so,” Christina replied, her worry a little eased as she spoke. “You are very kind to reassure me, Lord Harlow.”
His eyes searched her face, and Christina allowed herself a moment or two to study him. His square jaw and firm nose, shock of dark hair, and eyes that shone with both brown and green were so familiar to her, but they still brought a shiver of delight to her frame. When he looked at her with seriousness, Christina felt her stomach turn over within her but chose not to say anything more, allowing the silence to grow between them for a few moments.
“It does trouble me to see you so deflated, however,” Lord Harlow said after a few moments more. “You must not be anxious over your father, Lady Christina. Might there be something I can do to lift your spirits?”
This was a most unexpected offer, and Christina found herself unable to answer, looking up at him in astonishment. This was the first time he had ever said anything of the sort to her, and now that the moment was upon her, she could not find the words to answer him.
“That would be most kind, Lord Harlow,” said a voice from over Christina’s shoulder. “What is it you propose?”
Lady Newfield came to join them, her smile bright and her hand on Christina’s arm.
“Shall we take a walk in Hyde Park, perhaps?” Lord Harlow suggested, his gaze still fixed to Christina’s face, perhaps hoping that he might see a change in her demeanor at his suggestion. “Or mayhap an ice at Gunter’s?”
Christina could not help but smile, her heart beating a little faster as she looked up at him. “An ice would be wonderful,” she said, as Lord Harlow’s smile grew a little bigger. “Thank you, Lord Harlow. Already, I can feel my anxiety dissipating.”
“Excellent,” came the cheerful reply as he offered her his arm. Christina took it without hesitation, although her skin prickled and her joy grew with every moment. With Lady Newfield following behind, they exited the bookshop, leaving Lord Prestwick in their wake.
Chapter Three
As much as he did not wish to admit it to himself, Richard knew that Lady Christina was becoming a little more important to him. When he had seen her at the bookshop, when she had shown immediate interest in Lord Prestwick rather than him, he had found himself a trifle irritated. And now that a sennight had gone by, he had felt th
at same irritation and frustration growing within him every time his eyes caught sight of Lady Christina speaking to any other gentleman. The conversation could be entirely innocuous, of course, but that did not seem to matter. It was as though he wanted every part of Lady Christina’s attention solely for himself, no matter how foolish that seemed.
Whether or not it had been because he had seen the sadness in her eyes, the worry in her expression, or that he had felt his heart tug with sympathy, he now was discovering a new eagerness to be in her company. Something had changed within him the day he had taken her to Gunter’s, when he had seen her smile brighten and her anxiety fade. He had seen her concern for her father and considered it to be yet another excellent characteristic—only to find himself beginning to desire that very same concern in her for himself. It was as though what he had been considering regarding Lady Christina was now nothing more than fleeting thoughts. She was quite the perfect young lady, with a beauty of spirit that he was convinced would always capture him. In fact, he had spent the last sennight doing all he could to be by her side, to converse with her and to dance with her. And this evening would be no different.
“Good evening, Lord Prestwick,” Richard said before Lord Prestwick could open his mouth. “Pray tell me, is Miss Allerton here this evening?”
Lord Prestwick grinned. “She is,” he said, looking at Richard with a sly smile. “And I presume the reason you are watching the door with such eagerness is so that you might be the first to spot Lady Christina.”
Richard frowned, turning his head to look at his friend, only to look back at the door again. “And if I am?”
Lord Prestwick held up both hands in a defensive manner. “I mean nothing by the remark,” he said honestly. “It is only that I have noticed your sudden change of heart when it comes to the lady. It is as though she has captured your heart entirely, although I cannot understand why, given you have known her for so long.”
Richard shrugged, feeling the urge to be honest rather than hiding the truth of his feelings from his friend. “I cannot explain it, but that is precisely what has occurred,” he said, as Lord Prestwick dropped his hands. “It is as though, in spending a little more time with her, outside of the ballroom or a soiree—just the two of us conversing—I have realized that there is a desire within my heart to be as close to her as I can be.”
Considering this, Lord Prestwick began to nod slowly. “I can well understand such a feeling,” he said, with such a note of tenderness in his voice that Richard looked back at him in surprise. Lord Prestwick was not watching him, however, but his gaze was fixed on someone just to Richard’s right. Richard did not need to guess as to who it might be, feeling quite certain that it was none other than Miss Allerton.
“It may be new to you,” Lord Prestwick continued, a smile now tugging at his mouth, “but I can assure you, it is quite understandable. And reasonable also, when one’s heart is involved.”
This remark immediately brought a frown to Richard’s face. “My heart?” he repeated, having not considered such a thing. “I do not think that...”
Lord Prestwick chuckled, pulling his gaze from Lady Allerton. “Of course your heart is pulling towards Lady Christina,” he said as though Richard ought to have known such a thing already. “You have an affection for her, which, I will say, will grow all the more now that you are aware of it.” He shrugged as Richard continued to frown, having never considered that his feelings of interest towards Lady Christina might be a genuine affection for the lady. He had thought himself almost above such a thing, having been brought up to consider only a practical situation when it came to matrimony.
“Then, what do you suggest I do?” Richard asked, finding his throat a little dry as he suddenly spotted Lady Christina walking into the room, with Lady Newfield beside her. “I am not certain what I should be thinking of next.”
Again, Lord Prestwick chuckled, putting one hand on Richard’s shoulder for just a moment.
