Page 29 of A Spinster's Unexpected Marriage
Squeezing her eyes closed, Martha dampened down her swirling emotions and took in a deep breath, steeling herself inwardly. Thishadto be something that she forgot, that she set aside rather than continuing to think on. Any emotions as regarded the Marquess of Granton would be best pushed aside, stamped out and completely forgotten.
“My dear!”
Martha turned, seeing her mother looking at her from the doorway. “Yes, Mama?”
“Miss Stockton has come to call, as well as Lord Childers and Lord Billington. Are you able to come and join them? They are waiting in the drawing room.”
“Oh, of course.” Martha made her way quickly from the library, the book she had previously chosen to read hastily set on a small table by the door before she stepped out into the hallway.
“I do wonder why two gentlemen have come to call on you,” her mother said, looking to Martha with a slight frown. “That is a little unusual, is it not?”
“Perhaps, though they may have been in company with Miss Stockton somewhere and decided to join her,” Martha explained, a faint hope beginning to grow in her chest. “I know that Miss Stockton and Lord Childers have often been in company of late.” She smiled to herself as her mother’s eyes brightened. “I am hopeful, as you seem to be, that Lord Childers might soon be eager to court Miss Stockton, which would make me very happy indeed.”
“As I would be,” Lady Hampshire answered, having become very fond of Miss Stockton over the last few weeks. “I think it a great pity what took place with her betrothed and her sister.”
“Though she seems glad of it,” Martha answered, coming to the drawing room. “Are you to join us, Mama?”
Her mother shook her head. “I will leave you with the maid for a short while, since there are so many of you. I am sure you would like to talk to your friends without your mother being present!” She smiled and settled one hand on Martha’s arm. “But I will return before they depart. Now, off you go. I will have a tea tray sent up.”
Martha smiled and then stepped into the drawing room, seeing her three guests rising to their feet to greet her. “Forgive me for the delay in coming to join you,” she said, warmly. “I was in the library and, to be truthful, I was not expecting any callers.”
“No? Not even your betrothed?” Lord Billington asked, rising from his bow as a funny little smile crossed his face. “I would have thought that you would have been very eager indeed for Lord Granton to come to join you.”
“I am seeing him at Hyde Park later today,” Martha explained, wondering why he had made such a remark. “But I am glad for the company, of course!” She sat down and told them all that the tea tray would soon be coming, seeing Miss Stockton smiling at her though she could not quite understand the glint in her friend’s eye.
“I was walking with Miss Stockton this afternoon,” Lord Childers said, by way of explanation. “She thought to call upon you and since I was in her company and had nothing else to entertain me, I thought to join her. I do hope that does not inconvenience you?”
“Of course not.” Martha tilted her head and looked to Lord Billington, wondering what had caused him to come to call on her. “I am glad to see you all.”
A smile passed between Lord Billington and herself but rather than making Martha feel at all contented or happy, she felt herself a little uncertain. It was not that she was not pleased to have his attention, but rather that the smile on his face spoke of something more than just a mere interest in her acquaintance. A little unsure as to why she was feeing this way, Martha busied herself with the tea, pouring it for each of them as the conversation flowed. She nodded and smiled as she set out the tea, still feeling Lord Billington’s eyes upon her.
“Might I ask, Lady Newton, if you would like to join me in my carriage on the way to Hyde Park?” he asked, as she sat back down. “Lord Childers and Miss Stockton are to join me also, so we shall make a very merry party!”
Martha found herself hesitating rather than accepting immediately. Something about the way he was looking at her was giving her cause for concern even though, as she reminded herself, there was nothing to be concerned about! This was what they had hoped for, what she herself had wanted! She had been eagerly desiring another gentleman’s attentions, had been hoping for another to be interested in her company so that, mayhap, that would be the impetus for the ending of her engagement to the Marquess of Granton… but now that such a thing was happening, now that she found herself in this particular position, Martha was entirely uncertain as to what she ought to do. It felt strange, perhaps even wrong, to be smiling and encouraging Lord Billington’s attentions when she was already engaged, even though this was just as Lord Granton himself had hoped it would be! Why, then, was she holding herself back? Why, then, was she so reluctant to accept his smiles and his offer?
“I am sure that would be a lovely ride,” she said, slowly, seeing Miss Stockton nod in what was clearly meant to be an encouraging manner. “I will consider it, of course, but I must first ask my Mama, given that she was to accompany me this afternoon.”
“I quite understand,” he told her, as Martha reached to sip her tea. “But I do hope that permission will be given. It would be most enjoyable for us all!”
Martha kept her smile fixed, hoping that it looked genuine, though inwardly, she found herself questioning why she was fighting against this so much. Lord Billington was a handsome gentleman with a good title and, no doubt, an excellent fortune and should he express an interest in her, should he desire to steal her away from Lord Granton, then that would be all that she had hoped for. Taking in a deep breath, she let it out again slowly and then reached for her tea, determined that, so long as her mother agreed, shewouldgo in the carriage with Lord Billington. It might bring her all that she had told herself she wanted.
***
“You were quite correct, it seems, Lord Billington!” Lord Childers smiled as he offered his arm to Miss Stockton who had just descended from the carriage. “It was amostenjoyable carriage ride. I do not know when I last found a carriage ride so agreeable, in fact!”
Martha shared a small smile with Miss Stockton, whose face had gone a very pretty shade of pink. She had no doubt that Lord Childers was rather interested in prolonging his time in Miss Stockton’s company and this was one of the ways he was seeking to express that. From Martha’s perspective, she did not think it long until they were courting and Martha was very glad indeed for her friend.
“It is very busy today, is it not?” she asked, looking out at the crowds standing talking to each other in the park. “I do not think that I have ever seen it as thronged as this!”
“Then you have not been to the fashionable hour very often, Lady Newton,” Lord Billington replied with a quiet chuckle. “I do not think it too busy myself but all the same, there will be many acquaintances for us to speak with, I am sure. Should you like to walk with me for a few minutes, Lady Newton?”
Martha looked again to Miss Stockton but her friend was busy laughing at something Lord Childers had said and did not seem to even notice Martha glancing at her. Uncertainty reared its head again and Martha pressed her lips together, seeing Lord Billington’s quizzical look, no doubt wondering what was taking her so long to answer.
“Of course,” she said, eventually, seeing Lord Billington’s immediate smile as he set out his arm for her to take. “But we should stay near Miss Stockton or my mother, who should be here presently.”
“I quite understand.” Lord Billington’s eyes gleamed as she took his arm, aware of the way she reared back inwardly upon doing so. “Now, Lady Newton, you must tell me something and I would beg of you to speak the truth for I confess myself to be most intrigued.”
Martha glanced at him but then looked away again, aware that she felt nothing whatsoever when she looked up into his eyes. “And what is that, Lord Billington?”
