Mr. Barnes looked oddly surprised. He glanced over his shoulder, at what or whom, Martha couldn’t see, before turning back to her.
“Can it be?” he asked, sounding incredulous. “Do you really not know?”
Martha shook her head, beginning to get impatient. The mystery of Lady Cordelia’s significance was beyond her, and she was tiring of it.
“Know what?” she asked.
Mr. Barnes looked as though he was contemplating something for a long moment. Martha wondered if he might change his mind about whatever he was about to say. She hadn’t been terribly interested in Lady Cordelia’s arrival. But now, with Mr. Barnes going out of his way to bring her up, and acting so mysterious about her, her curiosity was rising.
Finally, he glanced around conspiratorially. Then, he pulled Martha just a little bit closer so he could keep his voice down.
“Albert and Lady Cordelia used to be betrothed,” he said. “However, after the carriage accident, Lady Cordelia left Albert.”
Martha felt her mouth go dry. She tried to keep a casual expression as she sought more information.
“Was it an arranged marriage?” she asked.
Mr. Barnes eyes widened, and he shook his head firmly.
“Oh, by all means, no,” he said with a chuckle. “Lady Cordelia was the love of Albert’s life.” He paused, heaving a heavy sigh. “Such a shame, really. Those two made such a lovely couple, and the entire ton could see how happy they were.”
Martha’s heart was racing. Why had Lord Billington never told her that he had been betrothed before?
“Did she flee London after their relationship ended?” she asked.
Mr. Barnes shrugged.
“You could say that,” he said. “She married a wealthy marquess, and they went to live overseas.”
Martha shook her head, confused.
“Well, if she’s married, and living with her husband overseas, why would she be here?” she asked.
He gave her a slow smile that, for a reason she couldn’t explain, unnerved her.
“She’s recently widowed,” he said. “I believe she’s come to live with her brother, who will take up guardianship of her. Unless, of course, she was to remarry.”
Martha felt faint. She also felt foolish for thinking that there could ever be more between Lord Billington and her besides their arranged marriage. Lady Cordelia was the very definition of beauty. It wasn’t hard at all for her to see why the viscount had fallen in love with her. But why hadn’t her parents told her all this? Did they not know? Or had they intentionally left out such details, in case Martha tried to refuse the viscount as her husband?
Martha was so busy trying to process the information that Mr. Barnes had just given her that she missed a step in the dance. Before she knew it, she was trampling all over his feet. She looked at him, horrified, the color draining from her face.
“Oh, please, forgive me,” she said. “I hope I didn’t hurt you.”
He shook his head, his face wearing a mask of concern.
“Not at all, Miss Elwood,” he said. “Are you all right?”
Martha nodded, even before she could find words to respond. She couldn’t make a scene. And she didn’t want to let Lord Billington’s cousin see that the news he had given her had rattled her so. She wasn’t sure she trusted him. But she also didn’t want him to say anything to the viscount. She wanted to talk to him herself. Unless Lady Cordelia got to him first.
“I am terribly embarrassed,” she said truthfully. “But yes, I am fine. I just got a bit clumsy,that is all.”
Mr. Barnes studied her, and Martha was sure he knew she was lying. Sure enough, a second later, he gave her a sheepish look.
“Oh, I do hope that I didn’t upset you too much with all that gossip,” he said. “Perhaps, it wasn’t my place to mention any of it to you. I certainly didn’t mean to cause any harm.”
Martha shook her head, forcing herself to smile.
“Not at all,” she said. “It is new information. But it’s fine. I am fine.”
