Page 24 of The Truth about the Earl
“You will be disappointed, then to hear of Lady Essington’s current predicament, then?”
Lady Maude’s cool voice reached James’ ears and a cold stream of water ran down James’ spine. He turned to her, one eyebrow lifting gently. “Lady Maude, good evening. Lady Humphries and I were just now talking about Lord Jennings, rather than anyone else.” He turned away, meaning to end the conversation there but Lady Maude was not yet finished.
“But you have just now stated that it is wise to be careful of one’s acquaintances and connections. Given what we have learned about Lady Essington, it would seem fair, therefore, that we judge our connection with her most carefully.”
Lady Humphries coughed quietly, her eyes darting toward Lady Maude but then fixing themselves to James’. “I believe in Lady Essington’s case, however, there has been nothing proven. Her name is only vaguely attached to the circumstance.”
“Indeed, I quite agree,” James replied warmly, making Lady Humphries smile lightly. “I am a little surprised that Mrs. Fullerton has written a piece about the lady where nothing can be proven and, indeed, that the person she is writing about has only a vague similarity to Lady Essington. It could be a good many people and it must be very distressing indeed for Lady Essington to be singled out in such a way.”
“She has my sympathy,” Lady Humphries added but as James glanced toward Lady Maude, he saw she had already returned to finishing her plate of soup, seemingly disinterested in the rest of the conversation. His gut twisted. Lady Maude was not the lovely creature he had once thought her to be. Sheseemed to delight in the stories of others and their difficulties and had no thought as to how they might feel at any given moment, given their difficult circumstance. She was just as beautiful as ever and James was certain that, should he look deeply into her eyes, he would find his breath hitching, but there was no desire for him to do any such thing, not any longer.
And it may be that Lady Essington has a bigger part to play in my change of heart than I first realized.
A small smile crept toward the corners of his mouth as he thought of Lady Essington and the astonishment in her expression when he had come to seek her out rather than continue with Lady Maude. She had feared herself so small in his eyes that she would be quickly forgotten, whilst James was beginning to realize that quite the opposite was true.
“I do wonder who that gentleman was, however.”
Setting his spoon in his bowl at the correct angle, James settled his hands onto his lap so that the footmen would know he was finished with his first course. “I do not know what you mean, Lady Maude.” He did not want to engage her but could not simply leave the remark hanging in the air between them.
“Whether it was Lady Essington or not, I do wonder which gentleman it was that the lady called upon so very late – or so very early, depending on how one looks at things.”
A ripple of unease ran over James’ frame and his jaw tightened. “I think that a very small matter, Lady Maude.”
“But if we knew the gentleman involved, then we might have an inkling as to whether or not it was Lady Essington there that day.”
James bristled, his jaw jutting forward. “I do not think there is any need to do any such investigation, Lady Maude.” His voice was low, his words clipped. “I do not believe that it was Lady Essington present. I find it very strange indeed that Mrs. Fullerton, whoever she or he may be, chose to write somethingso very inappropriate, knowing the damage it would do to the lady’s reputation when, according to Lord Huntsford, she has always been very careful to write nothing but the truth in previous articles.”
“Then you do not have the smallest curiosity? The tiniest doubt?”
When James looked into her eyes, he saw the glint in her eye and felt his stomach twist. She had been, in his eyes, so very beautiful whereas now, he saw her as she truly was – cruel, manipulative, and seeking only flattery and adulation from those around her. “I have no doubts whatsoever, Lady Maude.” His voice was firm, his jaw tight. “And I am certain that Lady Essington is naught but a highly regarded lady who deserves our respect and consideration given all that she has endured.”
“Endured?” There was a hint of laughter in Lady Maude’s voice. “What has she endured?”
James shook his head to himself before turning his attention back to the lady. “Lady Essington is a widow. To lose one’s spouse must be very difficult indeed.”
Lady Maude’s lips bunched but her eyes then turned to Lady Humphries, evidently seeing something there that encouraged her thereafter to remain silent. Turning her head away, she returned her attention to the gentleman on her other side and began a conversation there, leaving James to his thoughts. A little surprised at the tension that still flooded him, James did not speak to Lady Humphries nor any other for some time. Instead, he ate silently and did not catch the eye of anyone, finding himself deeply frustrated and upset at how Lady Maude had spoken. Her obvious eagerness to think poorly of Lady Essington and, indeed, to find some sort of humor in it was deeply sorrowing and James felt his heart turn away from the lady completely.
And instead, turn all the more toward Lady Essington herself.
Chapter Nine
Norah’s eyes caught the swift movement of one gentleman’s hand, seeing how it snaked around Miss Patterson’s wrist. Her eyes narrowed as he began to pull her toward the shadows, leaving Miss Patterson with only two choices. One, she could go with him without making any sort of complaint, or two, she could remove his hand from her arm but, in doing so, garner a good deal of attention which might very well lead to a good deal of embarrassment but also a good deal of gossip.
Miss Patterson chose the former.
Keeping her smile fixed in place, Norah nodded and finished her conversation with Lady Geraldine and her mother, excusing herself and then quietly stepping away in the same direction as Miss Patterson had gone.
The shadowy corridor did not give any helpful illumination and Norah was forced to move slowly, wondering where Miss Patterson had been taken. She did not know the lady particularly well, given that she had only been introduced to her once by Lady Maude and they had not even had a single conversation. But that did not mean that she would not go in search of the lady to do what she could to help her.
“Lord Bearsden, please!”
Her breath hitched as she heard the exclamation come from nearby, albeit sounding rather muffled. Turning, she took a few steps toward a closed door and heard the laugh again. Her hand went to her heart, aware of just how hard it was pounding. There was a danger in what she was doing, for she could be discovered and her presence questioned, even though she was a widow and could, for the most part, go where she pleased. Given that rumors about her were still gently swirling some weeks after that article had been written, Norah knew she had to be careful.
A dark laugh caught her attention and Norah’s stomach turned over. Lord Bearsden was clearly doing whatever he pleased and Miss Patterson was unable to stop him. Silently, she wondered firstly, where Lady Maude was, only to realize that the lady would not care a trice if her friend had disappeared for a few moments. The second was to wonder if the lady had a chaperone or parent who would be looking for her. If she was discovered to be missing, then the lady’s reputation could be quite ruined – and all at the hands of a gentleman who took what he pleased without consequence.
The sound of footsteps had Norah drawing back, only to see a footman coming down the hallway, a tray of food in his hand. Hurrying toward him, she came a little away from the door, keeping her voice low.
“I require your assistance.”
