Page 22 of Enamored with a Brooding Earl
“Yes, of course.” Lady Calverton looked rather surprised. “Do you not know how wonderful an artist is Lady Temperance?”
A small silence spread across the room and, though she was a little embarrassed, Temperance kept her expression as calm as she could, seeing how Lord Barlington frowned.
“No, I was unaware that Lady Temperance had such a gift.”
Lady Thurston laughed softly, catching everyone’s attention. “Then you cannot have known her very well when you were connected, Lord Barlington,” she said, making Lord Barlington’s frown deepen though Temperance’s heart lifted at the way her friends were coming together to support her. “Mayhap you were not particularly interested in that sort of connection, however? Although that, again, is a loss that you must bear. There is a great deal of worth and wonder in Lady Temperance’s character and abilities. That is why I count myself as very fortunate indeed to be her friend.”
Temperance smiled warmly as Lady Thurston finished, seeing her friend give her a small nod as she took in all that had been said. There was such a sweetness to Lady Thurston’s words that even in the company of Lord Barlington, Temperance felt herself entirely at ease. This was showing Lord Barlington that not only did she have friends, but she haddearfriends, those who valued her for who she was, even with the scar to her face. No-one here had rejected her, no-one had turned their back on her andsent her away. How much she hoped that Lord Barlington could see the difference between their words and his actions!
“It seems that I have a great deal still to learn – and still to appreciate – about Lady Temperance,” Lord Barlington murmured, making Temperance’s spine stiffen straight away.
She picked up her tea cup and brought it to her lips, refusing to look at the gentleman.
“It seems to me as though you may have already had that opportunity, have you not?” Lord Calverton’s voice held a dark tone to it, a severity which made Temperance’s lips curve into a small, satisfied smile as she looked across the room at him, seeing how he had pinned a rather fierce gaze upon Lord Barlington.
“That is quite true.” Lord Barlington’s shoulders lifted, his face a little flushed as he looked across to Temperance, though she made certain to lift her tea cup to her lips rather than look back at him. “Though, if I am fortunate, I may be given another opportunity.”
Without having had any intention of doing so, Temperance snorted gently, only for her face to flush hot as every eye turned towards her. She took another sip of her tea as her aunt quickly suggested that everyone take something more to eat from the tea tray. Try as she might, Temperance could not remove the heat from her cheeks though, as she looked across the room and caught Lady Thurston’s eye, she saw the smile there and found herself wanting to burst out into laughter.
“At least you made yourself clear,” her aunt murmured, as Lady Calverton began to speak at length with Temperance’s mother, asking about her residence and her situation there. “It is not something to be embarrassed about, my dear. Lord Barlington appears to believe that he is more than able simply to march back into your life and have you practically on your knees before him in gratitude at his return! Your friends and your own response to him have made it very clear that it will not be so.”
Temperance gave her aunt a smile. “Thank you, Aunt. And thank you for agreeing to their arrival at the very same time as Lord Barlington.”
“But of course!”
“Alas,” Temperance continued, seeing her mother smile at Lady Calverton, though it was not a smile that spread wide, “I do not think that my mother is pleased.”
Her aunt shrugged. “It does not matter whether she is pleased or not, does it? This has been forced upon you and you are not required to be contented with it.”
Temperance’s heart squeezed and she took a moment to let her aunt’s words sink in. “That is true, I suppose.”
“And you will have me to defend you when your mother decides to berate you for this afternoon,” Lady Hartford continued, firmly. “You are not alone in this, Temperance. Look around you! You areneveralone.”
With a smile, Temperance reached to squeeze her aunt’s hand, her heart aching softly. In this room, with her friends – both new and old – she wasnotalone, left to face Lord Barlington without support or defense… and that realization brought her the greatest of encouragements.
Chapter Fourteen
“I think the plan went very well indeed.”
James lifted his shoulders and then let them fall as he and Lord Thurston rode along the path to the small village. “I do not think that Lord Barlington has been at all dissuaded, however.”
“Does that matter?” Lord Thurston tilted his head. “It seems to me that Lady Temperance was relieved that we were present and that should be the only thing that matters, should it not?”
James considered this and then nodded. “Yes, I suppose so.”
“But you feel differently?”
With a small hesitation, James chose to be honest about his own heart. “I am concerned that Lord Barlington will not give up and that troubles me a great deal. I understand that Lady Temperance was relieved yesterday but what if Lord Barlington should try again? What if he should come upon her deliberately when we are not present? I saw in her eyes how distressed she was just as we arrived.”
“And that pained your heart.”
James looked to his friend. “Did it not pain yours?”
Lord Thurston nodded. “Of course. Though mayhap without the same intensity that you feel at present.”
Scowling, James looked away from Lord Thurston, keeping his gaze towards the path. “You sound like my mother.”
“You mean that both she and I are stating the very same thing, albeit in a slightly hidden manner?” Lord Thurton chuckled softly. “Yes, my friend. I think that you are beginning to have a greater consideration for Lady Temperance than you would wish to admit.”
