Page 21 of The Viscount's Forgery
“I cannot say,” Polly interrupted, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. “He says he needs a little more time, but given the conversations we have had so far, I think I have a good deal more hope than before.”
Eugenia squeezed her hand. “That is wonderful, Polly!”
“I am sure it is thanks to you,” Polly said, releasing Eugenia hand but reaching to embrace her instead. “I am truly sorry, Eugenia. I want not only to be a better sister but a kindersoul. That means, I need to be a good deal more careful in all that I say. And,” she finished, pulling back and looking into Eugenia’s eyes, “I do not hold anything against you. If you are a bluestocking, then I think that is wonderful, truly.”
Tears came into Eugenia’s eyes as she looked at her sister, seeing her in a new light. “Thank you, Polly.”
“And might I permit the thought that you may have a connection with Lord Suffolk?”
This made Eugenia’s heart quicken, her eyes rounding as she quickly shook her head. “No, my dear sister. There is nothing there, I can assure you.”
“No?” Polly’s eyes held hers steadily. “Lord Bothwell seemed to think that there was an interest there on Lord Suffolk’s part.”
“That would surprise me a great deal,” Eugenia answered, with a light smile, ignoring the sudden rush of excitement that ran through her veins, not understanding why she would feel such a way. “Given how he spoke to me recently, I am quite sure I can say no, there is not.”
Polly stepped back, her lips pulling flat. “Well, mayhap he too spoke out of turn, in a manner that he regrets, just as I have done,” she suggested, as Eugenia looked down at her hands. “All the same, I do hope that you will be able to make a good match very soon, Eugenia. I think you deserve a happy future with a gentleman who will adore you for all that you are.”
“Thank you, Polly.”
Surprised at the ache in her throat, Eugenia returned to her seat, hoping her sister would not see her threatening tears. Polly smiled and then quit the room, leaving Eugenia in silence, and with so many thoughts, it was difficult for her to comprehend even one. Her heart, however, remained lifted high and happy, glad to have a new connection with her sister, one that she had always hoped for. Everything that Polly said, Eugenia believed to be genuine, for she had never heard her sister speak in sucha way before, had never seen her sorrowful and apologetic. As for Lord Suffolk, however, Eugenia was quite uncertain about it all. Would he apologise as Polly had done? Or was their acquaintance now completely at an end?
9
I must apologize.
It was now three days since Nicholas had last seen Miss Eugenia Sherwood, three days since he had not been wracked with guilt, and three days since he had forgotten entirely about his forged paintings. The words he had said to Miss Sherwood had not left his mind in many days, the shock on her face pushing into his mind over and over and over again. The trouble was, he knew precisely why he had responded so, why he had spoken so sharply. The feelings that had run over him as he had looked into Miss Sherwood’s eyes had frightened him somewhat, stinging at him with their unfamiliarity, and it had been out of that those harsh words had come.
What does she think of me now? What will her friends think?
It was not that he felt afraid that thetonwould somehow think less of him for speaking as he did, not that he had given even a moment of consideration totheirpoint of view, but rather that Miss Sherwood’s view of him had changed dramatically – and not for the better. He had tried his best to continue throughsociety, to enjoy it as much as he ever had, but every place he went, every group of people he came to, he was looking only for her.
Making his way into Lord Abernathy’s ballroom, Nicholas could not help but hope that she was present. He could not have any certainty over her response to his apology, of course, but he had to hope that she would accept it, at the very least. There was a sense of longing in his heart, something he had been trying to remove from himself these last few days, but it had only grown instead. That was certainly disconcerting, but mayhap, if he apologized to her, then that feeling might fade entirely. It was the only thing he could hope for, at least.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?”
Nicholas stopped short, seeing Lord Greenlaw, Lord Marchfield, and Lord Hewitt all standing together. “Good evening, gentlemen.” He bowed quickly, having no desire to speak to any of his friends, not even Lord Bothwell, should he be present. “I must take my leave of you, alas. There is an urgent conversation that must be had, you understand.”
“It must be very urgent indeed if you will not even greet us properly!” Lord Marchfield chuckled. “Is it something to do with your soiree?”
That stopped Nicholas in his tracks, turning his full attention back to Lord Marchfield. His heart began to pound, afraid that somehow, his friends now knew of the forgeries on his wall. Had Miss Sherwood said something? He would not have expected her to do so, but then again, with his poor behavior towards her, mayhap that was precisely what she had chosen to do. “Whatever do you mean?” Choosing to keep his voice as steady as he could, he looked back at his friends. “What happened at my soiree?”
“Oh, you are pretending not to understand my meaning, I see!” Lord Marchfield chuckled, winking at Lord Hewitt. “It was Lord Hewitt who told us of it, my friend!”
Nicholas swallowed hard. “Of what?” he asked, aware that his voice sounded more like a demand now. “I do not know – ”
“You need not pretend,” Lord Hewitt interrupted, with a roll of his eyes. “Miss Fairfax made it quite plain that she was deeply delighted with your attention to her and, thereafter, that she was a good deallessdelighted with my conversation! That is the first time I think I have ever heard it said that you showed any sort of interest in any specific young lady!”
Relief swallowed him, and Nicholas managed to chuckle, shaking his head as he did so. “My dear Lord Hewitt, I was not showing Miss Fairfax any particular interest, I can assure you. I may have thought her a very enjoyable young lady to speak with, but that does not mean I have any interest in her! I am afraid that both you – and she also, mayhap – are quite mistaken there.”
This did not make Lord Hewitt frown, but instead, he smiled broadly. “Then you will not mind in the least ifIpursue her?”
“Not in the least,” Nicholas stated, quite firmly. “Pray excuse me. I must go to find… Lord Bothwell.” Seeing the curiosity in his friends’ eyes, Nicholas quickly changed the person of interest with whom he wished to speak, not wanting them to think anything as regarded his desire to speak with Miss Sherwood. They would not understand, and he had no intention of explaining himself! With another nod, he stepped away, his sole intention now fixed on Miss Sherwood.
The ball was filled with various gentlemen and ladies, and though many a young lady smiled at him, their eyes aglow, Nicholas did nothing more than nod. The only person he had to find was Miss Sherwood. He had no thought of dancing, no thought of conversation or the like. The only thing he wantedwas to find Miss Sherwood, to greet her, and then apologize profusely. Whatever came after, he did not care. At least he would be able to say what he knew he needed to say.
It felt as though he had been searching for her for nearly an hour, every minute that passed, an agony. A tight chest made it difficult to breathe with any ease, his hands curling tight as he weaved his way through the crowd.
And then, he spied her.
