Page 13 of Enamored with a Brooding Earl
The gentleman shook his head, beaming at Lord Thurston. “No, indeed not. However, Iamto reside for a time in a small manor house which is nearby somewhere. It belongs to a friend of mine, Lord Grayson.”
Lord Thurston’s eyebrows lifted. “Lord Grayson has gone to London for the Season.”
“Yes, and has granted me permission to reside in his manor house here,” the gentleman explained. “It is still some miles away from what I understand.”
Lord Thurston nodded. “Five miles from here,” he said, making James’ brows drop low as the gentleman’s smile finally began to fade. “It will still take you some time to reach there. Might I ask why you have such an urgency? You will need to be careful with your horses. The road can be a little stony in places and they will need to be cautious… unless you want a lame horse.”
The gentleman nodded, now looking rather solemn. “I quite understand. Thank you. I will tell the driver to be more careful.” His smile returned. “As regards for the urgency, it is because I am very keen to become reacquainted with an old acquaintance who resides nearby. I am coming without their knowledge, so it shall be something of a surprise so I must beg of you not to tell anyone that you have seen me!”
James’ brows dropped even lower. Who was this gentleman? What acquaintance did he have around here? There was something about the glint in the gentleman’s eyes and the broad, confident smile which whispered of arrogance and James did not much like pride in someone’s character.
“We do not know your name, so how can we say anything?” he asked, as the gentleman laughed. “Though mayhap we ought to be introduced?” He inclined his head. “The Earl of Calverton and my friend, Lord Thurston.”
The gentleman bowed. “Well, so long as I have your promise of silence, I shall introduce myself.” He looked first at Lord Thurston and then to James, who, after a moment, both gave him a small nod. With a smile, the gentleman bowed again. “The Marquess of Barlington, at your service. And now that introductions have been made, I must take my leave of you! I amsure we shall see each other again very soon at some soiree or some such thing, given that you are clearly well acquainted with everyone else in this desolate place! Good afternoon to you both!”
With a cheery wave, Lord Barlington climbed back into his carriage which, after a moment, began to rattle along the road though, much to James’ relief, at a much slower pace. With a shake of his head, he looked to Lord Thurston, only to see his friend’s eyes wide with shock.
“Thurston? What is it?”
Lord Thurston blinked. “Do you not know that name?”
James shook his head slowly, only for a sudden recollection to hit him, hard. “Oh, no.”
“Yes. That was the gentleman who broke off his engagement to Lady Temperance, once he saw the injury that she had sustained from her fall.”
James closed his eyes briefly, fighting the furious urge to ride after the carriage and, once it had stopped, demand to know whether the person who was not expecting to see Lord Barlington was, in fact, Lady Temperance herself.
“You think that she does not know of his arrival,” Lord Thurston murmured, as James nodded. “Yes, I think I would agree with that.” He looked at James, one eyebrow lifted. “We did say that we would keep his secret, that we would not tell anyone of his arrival.”
James scoffed immediately, his concern for Lady Temperance pushing aside everything else. “I have every intention of making certain she is aware of it,” he stated, as Lord Thurston nodded. “It may be that she is already aware and mayhap it is someone else that the gentleman spoke of but, to be certain of it I have every intention of telling her of his arrival.”
“Be cautious when you do so,” Lord Thurston warned. “It will come as a great shock. She and Penelope are very dear friends and I know the great injury that his rejection caused Lady Temperance.”
James nodded, glancing to the path and wondering if he ought to go to speak with her now rather than wait for the soiree this evening. “You will excuse me, Thurston?”
His friend’s eyes flickered. “You wish to talk to Lady Temperance now?”
“I do. I think it would be best to do so at this moment rather than at the soiree. She may be overwhelmed and the soiree would be ruined for her.”
Lord Thurston smiled briefly. “That is a wise thought. I hope she will still come to the soiree but yes, I think it would be wisest to make her aware of his presence now. I will see you this evening.”
“Thank you, old friend.” Without another word, James clicked to his horse, pushing it into a canter again. The urgency which drove him sent fire into his veins and as he came upon the house, his heart began to beat furiously. What would she say to this news? Would she be overcome with shock or fright? Or would she quietly be glad of Lord Barlington’s arrival, perhaps hoping that their broken engagement might recover again?
Chapter Nine
“Temperance? Might you be able to join me for a cup of tea?”
Tilting her head to study her current work, Temperance paused and then nodded. “Yes, Aunt. I will join you in a few moments.”
“Excellent. I – I have had another note from your mother, sent the day before she and your father left their home to travel here.”
Hearing the note of concern in her aunt’s voice, Temperance turned her head to look back at her. “They have not changed their plans, have they?”
Her aunt shook her head. “No, though… well, it does not matter. I will talk to you about the letter over tea.” She withdrew and Temperance’s frown lingered as she turned back to her painting. She did not know why but her fingers had itched to paint a single, solitary figure on the shoreline – though it was not herself that she drew. It was a gentleman, broad shouldered with a fine hat upon his head… and Temperance knew all too well that she had been thinking of Lord Calverton as she had drawn it. Quite why she had drawn him standing on the shore, she did not know but without his presence there, the painting had felt incomplete.
Smiling a little ruefully to herself, Temperance turned and, setting her paintbrush down, made her way to the drawing room where her aunt would be waiting. It was just as well she did not show her work to anyone save her aunt, for what would Lady Calverton or even Lord Calverton himself say, should he see it? Would he recognize himself? And if he did, what would he think of her painting him into the scene? Flushing with embarrassment at the very thought, Temperance stepped into the parlor, only to come to a sudden stop.
The very same gentleman she had only just been thinking of was seated beside her aunt and, as Temperance came into the room, he rose to greet her, bowing at the waist.
