Page 25 of Enamored with a Brooding Earl
Chapter Fifteen
“A very fine afternoon, is it not?”
Temperance smiled at her friend as the carriage made its way into the village. She knew very well what Lady Thurston was doing and she appreciated it a great deal. “Yes, it is very fine.”
“And it is a blessing to be able to escape from the confines of the house, is it not?” Lady Thurston chuckled as Temperance laughed along with her. “I can imagine that it is not a particularly encouraging situation at your aunt’s house at the moment.”
The smile faded from Temperance’s face. “Indeed, it has been rather trying. My mother was greatly displeased with what happened at our first meeting with Lord Barlington, though she did also attempt to blame my aunt for that.”
Lady Thurston’s eyebrows lifted. “Really? I would imagine that your aunt did not respond well to such a thing!”
That brought a smile back to Temperance’s face. “Indeed, she did not. My aunt responded with such a sharpness that I believe that my mother was rather surprised! Though it did take the weight from my shoulders a little, which I was grateful for.”
“Though Lord Barlington is going to continue in his determinations to speak with you, is he not?”
Temperance let out a slow sigh. “Yes, I presume that he will.”
“Well, I shall have to come to call a good deal more often – or to insist that you come out in the carriage with me as we are doing at this present moment,” her friend replied, firmly. “I know we are only going to the village but it is enough to take up a few hours.”
“Yes, indeed it is – and it means that even should Lord Barlington call, he would not find me at home. That is not what I presume he expects.”
Lady Thurston nodded. “I think that he was rather surprised to see that you have friends and acquaintances here. I watched his eyes as we all came in and spoke to you at length. He appeared rather stunned, truth be told! No doubt he believes that he has come to rescue you from some lonely situation when, in fact, that is entirely the opposite.”
Temperance smiled and looked out of the window. “That is very true, and I am very grateful for it.” As they made their way into the village, Temperance strained to see the carriage in front. A sudden fear licked up her spine. “What if the carriage ahead of us is Lord Barlington?”
Lady Thurston shrugged. “Then we will not get out of the carriage. We will continue to ride around the village and out of it again if we must. I will not force you to be in any sort of situation with Lord Barlington. He is the very gentleman we are trying to avoid!”
Temperance smiled, relieved.
“I think that is Lord Calverton’s carriage,” Lady Thurston continued, her smile lifting. “Though that does appear to be Lord Calverton and my own husband standing to the right hand side there! I knew they were both gone for a ride but I did not think that they were coming to the village!”
Temperance’s heart lifted as she heard Lord Calverton’s name on her friend’s lips. That gentleman had certainly proved himself tobea gentleman and she was very grateful indeed to him for his kindness and consideration of her.
“That must be his mother there, then,” Lady Thurston continued. “In the carriage, I mean.”
“I wonder where she is going.” Temperance smiled as her friend waved to her husband from the carriage window, only for the carriage to slow so they might both step out. Temperance drew in deep breath as she saw Lord Calverton smiling at her, aware that she was beginning to find herself drawn to him in a way she had never expected. There was only a friendship between them, of course, for she dared not let herself think of anything else, but all the same, how quickly a friendship had sprung up between them!
“Good afternoon, Lady Temperance!” Lord Thurston bowed and smiled. “I quite forgot that you and my wife were to take the carriage this afternoon.”
“We are to go to the haberdashery,” Temperance answered, seeing the flicker of interest in Lord Calverton’s eyes as she spoke. “There are some buttons, ribbon and lace that Lady Thurston has been seeking and I myself hope to find that a parcel has been delivered there for me.”
“For your artwork?”
She nodded in answer to Lord Thurston’s question.
“Then you will be in fine company, for my mother is also hoping for such a thing!” Lord Calverton beamed and then gestured to the other carriage, which had stopped a little ways ahead of them. “I believe she has ordered a good many things so mayhap you will both find yourselves contented!”
Temperance smiled and then waved to Lady Calverton, who stepped down from the carriage with a broad smile on her face. Without hesitating, Temperance made her way to join her and, after a few words of greeting, they walked into the haberdashery together.
***
“Alas, it seems that Lady Temperance is to be disappointed.”
Temperance quickly shook her head and tried to smile, hiding her own true feelings of frustration. “I am sure they will come very soon.”
“Ah, but not soon enough, I am sure!” Lady Calverton replied, sympathetically. “I understand that you are waiting for these things with great eagerness, for you will want to begin using them right away, will you not?”
From the look in the lady’s eyes, Temperance knew that she understood and that, therefore, there was no point in pretending otherwise. “Indeed, that is so. Some of my paintbrushes have become a little weak and I was hoping that I would receive the new ones I ordered so that I might continue painting. I was also looking for a few new paints and the like but… ” With a sigh, she lifted her shoulders and then let them fall. “I can be a little more patient, I am sure.”
