by Rose Pearson
“What else is there for me to do?” Jeffery exclaimed, now becoming a little irritated. “I will admit that she is certainly unusual and that I cannot help but be both flattered and pleased at her remarks, but she is the daughter of a duke! And a debutante at that! If I return to her company, if she is often seen in mine, then her reputation will be tainted! And I will not allow my selfishness to have such an effect.”
“Even if you should like to speak to her again?” Lord Swinton asked gently. “Even if she is the only young lady who might be willing to consider you?”
Jeffery blew out a frustrated breath. “Consider me?” he repeated, aware of the mocking tone in his voice but doing nothing to hide it. “I am not even thinking of matrimony, Swinton, as you well know. I certainly could not choose a young lady merely because she might be the only one who would be willing to consider marriage!”
Lord Swinton shrugged. “Why not? It is not as though this rumor is going to fade easily. The curse of ‘rogue’ will follow you for many Seasons. Even when you believe it to be gone, it will still be whispered after you. Ladies will look at you with suspicion; mothers will hold their daughters back from you; worst of all, you may find that the less-than-exemplary ladies seek you out a little more.”
It all sounded very dire indeed, and Jeffery shook his head, passing one hand over his eyes as he blew out a long, heavy breath. As much as he wanted to state that there was no truth in anything that Lord Swinton had said, that he did not think there was anything for him to concern himself with for the following Season, Jeffery knew that all he had said was quite true.
“I cannot think of it now,” he said, looking around for a footman so that he might find himself something to drink. “Besides which, I am sure that she will not return to converse again with me any time soon. Her chaperone and her father will not permit it!”
“We will see,” Lord Swinton replied with a gleam in his eye, but Jeffery merely shrugged and took a glass of brandy from the footman’s tray. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing further to explore between himself and Lady Rebecca, and in that, he was quite determined.
Chapter Six
Rebecca bobbed a quick curtsy and watched Lord Bellingham as he stepped away. The conversation had been very strained and, whilst Lord Bellingham was very eligible, indeed, there was not even a flicker of interest within her. Nor did she think Lord Bellingham had any desire to continue their acquaintance, given he had appeared to want to end their conversation as quickly as possible.
She sighed inwardly. It had been a sennight since she had last spoken to Lord Richmond, and yet, for whatever reason, she could not remove him from her thoughts. The book she had purchased, the novel that she knew he had been interested in, was still sitting quietly by her bed, whispering to her about him. She had heard some of the gossips herself by now, of course, and had also heard quite a bit about Lady Kensington’s reputation and behavior as well. Still, there had been that strong memory of how Lord Richmond had defended himself to Lady Hayward that day in the bookshop.
She wanted to believe him.
“Well?” Lady Hayward’s eyes were bright with curiosity, her voice filled with hope. “Did all go well?”
Rebecca let out a quiet sigh and shook her head. “Not as well as you might have expected, Lady Hayward,” she said honestly. “Lord Bellingham was difficult to converse with. Unfortunately, he had very little to say.”
Lady Hayward’s smile dropped from her face in an instant, her brows furrowing a little as she studied Rebecca carefully. “You are saying there was nothing at all of interest?”
“None whatsoever, I’m afraid,” Rebecca said, spreading her hands as a slight wave of guilt washed over her. “I wish I could be a little more optimistic, but I fear I cannot.”
“It is not your fault,” Lady Hayward replied with a sigh. “I thought Lord Bellingham might be all that you required, but if there is no interest there, then I should be loath to encourage you.” She smiled briefly, and Rebecca smiled back, relieved that Lady Hayward was not about to force her back into another conversation with Lord Bellingham. “After all, was I not the one to state that there should be, at the very least, a small affection between you and your future husband?” One shoulder lifted in a half shrug. “However, if there is not even a modicum of curiosity in continuing an acquaintance with Lord Bellingham, then we shall not consider him anymore.”
“I thank you,” Rebecca replied with an inner sigh of relief. “I think, however, you will have to excuse me for a moment. I must seek the retiring room.”
