Page 39 of Enamored with a Brooding Earl
“I presume then, without speaking out of turn, that she is pleased at this engagement?”
The Duke nodded, not appearing to be at all upset in hearing James speak so. “Yes, she is thrilled. I, however, see my daughter’s sorrow and find my heart filled with worry for her. As I have said, I have tried speaking with her and she has not told me a single thing.”
“Then I will do my best to find out the truth,” James said quickly, getting to his feet. “I cannot fathom the reasoning behind her desire to accept him! Lord Barlington, from what I knew, was practically loathed by her, though I do not want to speak out of turn.”
The Duke scowled. “You do not speak out of turn, Lord Calverton. The reason I asked my daughter to reconsider him was truly because I was concerned for her. I did not want her to sit here, in this place, and feel herself entirely alone for years and years without end. I did not know if she was happy here, if the situation would be one of joy for her – and then, I thought that if Lord Barlington was sincere, then that might offer her a fresh start, a chance to be settled and have a family of her own. Do not for a moment think that I was at all delighted by Lord Barlington’s return! I found his manner arrogant, his expression of interest towards my daughter to be less than sincere and yet, with my wife’s eager encouragement, I found myself willing to give Temperance the opportunity to hear the gentleman’s apology, at the very least.”
“You do not need to explain yourself to me, Your Grace,” James replied his heart still pounding rather furiously. “I quite understand – though I am glad that you feel the very same way about Lord Barlington as I!”
“Then go to her,” came the Duke’s fervent response. “See if you can find a way to convince her to step away from Lord Barlington once and for all.”
“I shall.” James dropped into a bow, panic beginning to tighten around his chest. “Good afternoon, Your Grace. I hope I shall return with good news.”
“As do I.”
***
“Lady Hartford?” James caught the arm of the lady, making her turn towards him. “Lady Hartford, I must ask if you know where Lady Temperance has gone.”
“Oh, Lord Calverton.” Lady Hartford’s eyes swelled with tears though she blinked them back quickly. “You must know by now that – ”
“I know everything but I do not believe that she has consented to this willingly.”
Lady Hartford’s throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. “She was greatly distraught,” she whispered, her eyes closing for a moment. “I came into the room only a few minutes after Lord Barlington had taken his leave and she was nothing but tears. Shesobbed and could not be comforted – and yet when I asked her about what had happened, she would say nothing.”
“Nothing at all?”
Lady Hartford shook her head. “Nothing,” she said again, her voice wobbling. “You must understand, Lord Calverton, my niece and I have shared a great many things since she first arrived here. The fact that she will not speak to me about anything, that she will not say a single word about what took place between Lord Barlington and herself breaks my heart!”
“I want to speak with her,” James told the lady, as she grasped his hand and pressed it tightly. “I must know what has taken place. We were to be courting, you understand, and now, only two days after she gave me her consent, I find her engaged to Lord Barlington? It does not make sense.”
“Especially since she despises the gentleman,” Lady Hartford muttered, darkly. “He has done something to her, I know of it. I just do not knowwhatit is.”
“He is an unscrupulous fellow,” James agreed. “But I will find her and I will speak with her. I can only hope that she will tell me the truth so that we can aid her in bringing this to an end.”
Lady Hartford nodded, her eyes glistening. “I know that you want her happiness,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “As do I. I think she is at the shore, Lord Calverton.”
“Then I will go there at once.” Releasing her hand, he nodded to her. “Pray that all will be well, Lady Hartford. For I have nothing else but that.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
For the first time in her life, the wind and the waves did nothing to comfort her. Temperance stood on the shoreline, her vision blurring as fresh tears burned in her eyes. Even now, a day after Lord Barlington had made his demands, she still felt the shock and the sting of it just as fiercely as she had done at the time. It burned through her, stealing away her joy, stealing away any sense of happiness for her future and instead, leaving her with nothing but darkness.
But I care for Lord Calverton,she thought to herself, tears dripping to her cheeks.When he asked to court me, it was as though every single moment of pain had been swallowed up and was gone. I had hope. I had happiness. I had… did I have love?
Her eyes closed tightly as tears began to drip to her cheeks. The wind blew at them as though it was seeking to push them from her, to help soften the pain but more came in their place. She wrapped her arms around herself, dropping her head forward, wishing desperately that she could find a solution to what Lord Barlington had forced upon her but nothing came.
If I truly care for Lord Calverton as I do, if there really is the whisper of love within my heart for him, then I will not step back from this. I must protect him, whatever the cost to me.
“Temperance!”
Her name was on the wind and Temperance shuddered, too afraid to look around for fear that it was Lord Barlington coming to haunt her again.
“Temperance, please!”
A hand went to her arm and Temperance flinched, pulling her arm away and stumbling back. “Leave me!”
She turned sharply, ready to strike out at Lord Barlington only to see Lord Calverton looking back at her.
