Page 43 of Pining for Lord Lockhart
Mrs. Westchester bustled into the front area as they were about to leave. “Oh, I’m so pleased. Seeing the two of you together, making merry like you used to, it gives me hope for our future together.”
His and Penny’s smiles were matching as they attempted to feign the same amount of energy that Mrs. Westchester poured in an overabundance over them all.
When at last in the carriage, they both breathed out in relief.
And then she laughed. “I apologize for Mother.”
“No need.”
“I wish I could say her enthusiasm would lessen.”
“But we would both know you were lying.”
“Too true.”
He studied her face. Perhaps they could make a decent time of it. Certainly, honesty would be required. “Tell me about him.”
Her gaze shot to his face, pain filling her expression. And then she shook her head.
“Why not? Tell me.”
“Do you feel comfortable telling me about her?”
A sharp stabbing feeling in his chest brought her message home. “Not yet.”
She nodded and looked away. The silence between them lingered, but he didn’t press her. After so long he thought she had given up speaking altogether, her quiet voice carried over to him. “He is an honorable man.”
Andrew doubted very much that could be true, given her circumstances.
“You don’t believe me.” Her eyes fired an accusation, daring him to deny her.
“How could I? When here I am, doing the honorable thing by you that he should be doing?”
“Mother wouldn’t let him.”
Andrew’s eyebrow rose, challenging her.
“You think I should have done as I pleased, Mother’s opinion aside.” Her statement sounded tired. As if she’d thought the very thing a thousand times. And he imagined she had.
“I do. Or perhaps not gotten yourself into such a situation. Again, an honorable man would not have done this to you.”
Pain filled her eyes, and she looked away. “That’s where you are wrong.”
He didn’t wish to discuss it further. He was more inclined to hear about the man’s hobbies, or inclination to laugh overly loud, or some such thing.
“You don’t want to marry me.”
He sighed.
And nothing more was said.
But the museum arrived, and they would now be in front of others. “You are my first friend. I don’t want to marry you in the sense that I would long for a wife, but I want to marry you in the sense that you came to me in need, and I am honored to do what I can.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
He stepped down and turned to reach for her hand. “Shall we see the exhibits?”
“Yes.” Her face cheered somewhat. “At last to be out of that house, with all the new touches Miss Charity made over the place.”
