Page 16 of Enamored with a Brooding Earl
“It is a little worse than that,” James answered, shaking his head as his friend picked up the other cue. “Her mother appears to be in favour of it.”
“In favour?” Lord Thurston’s astonishment was evident in his wide eyes. “Goodness, whatever would she be in favour of it for? That gentleman caused her daughter a great deal of pain.”
James shook his head. “I do not pretend to understand, my friend.”
“That must pain the lady a great deal.”
“I presume it does. You should have seen her expression when I told her that Lord Barlington had returned.”
Lord Thurston tutted at the thought and then went to pour them both a snifter of brandy. “Here.”
James accepted it with gladness. “I thank you.”
“Might I ask you something?” Lord Thruston tilted his head as a cry of laughter rang through to them from the drawing room. “When it comes to Lady Temperance, might it be that there is a slight… interest there?”
James’ eyebrows lifted. “Interest?”
“She intrigues you, does she not?”
“Intrigues me is perhaps not the right word for it,” James answered, finding there to be no difficulty in telling his friend the truth. “I find her… remarkable.”
Lord Thurston smiled. “My wife would agree with you there. She has endured such a great deal and yet she has not shied away entirely. Yes, she is a little reserved and it did take some time for her to trust Penelope and myself, but since that bond has been formed, Lady Temperance has spoken honestly to Penelope about a great many things. I know that her heart has been shattered not only by the accident but also by Lord Barlington’s rejection of her. I also know – and I do not think that this is betraying a confidence – that her sisters showed her very little sympathy and her mother was quite insistent that she return to society once she was recovered.”
James scowled “That speaks of a lack of understanding.”
“Indeed. If it had not been for her aunt and her insistence that Lady Temperance should move here, I do not know what else the lady would have been forced to endure. To know now that Lord Barlington hopes that they will be able to resume their engagement does make me worry for the lady even more.”
“As do I,” James agreed, quietly. “She is happy this evening, but I fear that the happiness will not last long.”
“Unless she finds another means of happiness,” Lord Thurston suggested, a slight glint in his eye as he looked to James, one eyebrow arching. “If you truly find her remarkable then mayhap…”
James shook his head. “I do not know the lady very well as yet,” he said, firmly. “For the moment, I am glad simply to be an acquaintance and though that is all I might ever be, I am still determined to do whatever I can to defend her – to protect her, if I must – from the likes of Lord Barlington and his no-doubt dark intentions.”
Someone cleared their throat and James turned sharply, seeing none other than Lady Temperance standing there. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes darting from one side of the room to the other as she clasped her hands in front of her, clearly a little embarrassed.
James closed his eyes and, after a moment, took a sip of his brandy simply so that he would not have to speak. How much had she overheard? How long had she been standing there?
“Lord Thurston, your wife begged me to tell you that we are quite ready for supper,” she said, her voice very quiet indeed. “She would have come herself but it is her turn at whist.”
“Of course,” Lord Thurston answered, his gaze going to James who simply shrugged and then flushed hot as he caught Lady Temperance’s glance. “We will be there in a trice. Thank you, Lady Temperance.”
She smiled. “Of course.” Her eyes slid towards James, the softness of her smile spreading a warmth across his heart and chasing away some of his embarrassment. “And thank you also, Lord Calverton.”
He inclined his head though it was only when she left that he let out a long, slow breath, squeezing his eyes closed and shaking his head.
“I think she overheard the last of what you said, if that is what you are wondering,” Lord Thurston said cheerfully, making James scowl. “But you did not say anything terrible and I am sure that she would have been rather pleased with what was said.”
“Mayhap.” James threw back the rest of his brandy and, picking up his cue, made towards the table. “I fully intend to beat you at billiards now, however, so that my confidence might be a little bolstered after such an embarrassment.”
Lord Thurston chuckled and picked up his cue. “Very well, let us see if you can prove that… or if you will only add to your mortification.”
Letting out a bark of laughter, James took his first shot and then grinned broadly at his friend. Lord Thurston rolled his eyes and then stepped forward, and the game commenced. All the same, however, James could not quite forget Lady Temperance’s expression as she had looked back at him, as she had murmured that quiet, ‘thank you’. Had she been pleased with what she had heard? Did she know just how strongly he felt in his desire to protect her? And more than that, washetruly aware of just how strong his own feelings were when it came to the lady?
Chapter Eleven
“Are you ready, Temperance?”
Temperance’s stomach was churning so furiously, she felt as though she might cast up her accounts at the slightest provocation. “I do not think I can do this, Aunt.”
