Page 33 of A Spinster's Unexpected Marriage
“You were foolish enough to speak with a confidence you did not have.” Lord Radford folded his arms over his chest. “We may be friends, Lord Granton, we may even be rogues together but that does not mean that you can dismiss me in such a brusque manner.” Turning away, he threw his final few words over his shoulder. “I did not think that your arrogance and your superiority would ever be used against me.”
James wanted to say something more, wanted to call his friend back and to tell him that he was sorry, that he had not meant to cause any sort of injury but the words would not come. Closing his eyes, James let out a long breath, finding himself twisting up inside. What had started off as a conversation that brought him relief now left him feeling all the worse. There was no gladness now, no sense of happiness that he had finally been able to speak of all that troubled him. Instead, James wrestled now with the heavy weight of not only his feelings for Lady Newton but his embarrassment and regret at how he had injured his friend. Instead of making anything better, all he had done in speaking so simply added to his burden.
Letting his gaze drift to the floor, James set his jaw, refusing to let the emotions within his heart overwhelm him. He could sort this matter out, could he not? He could find a way through this difficulty, making certain that all would return to as it had been at the very start of the Season. He would apologise to Lord Radford, would ignore his own feelings for Lady Newton and wait for them to pass, as they soon would once she was engaged to someone else. That was all that he wanted, all that hetrulydesired… wasn’t it?
Chapter Eighteen
“Lord Billington has come to call on you very frequently.”
Martha forced a small smile as her mother looked at her with obvious concern written on her face. “Yes, he has.”
“That is another visit just finished,” Lady Hampshire continued, gesturing to the door where Lord Billington had only just walked through. “I think it rather strange that a gentleman would come to call on a lady who is already betrothed. That is a little strange, is it not?”
Martha shrugged. “I suppose so, but it is not as though I can refuse him, Mama.”
“And have you informed your betrothed of this?”
A prickling ran over Martha’s skin. “I have not thought it a concern, no, though he did come upon Lord Billington and myself walking together in Hyde Park recently,” she admitted. “He did not appear to be in any way concerned.”
“No?” Lady Hampshire shook her head, looking away from Martha for a few moments. “I find that rather surprising also. I would have thought that a gentleman such as he would be most insistent that his betrothed remains byhisside rather than going along with any gentleman.”
Martha’s shoulders dropped a little. “Mama, in case you have forgotten, this is not a love match. Lord Granton is not at all concerned about our connection or the like. To his mind, I doubt that there is anything of concern there. He would be glad, I think, if another gentleman would show an interest in me.”
At this remark, Lady Hampshire’s eyebrows flung themselves upwards, her eyes rounding suddenly. “Pray tell me that you do not think that Lord Granton would end your engagement!”
“I… I do not think that he would unless there was a good reason for it,” Martha said slowly, not certain as to whether or not her mother would understand what she meant. “What if Lord Billington should find himself drawn to me in a way that Lord Granton is not? Would you not prefer me to be engaged to Lord Billington rather than Lord Granton?”
Her mother’s eyes flew wide. “I beg your pardon, Martha? Are you trying to tell me that there is a hope within your heart that you might wed Lord Billington instead of Lord Granton?”
A little surprised at how shocked her mother seemed to be, Martha nodded slowly, choosing to say nothing.
“I – I do not know what to say.” Lady Hampshire blinked furiously, turning her head away so she could gaze out of the window rather than look at Martha. “I understand that you do not think well of Lord Granton but you cannot bring such a shame upon yourself!”
“Shame?” Confused, Martha shook her head. “Mama, there could be no shame in finding myself engaged to a gentleman who might truly care for me. Thetonmight be a little surprised, yes, but I do not think that such a thing would bring any sort of prolonged embarrassment.”
“No?” Her mother shook her head. “My dear, you would always be remembered as the young lady who turned her back on her engagement, on the gentleman who cared for her and, by her own selfish will, broke his heart and turned into the arms of another! There would be those who would wonder if you would, in any way, continue with such a pattern of behaviour, even within your own marriage.”
Heat rippled up Martha’s spine but she held herself steady. “Even if thetonwere to say such things of me, I do not think that their whispers would compare with being wed to a rogue.”
“But Lord Granton cares for you!” Her mother threw up her hands, clearly confused. “He has made it quite clear to all of society! The way he has turned from his previous roguish ways, the obvious regard he has for you means that you would be breaking his heart by doing such a thing as this! And for what? For a gentleman that you do not even know?”
Martha pressed her lips together, having never once realised that her mother thought that Lord Granton’s consideration was genuine. Of course, she realised, her mother would have been watching all that had been taking place between them and, clearly, now believed all that the Marquess had been saying.
“I will not permit you to break your engagement and neither will your father,” Lady Hampshire finished, a sense of triumph in her voice as she looked back into Martha’s face. “You may not be aware of this, my dear, but Lord Billington does not have a wonderful reputation either.”
Martha frowned. “I hardly think – ”
“He is as much a gambler as your father was.” Lady Hampshire’s eyes flew wide. “I did wonder why you wanted to go to watch the phaeton race. Lord Billington was the one who arranged it all, was he not?”
Nodding slowly, Martha’s frown deepened.
“I presume, then, that you are aware that he lost a great deal of coin in that?”
Hesitating, Martha tried to shrug even though the warning her mother was attempting to press into her began to take root in her heart. “I do not know how much it was. He raced for the enjoyment of it, that is all.”
“Or so you believe. As I have said to you, you do not know this gentleman. Nor do I, for that matter, but I would advise you stronglynotto think well of a gentleman who throws himself into gambling. I would not see you in the same difficulties that I have faced, my dear.” Her voice and expression softening, Lady Hampshire leaned forward a little in her chair. “I understand that the way your engagement came about must have been very concerning indeed but can you not also see that he has changed his ways?”
“I do not know him well enough to know whether or not such a change will be long lasting,” Martha said, choosing not to inform her mother about the pretence which the Marquess had chosen to play. “You must understand my position, Mama. For all I know, the Marquess could be doing such a thing simply to make certain that thetonthink well of him and so, do not question what happened the night he and my father played cards. Have you not considered that?”