Lady Hayward nodded. “But of course.” Her eyes began to twinkle in the familiar way that Rebecca had come to know so well. “Mayhap when you return, I will have another gentleman for you to consider!”
Rebecca laughed and made her way from the large drawing-room, both relieved and a little nervous about which gentleman Lady Hayward would have next.
“Excuse me,” Rebecca murmured, walking past a young lady and making her way slowly back towards the drawing-room. The soiree had, thus far, been quite pleasant, but, as yet, Rebecca had found nothing of particular interest.
“Lord Richmond, please!”
Rebecca froze, her heart beginning to pound immediately as she heard a voice echoing from a little further down the hallway.
“I should not have come.”
Knowing that she should not continue to eavesdrop, Rebecca found it entirely impossible to return to the drawing-room. Evidently, Lord Richmond was present and, for whatever reason, was now conversing with another.
“There is no need to behave so. Not with someone such as me.”
Rebecca looked over her shoulder, checking that no one else was present in the hallway and watching her. Seeing no one, she quietly made her way forward, nearing the front of Lord and Lady Messick’s townhouse.
And Lord Richmond suddenly came into view. He was pushing one hand through his hair, staring hard at the floor whilst a lady stood before him, looking up at him with great earnestness. Rebecca stayed in the shadows, watching closely even though she knew she ought not to be doing so. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the lady, quickly realizing that it was their hostess, Lady Messick, who spoke to him. Her heart turned over in her chest. Had she been mistaken in her first impression of him? Was he now about to prove to her that he was precisely the gentleman society thought him, treating Lady Merrick as he had done Lady Kensington?
“You have friends within society, Lord Richmond,” Lady Merrick said urgently and with such eagerness that Rebecca did not know what to think. Was the lady about to press her attentions to Lord Richmond? And was Lord Richmond about to accept?
“I have tried to remain in society,” she heard Lord Richmond say, his voice filled with such emotion that Rebecca’s stomach twisted. “I have tried these last few days and yet I am met with such vitriol that I have no desire to remain any longer. I...I…” Again, he rubbed one hand over his eye. “I do not think I should have attended this evening, even though I am more than grateful for your consideration in inviting me.”
Lady Merrick stepped closer and put one hand on Lord Richmond’s arm. Rebecca squeezed her eyes closed, swallowing hard as a twist of fear began to make its way up her spine.
“You are a dear friend to both me and to my husband,” she heard Lady Merrick say, the fear beginning to leave her as she opened her eyes to see Lady Merrick stepping back from Lord Richmond. “He is expecting you. We invited you because we do not believe what has been said. We are both very well aware of Lady Kensington’s reputation.”
Letting out a long, slow breath, Rebecca felt her heart begin to quieten its frantic pace. Lord Richmond was not, as she had feared, about to behave inappropriately with Lady Merrick. A wave of shame crashed over her soul as she turned away, no longer wishing to remain to eavesdrop. Perhaps she should never have done so in the first place.
Turning slowly, Rebecca made her way back to the drawing-room, walking back inside as though nothing had ever occu
rred. Lady Hayward was waiting for her, gesturing for her to join her again, but Rebecca felt nothing more than reluctance. She wanted to wait for Lord Richmond, wanted to remain close to the door so that she could be amongst the first to greet him, so that he would know that he was not alone this evening. So that he would know that he had friends present.
But, of course, there was nothing for her to do but return to her chaperone, doing all she could to appear pleased to meet whichever new gentleman she had now to be introduced to.
“Pray tell me that Lord Mansford was more conversational than Lord Bellingham!”
Rebecca laughed at the eager look on Lady Hayward’s face. “Yes, he was a significant improvement,” she replied, making certain to keep her gaze trained solely on Lady Hayward rather than seek out Lord Richmond, who, she had noticed, had entered the room only a few minutes beforehand. It had taken all of her determination not to study him, not to allow her gaze to linger on him and to, instead, focus entirely on Lord Mansford. She had to admit that Lord Mansford was handsome, engaging, an excellent conversationalist, and was altogether very pleasing indeed. However, she was still thoroughly distracted by Lord Richmond’s presence and had been glad when Lord Mansford had excused himself from her company.
