Page 29 of The Truth about the Earl
“I think we cannot at present,” James murmured, understanding Lady Essington’s need to go straight to her friend. “There is already a great crowd and I am sure –”
“Do excuse me. Clear a path! Lady Adlay must rest.”
Before James could say anything further, Lady Essington had dropped her hand and pressed forward, practically forcing her way through the crowd until she could reach her friend. Even though he desired to go after her, James gritted his teeth and remained where he was. It would be best for him to remain a little further back and allow the lady and whoever was with her to make their way to another room so that she might be adequately cared for. Whatever had occurred, James could only hope that Lady Adlay would soon recover and that Lady Essington would not be too distressed.
A little frustrated that he could do nothing more, James heaved a great sigh and turned away. He would write to both the ladies come the morning.
Chapter Eleven
Norah paced back and forth in her drawing room, one finger caught between her teeth as she worried. She had written to Lady Adlay earlier that morning but, as yet, had received no response. It was now the early afternoon and still, nothing had come. After what she had seen yesterday, Norah feared for her friend.
Her eyes closed as she put one hand on the mantlepiece, forcing herself to remain still. As much as she might tell herself that this was not her doing, her guilt rose to such a clamor that it was impossible to ignore. She had ignored the warning from whoever had written that first letter, demanding that she place something particular in the articles she wrote for the society pages. Lady Adlay had insisted that she do so and despite her fear, Norah had agreed. But now, she was quite certain that whatever had happened to her friend was entirely because of that one action.
She looked so very pale.
Her eyes squeezed harder closed, an ache beginning to build in her throat as hot tears burned. Drawing in a shaking breath, Norah let it out slowly and forced herself to open her eyes, pushing back the tears. She had not had an opportunityto discover what had happened to Lady Adlay, for despite managing to draw near to her friend, it had only been to grasp her hand for a few moments and then release it. Lady Adlay had been pale-faced, limping terribly and leaning heavily on a gentleman that Norah did not know. She had heard that Lord Adlay had practically raced from the card room the moment he had been informed and had immediately ordered his carriage so that he might bring her home. Norah could only pray that her dear friend was not grievously injured.
A knock at the door startled her and she let out an involuntary yelp of surprise, which the footman took to be his call to enter. Stepping inside, he walked toward her, a note on a silver tray.
“My lady.”
Norah stared at it for a moment before snatching it up, grasping it with eager fingers. Without looking, she broke the wax seal and unfolded the page, ready to read Lady Adlay’s response. The footman melted away, aware that his mistress was much too caught up with her letter to inform him to either remain or take his leave, and within a few seconds, Norah was quite alone again.
“Please say that you are to recover soon.”
Her eyes roved over the words on the page, hurrying over them in her haste to read Lady Adlay’s response. It was not until some moments later, however, that Norah began to realize that what she held was not, in fact, a letter from Lady Adlay. Instead, it was a note from the person who had written to her at first, stating that she write whattheydemanded. The words were cold, written by an icy hand and as she read the words with understanding, a chill stole over Norah’s, sending gooseflesh all over her skin.
She shivered, reading the note for the second time. It was direct confirmation that what had happened to Lady Adlay lastevening had been a consequence of Norah’s direct inaction as directed in the previous letter.
‘Furthermore,’the letter read, ‘you are to state in your next piece that Lord Yardley has been seen in the company of Miss Henstridge and that you have been informed that he was recently caught departing from her private quarters last evening after the performance. Any thought not to do so will bring further consequences – to Lady Adlay, Lord Adlay, Lord Yardley himself, or mayhap even to Lady Gillingham. I am aware she is returned to her estate but that does not mean that she cannot be injured most grievously. There are more ways than one to cause pain and suffering.’
She dropped her head and pressed her hands to her eyes as the letter fluttered to the floor. Her breathing was ragged, her mind whirling as she struggled with what had been asked of her.
Lord Yardley? I am to write ill of him?
She could not do it. Not when she felt so much for him, not when she knew that he was such a kind, amiable gentleman who did not deserve such censure.
A sudden thought flew into her head and she rose hurriedly, almost running across the room in her haste to ring the bell. Thereafter, she began to pace again as she waited for the footman to arrive.
He did so in only a matter of seconds.
“My lady?”
“You received a note.”
He nodded. “Yes, my lady.”
“Who brought it?”
The footman’s brows furrowed. “A street boy, my lady.”
Closing her eyes, Norah put out one hand to him. “And pray, did you remember to keep him in the house? I was certain that –”
“Yes, my lady.” The footman’s face flushed red as Norah looked at him sharply, perhaps embarrassed that he had interrupted her. “I beg your pardon. That is only to say that the boy is in the kitchens. I believe the cook is feeding him.”
Norah let out a long breath, one hand pressing lightly against her stomach as she took in what the footman had said. “Very good, very good,” she breathed, softly. “I will go to him at once.”
The footman’s eyes widened. “I am sure, my lady, that we can bring the boy here.”
