Page 22 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Beast
A slight curl to Lord Crestwood’s lip had Abigail’s heart lurching. “Lady Clara means nothing to me, Miss Townsend, though sheisthe reason that I shall never again permit my heart to be affected. I say so bluntly and boldly for it is as I have said to you before so it comes as no surprise. If there was to be any reinstating of our connection, I would not have agreed to this engagement then, would I?”
The way he spoke had Abigail dropping her head, embarrassment burning up into her face.
“Though,” Lord Crestwood continued, his tone suddenly gentling, “I am sorry that Lady Templeton spoke to you in such a way. That must have been rather difficult.”
Abigail looked up at him again, relieved now to see that his expression had softened. “It was, rather.”
“Then I do apologise for that. Lady Templeton and Lady Clara did come to speak with both myself and my mother a little prior to the ball though I myself did not linger in conversation. I can assure you, Miss Townsend, that I have no intention of having even a familiarity with Lady Clara and there shall certainly be no connection between us again. I am engaged toyouand that is what I want. I certainly do not want to return to Lady Clara’s side, not after her injuries to me which were so very grievous.”
Abigail’s heart tugged and, much to her surprise, her mother rose and quietly excused herself, though she left the door ajar and promised to return within a few minutes. It was most unusual and unexpected for Lady Townsend to do such a thing though, when Abigail looked back to Lord Crestwood, his expression had not changed in the least.
“I do not think… ” Pausing for a moment, Abigail drew in her strength and spoke as honestly as she could. “I know why Lady Clara ended your engagement and I am sorry for it. I cannot imagine the suffering you must have endured.”
Lord Crestwood looked away. “It was almost too difficult to be borne, at times.”
Realizing that they were beginning to have the very beginnings of a prolonged and rather more intimate conversation than they had ever had before, Abigail continued on, her heart beating a little more quickly than before. “Is that why you did not come back to town? Why you remained at your estate?”
Slowly, his gaze came back towards her. “Would you wish to come back to London when you look as I do?”
Abigail tilted her head and did not pull her gaze away, did not let the twinge of warmth in her cheeks dissuade her from speaking honestly. “I cannot imagine, Lord Crestwood. Though you have the courage to do so now.”
“And still everyone stares,” he muttered, pushing one hand through his hair. “And you are to be shouldered with that burden very soon, Miss Townsend.” The mirthless smile on his face filled her heart with sadness and all of a sudden, she was filled with the great desire to hurry across the room towards him and take his hand in hers.
Instead, she remained where she was. “It is no burden,” she said, quietly. “Those who stare do so because they have no sensible thought in their heads nor compassion within their hearts. To my mind, it is not how someone appears which is of any consideration but rather their heart. Their character can be the most beautiful in all of the world even though they may not be the most beautiful in appearance.”
Lord Crestwood smiled and for the first time, light came into his eyes and changed his entire expression.
“You would do well in Captain Harrington’s company, Miss Townsend. He says the same thing.”
“Then we must be right,” she quipped, only for Lord Crestwood to laugh out loud.
Abigail’s breath caught. It was the very first time she had seen him laugh and if his smile had illuminated his features, his laugh altered them completely. There came a brightness into his blue eyes that reminded her of the sky on a clear day, his eyebrows lifted and his whole demeanor seemed to change. He was no longer sitting stiffly in the chair but rather he appeared much more relaxed with his shoulders rounding a little. Her own smile grew and she looked back into his eyes, noticing how little she cared about the scars on his cheek.
Lord Crestwood could be an entirely different gentleman from the one he portrayed, she was sure of it. He only had to permit himself to be so.
“Will the Captain be joining us for the house party?”
Lord Crestwood nodded, the smile still lingering on his face. “I do not think my sister would be contented without his presence, Miss Townsend.”
Abigail nodded though she did not say a word in response to this. She had noticed the interest between the two and had wondered at it for Lady Isabella had come to London for the Season, had she not? And in addition, Captain Harrington – for all that he was a worthy gentleman – was a good deal less in title than Lady Isabella and Abigail had expectedthe Earl of Crestwood to baulk at even ahintof a match being made between them. Given what he had just said now, she was no longer sure.
“I may invite one or two other acquaintances but I am not certain as yet,” the Earl continued. “It might be pleasing for us to have only family so we might get to know each other a little better.”
“I met one of your acquaintances recently,” Abigail remembered aloud. “Lord Drover, I think his name was? He was very pleased to make my acquaintance and indeed, offered me sincere congratulations.”
In an instant, the easy manner which had run through the Earl’s demeanor changed. He sat bolt upright, his gaze sharpened and his shoulders straightened. “Lord Drover spoke to you?”
Abigail nodded slowly, a little perturbed now that she had upset him so greatly. “Forgive me, I did not know – ”
“Lord Drover is a sly, cunning gentleman who will do anything he can to injure me.”
Surprise filled her. “Is that so? Why?”
“I have never known,” came the response. “But you must give me your word you will stay away from him.”
There was no desire within her to disagree or to argue. “Of course.”
“What did he say to you?” Lord Crestwood pushed himself closer to the edge of the chair but his voice did not appear to be filled with anger but rather concern. “Was there anything untoward?”