“I presume,” Lady Hayward said softly, looking at her carefully, “that you have noticed Lord Richmond’s arrival?”
A flush crept into Rebecca’s face. “Yes, I have,” she said, refusing to pretend otherwise.
“And do you wish to speak to him?”
Yet more heat crawled into Rebecca’s cheeks. “Lady Hayward,” she began, a little embarrassed. “I am taking your advice as best I can. You have instructed me not to further my acquaintance with Lord Richmond, and thus, I have attempted not to do so.”
“But you are still very much intrigued by him,” Lady Hayward said softly. “Yes, it may have been over a sennight since we met him first in the bookshop, but I have been very well aware that you have found every other gentleman since that meeting to be unsuitable.” One eyebrow lifted. “You believe him to be innocent of these rumors, then?”
“I know you do not,” Rebecca said hastily, “or, at the very least, you would prefer me not to engage with him to make certain that my reputation remains untarnished.”
Lady Hayward let out a long sigh and rubbed one hand lightly across her forehead. “And yet despite that, you appear to be quite fascinated with him,” she said softly. “There is an interest there that has not been present with any other gentleman.”
Knowing that it was pointless to even attempt to argue with this, Rebecca said nothing but held Lady Hayward’s gaze steadily, wondering if there was yet more for the lady to say. Would she continue to encourage her to remain away from Lord Richmond? Or was there any possibility at all that a further acquaintance might be possible?
A long sigh escaped from Lady Hayward as though considering what was next to do. The conversations continued on all around them but Rebecca remained silent, her heart quickening a little more as Lady Hayward bit her lip.
“I have always encouraged you to find a gentleman that strikes an interest in your heart, have I not?” Lady Hayward said eventually. “Why it should be this particular gentleman, I do not know, but there is clearly something about him that has captured your interest. Therefore,” she continued, a little more quietly, “I shall remain by your side and will permit you a further conversation with him this evening. Thereafter, I shall consider the matter a little longer.” A glimmer of a smile appeared on her lips. “Perhaps I was a little hasty in my judgment of him.”
Rebecca reached out and pressed one hand to Lady Hayward’s arm. “I am sorry,” she said honestly. “I do not know what it is about Lord Richmond that intrigues me so. It must be very frustrating indeed to have someone such as I as your charge!”
This brought a broad smile to Lady Hayward’s face. “Not at all, my dear,” she replied warmly. “Although I am glad that your sisters are not present this evening, else I do not think I should have been able to permit you such a thing!” She smiled and tilted her head just a little. “Shall we go and speak with him now?”
Rebecca nodded, and slowly, the two ladies walked together across the room. It took some minutes for them to reach Lord Richmond, who was, Rebecca saw, standing rather far away from the other guests and conversing quietly with their host. Rebecca saw how he shifted from foot to foot, how his gaze darted from here to there as though he were deeply worried about who might approach him.
“Good evening, Lord Richmond.”
Both Lord Merrick and Lord Richmond turned towards them at once, and Rebecca bobbed a quick curtsy, seeing the slight widening of Lord Richmond’s eyes as he lifted his head from his bow.
“Good evening, Lady Hayward, Lady Rebecca,” both gentlemen said before Lord Merrick, perhaps sensing that they wanted to speak to Lord Richmond, quickly took his leave.
“I must admit to being surprised that you wished to speak to me, Lady Hayward,” Lord Richmond continued quietly, looking at Lady Hayward directly. “Although I will not say I am not glad.”
Lady Hayward smiled and spread her hands. “I am, I confess, a little chagrined, Lord Richmond. I spoke harshly to you when I realize now I ought not to have done. I am, of course, doing all I can to protect Lady Rebecca’s reputation.”
