Page 37 of A Spinster's Unexpected Marriage
Lord Radford looked at him for a long moment, his expression rather inscrutable only, thereafter, to smile though it was only brief. “It is not something I would like to discuss with you any further, I can assure you, though I am glad that you have taken what I threw at you to heart!”
Letting out a chuckle, James nodded at his friend. “I will accept that.”
“But you are looking for your betrothed?” Lord Radford lifted an eyebrow. “I have heard it said that you have set a date for your wedding.”
“Yes, that is so.” A broad smile settled on James’ face, bringing a look of surprise to Lord Radford’s expression. “I have decided that I am to marry Lady Newton and I am now looking forward – with a great eagerness – to my wedding day.”
Lord Radford blinked in obvious surprise. “Goodness, that was rather swift!”
“Your words helped,” James clarified. “It made me realise the truth and, thereafter, to accept it, even though I did not truly wish to.”
“Then your feelings for Lady Newton are legitimate.”
James nodded. “They are.” His smile grew larger. “And I want very much to go in search of her now so that we might tell the others present that the date has been set and the banns are to be read. I want an end to all this nonsense, to all these foolish attempts to escape. I will not turn from her and I hope that now, she will not turn from me either.”
To his relief, Lord Radford clapped him on the shoulder, a smile beginning to light his expression again. “I am delighted to hear it!” he exclaimed. “Then might I suggest that your betrothed could be in the gardens? There is such a crush in here this evening and I know that many of the ladies went to step outside. I have seen Lord Hampshire already this evening so they are certainly present.”
“I thank you. I will go at once. Do excuse me.”
“Of course.” Lord Radford stepped aside and James hurried past him, a sudden fervency in his heart. He made his way to the ballroom, seeing the French doors open at the other side which led out to the gardens and made his way there directly. His heart was beating rather quickly, a smile spreading right across his face as he thought of seeing Lady Newton again, of being in her company. It was as though, in admitting to himself what he felt for her, he now had a new freedom which coursed right through him, alleviating all sense of guilt, of frustration and of confusion. All he felt now was happiness.
The evening was already rather dark but a glorious full moon hung in the sky, giving a bright light to his surroundings. James breathed in the cool evening air, finding it a relief from the somewhat stuffy inner rooms. Looking all around, he meandered slowly through the gardens in the hope of seeing his betrothed, a little frustrated that he still could not find her.
“Lord Granton, is that you?”
Looking over his shoulder, James turned all the more fully towards the lady, not quite certain who it was. “Yes?”
“I thought that was you! My heart let out such a cry of joy upon seeing you that I had no choice but to follow after you!” Her hands found his and James immediately frowned, recognising that this wasnot LadyNewton as he had hoped. The voice was recognisable, however and James did his best to tug his hands away.
“Lady Lamberton.” Forcing a smile, he felt nervousness flood him, wanting to back away from her, suddenly afraid of being seen, of being overheard. He had never felt such a way before, having never given a moment’s thought to what thetonmight think of his behaviour but now, all he could think of was Lady Newton. “Do excuse me, I must – ”
“Excuse you?” Lady Lamberton laughed softly, shaking her head as she did so. “My dear Granton, I cannot let you go, not when we have such an opportunity as this!”
Recalling what he had said to her, recalling how he had promised that they would, once more, enjoy each other’s company once his engagement was at an end, James went hot all over. He no longer desired such a thing, had no thought of pursuing the lady. The only person he wanted to be near to was Lady Newton.
“There cannot be any furthering of our connection,” he said, keeping his voice low. “I do hope that – ”
“But we are in the gardens!” Lady Lamberton exclaimed, albeit in a quieter tone. Reaching out, she grasped his hand and tugged him away. Taken off guard, James stumbled, trying to regain his balance as Lady Lamberton continued to pull him after her. Quite where they were going, he did not know but everything in him began to scream a warning.
“Please!” Coming to a stop, he used his strength to pull Lady Lamberton back, barely able to make out her features any longer given the shadows of the tree above them. “There is no need for this. I must speak with you. Immediately.”
With a laugh, Lady Lamberton flung her arms around his neck, pulling herself close to him. “You do not want to go any further, such is your desperate need for my nearness, is that not so?”
“No, that is not so.” James reached up, trying to take her arms from about his neck, desperate to make her understand. “I quite forgot about our… conversation. I – ”
“Lord Granton?”
The voice which came to him, he recognised at once. It felt as though something slammed into his stomach as he breathed out long and hard, trying still to pull Lady Lamberton’s hands from around his neck though she only giggled and then flung herself forward against him, as though to hide herself from the prying eyes of whoever was watching.
“Forgive me for intruding but Lord Radford came out of doors and was surprised to see me, thinking that I would be in your company. I – I thought you might be inclined towards the shadows and came to find you.”
Recognising that, as she spoke, she was thinking of the last time they had been hidden in the shadows together, James finally managed to step back, loosening Lady Lamberton’s hands from his neck and moving her away from him. “Lady Newton, of course. I was just – ”
“Goodness, is this your betrothed?” Lady Lamberton laughed again, though this time it sounded rather breathless. “Oh, my!”
“Are you with someone?” Lady Newton came a little closer, her voice now wobbling just a little. “Is there something I am interrupting?”
“No, no,” James turned away from Lady Lamberton directly, his heart beginning to pound as fear began to tighten around his chest, making his breathing difficult. “That is to say, I did notmeanto be found in the shadows. I was merely trying to talk to Lady Lamberton.”
