Page 22 of The Truth about the Marquess
“And you, Lord Edenbridge?” Lady Keswick asked, in a voice which was louder than her daughter’s. “Have you found it enjoyable?”
Oliver nodded and smiled warmly, hoping that his manner might encourage Miss Leverton to speak more easily and, at the very least, look at him!
“Have you been in London for long?”
Again, Miss Leverton looked at her mother who nodded slowly, as though giving her permission to speak.
“We have been in London for a little over a fortnight,” she answered, her voice thin and quiet. “I have been glad to return to good company.”
“As have I, I confess it, though I have been sorry to hear of some of the rumors that have been running through society,” Oliver answered, hoping that what he said would be construedcorrectly. “That has always been a disappointment to me. I would have hoped that those in thetonwould be less inclined towards speaking untruths simply for the enjoyment of it but, alas, it seems that nothing has changed.” He cleared his throat as mother and daughter glanced at one another, realizing that he had, most likely, lingered on the point a little too heavily. “Regardless, I am sure that this Season will be quite wonderful.” Smiling, he looked directly at Miss Leverton. “I think I should like to call upon you one day soon, Miss Leverton. What say you to that?”
Miss Leverton did not smile, though a brightness instantly came into her mother’s expression, her eyes alight as though she was somehow thrilled at this suggestion. Surely, Oliver considered, there had been many gentlemen seeking to do such a thing, for it was very common indeed for gentlemen to call on ladies, even those that they had no intention of pursuing.
“I should be glad to welcome you into our home whenever you wish to call, Lord Edenbridge!” Lady Keswick was the one to answer, her hand going out to grasp Oliver’s arm lightly for just a moment. “How very kind you are to think of my dear Olivia.”
Oliver kept his smile in place but looked again to Miss Leverton who, he noticed, now hung her head as though she were ashamed – though what she could be ashamed of, he did not know.
“Only if your daughter wishes me to call, Lady Keswick. I would not like her to be put out by my company.”
Lady Keswick’s eyes gleamed.
“Olivia?”
There was a tightness in the lady’s voice, and it instantly lifted Miss Leverton’s head, though she still did not smile.
“But of course, Lord Edenbridge, you are very kind.”
“Then I shall call at some time this week,” Oliver said, still a little confused as to the lady’s demeanor. “If that is suitable, of course.”
“We shall be glad to see you at any time on any day!” Lady Keswick now sounded almost jubilant, making Oliver’s confusion build all the more. “My daughter is a little shy, you understand, and so many gentlemen consider her a wallflower and give her none of their attention – though it seems that you are not one of those gentlemen, Lord Edenbridge!”
Oliver continued to smile uncomfortably, until, nearby, there came a voice.
“I did not think your husband a particularly good man.”
The sharp, shrill voice interrupted Oliver’s conversation and he turned his head instinctively. Much to his astonishment, he saw Lady Harsham standing opposite him amongst a small group of ladies, though the one who had spoken so bluntly, he did not recognize.
“Lord Edenbridge?”
He turned his head sharply again, catching the way that Lady Keswick’s eyes widened.
“Forgive me,” he said, his attention still on Lady Harsham and the conversation there. “Yes, of course. I quite understand but I am not as other gentlemen in that regard.”
Behind him, distractingly, that sharp voice came again.
“We all know that your marriage was not one of your own choosing, however, for it was your father’s agreement, was it not?”
The conversation involving Lady Harsham dragged him towards it all the more as he overheard the lady’s frank remarks and, already imagining what it was that Lady Harsham herself must be feeling, Oliver inclined his head to Lady Keswick and Miss Leverton.
“I shall call very soon. Do excuse me.”
Without waiting for either lady to respond, Oliver turned on his heel and made his way directly towards Lady Harsham. She was looking at the lady who had been speaking, a stunned expression on her face and, at once, Oliver interrupted them all.
“Ah, Lady Harsham, there you are. I see that you have a glass in your hand already, otherwise I would have offered to fetch you one.” He smiled as warmly as he could, but looked only at her, hoping that he had not overstepped and spoken when he ought to have left her to the conversation. “I would be glad to accompany you back to your seat. Lady Guilford sent me to find you, you see. I think she quite lost you in the crowd!”
Much to his relief, Lady Harsham gave him a small nod, a hint of a smile at her lips, the shock on her face fading.
“Lord Edenbridge, good evening. Howverygood it is to see you.”
