Page 28 of Pursued Beyond Treachery
The maid ducked around John and took the flowers, allowing Lady Stanford to remain seated.
“Please have them placed in water.”
The maid dipped her head and left with the blooms.
Susannah opened her mouth to ask after Lady Stanford’s condition and whether she was well, but then bit back the words. It was not her place nor the time to be asking such personal questions, especially in the present company. If Lady Stanford wanted her to know, she would tell her.
“Now,” Lady Stanford said as if nothing unusual had happened. “I know you cannot have come to simply sit and listento Town gossip from a bunch of ladies. Tell me, Lord Newhurst, have you come to steal my husband away for the afternoon?”
John smiled. “Only if Your Ladyship will allow it.”
“I am not my husband’s keeper.”
Susannah nearly snickered, covering her mouth at the last second to keep the expression of mirth from disrupting the room. While laughter was not expressly forbidden in company, Lady Stanford had made it clear that it was not as acceptable in Town as in the country.
When her aunt’s dour expression turned to her, she was grateful for the warning. Aunt Guthrie seemed like the type of person prone to adhere strictly to societal dictates purely for the satisfaction of being able to look down on those who did not conform.
“Then I am free to go?” Sir Nathaniel asked from the doorway with a smirk. Everyone moved to rise, but he bid them stay. “I have only come to collect my friend, but I see he has found a better offer. I too would choose the company of so many eligible young ladies if I was not so happily situated.”
Miss Guthrie tittered and Miss Martha smiled, but Susannah’s attention was drawn to Lady Stanford. Her company smile had slipped and a look of horror entered her eyes as her hand came to her mouth.
Sir Nathaniel rushed to her side, helping her to her feet and ushering her out of the room. It was not fast enough, however, for they all heard her cast up her accounts in the hallway. Susannah grimaced at the sound.
She’d grown quite certain Lady Stanford was in the family way and this episode confirmed her suspicions.
Moments later, Sir Nathaniel entered again. “Please forgive my wife, she is unwell.”
“No forgiveness is necessary,” Aunt Guthrie said, a smug smile playing on her lips. “I remember those early days quite clearly,but we will say no more of this. Please do not let us keep you, Sir Nathaniel. I know you and Lord Newhurst have business to attend to.”
Miss Guthrie cast her mother a look of alarm, motioning with her head to Lord Newhurst, but Aunt Guthrie ignored her. Susannah on the other hand, noticed everything. Her cousin obviously had decided to pursue John and it aggravated her.
“Thank you, we did have plans for this afternoon, but in light of my wife’s current condition I am not inclined to keep our fencing engagement.”
John set his cup down. “I completely understand. In that case, perhaps I should go. I have several papers to look over before next week's meetings, and I’d like to be more informed on the naturalizations for this year.”
“You are not leaving already?” Miss Guthrie asked.
“I am afraid I must, but I shall see you all this evening at the Fortescues’.”
So her cousin’s information had been correct. The knowledge rankled, but not as much as John’s smooth speech. How had he managed to speak so evenly to her cousin, and yet could hardly put two sentences together when in her presence?
Aunt Guthrie rose, her expression grim. “I had not noticed the time. We should also be leaving, for our quarter hour is up.”
Half hour to be exact, but there was no point in bringing the time to her aunt’s attention. Instead, she would rejoice in their departure.
Miss Guthrie quickly crossed to John’s side. “Might we walk out with you, Your Lordship?”
John hesitated, then nodded, offering his arm to the young woman. Susannah frowned. Perhaps she was not happy they were leaving so soon.
To add salt to her wounds, that evening Sir Nathaniel informed her they would not be attending the soiree, Lady Stanford still being kept to her bed by illness.
Susannah went to bed trying not to think of what John might be doing, but it was no use. Her thoughts continually returned to him as she tried to sleep. Was he even now sitting with her cousin, discussing some interesting word or describing his latest painting?
Those had been things they had spoken freely of before his tour of the continent.
What if her cousin found those subjects as interesting as she did? What if she found John as interesting?
Susannah grit her teeth. How could anyone not find him interesting? He was talented in a way she’d never be, well read, and ever thirsting after new knowledge.