“Most understandable,” Lord Richmond replied, finally looking towards Rebecca, who found a strange flurry of excitement rushing through her as she smiled back at him. “And yet you permit another conversation with me, Lady Hayward?” His eyes returned to Rebecca’s chaperone. “Is that wise?”
Rebecca found herself speaking before she realized what she was doing. “You are very kind to think of me with such consideration, Lord Richmond,” she said, aware of the warmth in her cheeks, “but as I have said, I am quite determined to believe your words rather than listen to the gossip that runs so wildly throughout London.” She smiled at him again. “I think you would appreciate a few more welcoming acquaintances, would you not?”
Lord Richmond chuckled, his face lighting up to reveal a most pleasant manner. His blue eyes appeared brighter, no longer the stormy gray she had seen only moments before. It seemed he would be glad of her company, and that made Rebecca feel all the happier.
“I would be very glad indeed, yes,” Lord Richmond agreed as Lady Hayward nodded slowly. “It has been trying, I will admit.”
“But it can be nothing more than brief conversations, Lord Richmond,” Lady Hayward said firmly. “Nothing that would bring any overt notice from the ton. I am sure you understand.”
Lord Richmond nodded. “But of course,” he replied, still looking very pleased indeed. “I am very grateful for your consideration, Lady Hayward.” His eyes turned towards Rebecca. “And to you, also, Lady Rebecca. It is not very often that one finds a young lady of quality, particularly one on her very first outing within society, so willing to believe a gentleman proclaimed guilty of such things.”
There was no reasonable way to explain why she felt such a way, and thus, Rebecca could only remain standing quietly, dropping her eyes to the floor as Lady Hayward cleared her throat gently.
“If you would excuse me for a moment,” Lady Hayward murmured, astonishing Rebecca by leaving her standing alone with Lord Richmond. “I must refresh my drink.” Giving Rebecca a somewhat firm look, which told her that she would only be a few minutes and that propriety was expected at all times, Lady Hayward took her leave, staying only a few steps away from them both.
Rebecca did not know what to say, allowing her gaze to rest on Lord Richmond and noting that he too appeared a little uncomfortable. His eyes were darting from one side of the room to the next, never quite looking at her as he clasped his hands behind his back and shuffled his feet. This was not as Rebecca had expected. She had hoped that the conversation between them would flow easily, but it seemed that he was just as uncertain as to what to say as she.
“When last we met, you were interested in a pa
rticular book,” she said, feeling a little foolish. “Tell me, Lord Richmond, are you a great reader?”
Blue eyes met hers, and Lord Richmond gave her a brief shrug. “I should like to be, Lady Rebecca, but I fear I am not,” he answered as she smiled up at him. “Unfortunately, I cannot even recall the name of the book I was interested in, Lady Rebecca, else I might have been able to discuss it with you!”
“That does not matter,” Rebecca replied quickly. “I am only relieved that we are able to converse again, Lord Richmond. I did not think that Lady Hayward would permit it.”
“Again,” he replied, his expression gentling as he finally allowed himself to look at her, “I am honored by your belief in me, Lady Rebecca. Particularly when it is entirely unmerited.”
She shook her head. “It is not unmerited, Lord Richmond. There are those in society who do not accept what has been said of you. You have friends who know you well. They do not believe the account of such scandalous events. Why should I trust the gossip mongers instead of those who know you better than they?”
Lord Richmond studied her carefully, his eyes searching her face as though seeking some sort of confirmation that she was speaking the truth. And then, after some moments, he sighed and passed one hand over his eyes.
“I am very blessed in your acquaintance, I think,” he said softly. “And for that, Lady Rebecca, I thank you. You are taking a risk to your own reputation in even conversing with me.”
“And one I am willing to take,” Rebecca replied quietly. “Perhaps we might speak again soon, Lord Richmond. Perhaps by then, you will have remembered the name of your book!” Her lips quirked, recalling that she herself was the one who had the book in her possession. This, in turn, made Lord Richmond chuckle, and he inclined his head.