Soon after the lady’s arrival, Lord Billington was spotted speaking to her privately, with both of them looking very comfortable with one another. This comes as no surprise, as Miss Elwood could never compare to Lady Cordelia’s beauty. It seems that the viscount never had any true desire to marry Miss Elwood, but that he was seeking to settle. And who better to choose than a near spinster wallflower?
There was more, but Albert couldn’t read on. Because of him, the ton was teasing Miss Elwood and making a mockery of his courtship with her. The latter, he supposed, he should have expected. He had also treated his courtship with her as a joke. But he could have never guessed what chain of events would unfold. And he certainly could have never imagined that he would actually have feelings for Miss Elwood.
Albert rested the page in his lap, staring off into space. He was horrified reading the words, but not because they hurt him. The ton had said everything they could possibly say about him to berate him. But he knew that Miss Elwood would see what was written about her. He shook his head, guilt racking his body.
“Are you all right?” Neil asked softly. There was no hint of teasing or ribbing, as his friend often did when Albert seemed down. There was only concern and caring, and more warmth than Albert felt he deserved right then.
“No,” he said quietly. “Miss Elwood doesn’t deserve this. And it’s all my fault.”
Neil scooted closer to Albert and patted him on the back.
“Nonsense,” he said. “You didn’t write those things. And you couldn’t have known what was going to happen.”
Albert shook his head.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “If I was never in Miss Elwood’s life, this wouldn’t be an issue. None of this would have happened, and the ton wouldn’t be treating her this way. I knew I should have never let Father make me agree to this arrangement. I knew it all along.”
The room fell silent again for a minute, punctured only by Rachel moving closer to Albert, too. She reached out and put her hand over his, looking at him intently.
“Do you love Miss Elwood?” Rachel asked.
Albert lifted his head and looked at his friends. Just days prior, he would have rejected the notion vehemently, denying all ability to have feelings for Miss Elwood. But after what he had been thinking the night before, he knew it was a lie. And he realized that, after everything that was happening, there was no point in lying.
Reluctantly, he nodded.
“Yes,” he whispered. “Yes, I do.”
He could hear Neil’s mouth fall open, but Rachel simply gave him a nod.
“Well, if that’s the case, then now is the time to tell her how you feel,” she said. “You know that you do not love Cordelia. And we know it. But Miss Elwood does not. And that, I believe, is your biggest concern within those scandal sheets.”
Albert shook his head, sighing.
“I doubt she will want anything to do with me,” he said. “She got teased far worse than just by the notion that I might still love Cordelia. And besides, she must be furious with me for not telling her about Cordelia sooner.”
Rachel gave him a warm, reassuring smile.
“I know Miss Elwood better than that,” she said. “And I believe that you do, too. That’s not in her nature. She will hear you. She will listen. Even if she is hurt, she will allow you to explain.”
Albert looked at Rachel, not daring to feel too hopeful.
“But what if she doesn’t love me, too?” he asked.
Rachel shrugged, her smile spreading.
“I don’t think you need to be concerned about that,” she said cryptically.
Albert tilted his head, preparing to ask her what she meant. But Neil gently pulled Albert to his feet, nudging him toward the drawing room door.
“What if she does love you, too?” he asked.
Chapter Thirty
Martha was completely silent as Lily dressed her the following morning. She wasn’t even sure she understood what happened the previous night. However, she knew that people reacted very strongly to Lord Billington leaving the ballroom as he had. And afterward, many people had been staring at her, especially as she and her parents had left the ball. She also knew that he had been talking to his former lover for everyone present to see. And he had only fled after he saw her looking at them.
“Oh, Miss Elwood,” Lily said, pausing as she helped her into her pale blue day dress. “I do hate to see you in such duress. What he did to you was wrong and distasteful. I’m so sorry this is happening.”
Martha shook her head, giving her maid a weak smile.