“You consider matrimony,” he said, dragging Richard’s attention away from Lady Christina for a moment. “And what steps you need to take in order to be certain that such a situation would suit both you and Lady Christina.”
Richard nodded but said nothing more, returning his attention to Lady Christina. She was looking all around the ballroom, seeming to him as though she were merely looking at the other guests, although part of him hoped that she was searching just for him.
Marriage?
It was, of course, the most obvious response to what he was feeling, but it was all so new and unexpected that his thoughts were pulling at each other, shoving to press to the front of his mind. Yes, he had been aware of Lady Christina for some time; yes, he had been considering her. But now that such a swell of emotions pulled at him, now that he found his heart was apparently involved with the lady, it was as though he had been set into an entirely barren land with no idea as to where he was to walk or how he was to survive.
Lady Christina’s eyes caught his, and Richard found his heart slamming hard into his chest. The demure way she looked at him, a flush of color hitting her cheeks, had him almost desperate to go to her. But, of course, he remained where he was, not wanting to push through the guests towards her for fear that he would bring a touch of embarrassment both to himself and to her. He had to be cautious in all that he did, choosing his actions with great care.
“If you will excuse me.”
Richard turned to see Lord Prestwick doing precisely what Richard himself had only just thought not to do. Practically elbowing his way through the crowd of guests, the gentleman made his way directly towards Miss Allerton, who appeared to be waiting for him to reach her. In a few moments, Lord Prestwick had Miss Allerton’s dance card in his hand and was clearly perusing which ones he would be able to choose. No doubt, had he been quick enough, he would be able to dance the supper dance with the lady and spend all the more time in her company.
Then why are you not doing the same?
His feet propelled him forward before he could stop himself. Striding towards Lady Christina, his eyes fixed to hers, he barely saw the other guests, although he was certain that he had knocked into one or two of them in a most uncouth manner.
“Good evening, Lady Christina.” Realizing that he was a little breathless, Richard bowed low and lingered for a moment or two in an attempt to regain his composure. “Good evening, Lady Newfield.”
“Good evening,” came the two voices together. Raising his head, Richard smiled at Lady Christina, seeing how bright her eyes were. Clearly, she was as glad to see him as he was to see her.
“Might I enquire about your dance card?” he asked, laughing as Lady Christina immediately handed it to him without hesitation. The eagerness that she felt was obvious in her manner, and Richard felt his heart swell with delight, all the gladder that he was the first gentleman to write his name on her dance card. Choosing first the waltz and, thereafter, the supper dance, he handed the card back to her and waited for her reaction.
He was not disappointed. Her eyes flared wide as she read his name, clearly aware that he had chosen two of the most intimate dances—which, of course, would be noticed by the ton. Gossip would spread in an instant, but he did not care. His interest in Lady Christina was firmly fixed now, making him regret that he had not done such a thing before. He had been foolish, waiting and lingering and considering his future with Lady Christina. Perhaps if he had examined his heart, he might have discovered her waiting there for him, waiting for him to discover the truth for himself.
“I hope they please you,” he said quietly as Lady Christina nodded, looking up at him with flushed cheeks.
“Very much, Lord Harlow,” she answered, slipping the ribbon of her dance card back over her wrist. “I look forward to dancing with you.”
“As do I,” he said honestly. Fully aware that another gentleman—namely, Lord Carrington—was eager to approach Lady Christina, Richard smiled ruefully at Lady Christina, stepping back with both frustration
and relief. Irritated that he would have to leave Lady Christina’s side when he had only just joined her, but glad that he had managed to secure both the waltz and the supper dance. Leaving Lord Carrington to speak to Lady Christina, he turned on his heel and considered whether or not he ought to speak to other young ladies and secure further dances. It would be all the more noticeable if he did not dance with other young ladies and only with Lady Christina, but that did not bring any particular difficulty to him. In fact, he realized, a smile spreading across his face, he did not particularly want to dance with anyone other than Lady Christina. What he had once considered something of an embarrassment was now all that he wanted to do. What did it matter if the gossip mongers noticed that he danced only with Lady Christina? Why should he mind if the rumors began about his intentions for Lady Christina when he was already considering his future with her?
Matrimony?
That word did not bring a sense of panic nor confusion to his mind any longer. The idea of having Lady Christina by his side as his wife was, in fact, something that brought a sense of anticipation. Courtship certainly now lay before them. All he had to do was find a time to ask her.
* * *
“Lady Christina?”
The way she smiled at him sent Richard’s heart into a tumultuous roar. He bowed, offered her his arm, and could not help but smile with delight when she took it.
“How have you found the evening thus far?” he asked as they walked to the dance floor. “I am sure you have had every single dance taken by now.”
Lady Christina laughed, turning so that she might quickly curtsy before the music began. “You are very kind, Lord Harlow.”
“But I am not mistaken,” he told her, bowing. “Is that not so?”
“I do not think it matters,” she answered softly, stepping into his arms. “For I have not looked forward to any of them as much as this one.”
Her words seemed to unleash a flow of hope in his heart. As the music began, Richard held Lady Christina a little more closely and began to dance, their steps helping them to move as one. Richard did not say a single word, finding himself in such a state of bliss that there seemed to be no need to converse. It was as though a shadow had been lifted from his mind, as though he had finally seen Lady Christina as she truly was. He did not dare think what might have occurred had he waited for too long, only to see her courted by someone else. What regrets would have filled him then!
Betrayal and Lies: Convenient Arrangements (Book 4) Page 3