Page 5 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Beast
“From what I remember, Lady Clara was not the most… considerate of young ladies.”
Lady Townsend shot her a quick look but then, after opening her mouth to perhaps disagree with Abigail wholeheartedly, sighed and let her shoulders drop. “No, she is not,” she admitted, quietly, “though do not let anyone outside this room know I have said such a thing! If you recall, Lady Clara is the daughter to the Earl of Templeton and thus, a very prestigious young lady andverywealthy also. It would not be wise to let any of thetonknow of our true thoughts as regards her.”
“I doubt we will be in the same sphere, Mama,” Abigail replied, reassuring her. “Lady Clara is somewhat aloof and does not involve herself with the daughters of Viscounts.”Especially not poor ones.
“That does sound like a great pity for the Beast of Crestwood Hall – I mean, the Earl of Crestwood.” Charlotte, now looking a little embarrassed, dropped her gaze to her embroidery. “To not only have been injured in the war but also to have had his betrothed break their engagement.”
“I am sure it was very painful,” Lady Townsend agreed, softly. “Though now he has come back to London and mayhap will be eager to seek out a bride for himself.”
“Though what young lady would wish to marry such a fellow?” Charlotte asked, as the very same question lodged itself in Abigail’s mind. “After all, it does not sound as though he is particularly amiable, if he has spent the last few years at home. And indeed, though I do not say it is his fault or that he ought to be blamed for such injuries, it seems to me as though the young lady who consents to marry him will have to accept that there will always be a gossip, whispers and the like whenever he setsfoot into society. Thetonwill always speak of his appearance and even his family, should he have any, will be known by who their father is.”
Abigail’s stomach twisted as she considered this, feeling herself sympathetic for the gentleman. “That is a great pity but I believe that you are quite right, Charlotte.”
“Indeed.”
The strange, softness of her mother’s voice had Abigail looking back at her with concern but her mother did not return her gaze. Instead, she nodded to herself and looked away from Abigail for a few minutes, leaving both Abigail and Charlotte to wonder what it was their mother was considering. Again, neither of them dared question it but there was certainly something that Lady Townsend was considering, given the way she paid very little heed to the conversation which had passed between them for the last few minutes.
“I have something.”
Without warning, Lady Townsend rose from her chair and hurried up towards the door.
“Mama?” Abigail asked, half rising out of her chair. “Whatever is the matter?”
Lady Townsend shook her head. “Nothing, nothing at all,” she replied, turning to smile at them both though her gaze quickly slid away from Abigail. “I must speak with your father at once.”
Abigail blinked then looked to Charlotte who, in turn, frowned and then shrugged her shoulders before returning to her embroidery. There was something unsettling in the way their mother had hurried away so quickly when they had been talking about Lord Crestwood and his prospects as regarded marriage. What was it her mother was thinking? And why had she had to speak to their father with such urgency? Swallowing hard, Abigail tried to rid herself of the knot in her stomach but it would not untwist. With a sigh, she picked up her embroidery again and tried to concentrate on what she was doing but the threads only tangled themselves together.
Frowning, Abigail sat back and let her embroidery fall to her lap. Whatever it was, her mother would soon make it plain, Abigail was sure. She only had to wait.
***
“Good evening, Miss Townsend.”
Abigail smiled and dropped into a curtsy, under the watchful eye of her mother. “Good evening, Lady Chesterton.”
The lady laughed and then, the moment Abigail rose, grasped her arm and fell into step with her, pulling her away from Lady Townsendwithout so much as a glance towards her. “We have finished our formalities, have we not? Now we can simply be contented in each other’s company. I am so very glad to see you again!”
“And I you,” Abigail replied, happy now to see her friend again. “It has been so many months since we last saw each other! Tell me how you are. Is your marriage all you had hoped for?”
“It is.” There was a warm glow in Lady Chesterton’s voice and Abigail tried to quieten the whisper of envy which immediately grew in her heart. “It is more than I had imagined could be, in fact! Lord Chesterton is the most wonderful gentleman and he loves me dearly.”
Abigail smiled. “As you love him,” she said softly, as her friend nodded. “I am very happy for you.”
“I thank you. Though I am quite determined thatthisSeason, given that I am now here as a married lady and do not require a chaperone, to giveyouas much of my attention as I can so that you might also find yourself a husband.”
There came a protest to Abigail’s lips but she did not speak it. “You are very kind, Harriet. However, I fear that might be rather difficult given that I have spent the last few Seasons attempting to do the very same and have found no gentleman to so much asglancein my direction.”
Lady Chesterton clicked her tongue and gave Abigail a somewhat sharp look. “You must not give up hope! You know as well as I that your father has not been the most considerate of gentlemen, has he? He has not done all he could to aid you in your search, though your mother has been most diligent.”
Abigail let out a slow breath and chose not to ignore her friend’s remarks but rather speak as honestly as she could. After all, Lady Chesterton had become a dear friend of hers over the last few years and saw things just as they stood. What reason would there be to hide the truth from her?
“My mother’s attentions will be focused on Charlotte,” she said, plainly. “I believe that my mother and father have both given up on me. Charlotte has made her debut and has already received more interest from the gentlemen of London than I have ever managed. She had three gentlemen callers yesterday afternoon and I myself had none.”
“That does not mean that you are somehow inadequate,” Lady Chesterton told her, firmly. “Do not let yourself think such a thing. You are different from your sister in so many ways but you do not lack in beauty. Your quiet spirit, your kind heart – it all is your beauty, Abigail. And all it requires is a specific gentleman to see that.”
Silently wondering which gentleman that might be, Abigail offered her friend a small smile and then looked away as they wandered through the ballroom. Much to her surprise, a quietness began to grow as theycontinued their steps, until all that could be heard was the music of the orchestra and a few quiet murmurings.
“Whatever is the matter?” Keeping her own tone low, Abigail looked around only for Lady Chesterton to grasp her arm tightly.
