Page 42 of Courting the Earl
Lady Appleby stared at him as though he’d lost his mind. “Of course not. Lydia has gone riding in Hyde Park with Lord Stanley. Eleanor is accompanying them as their chaperone. I offered to go in her stead, but she assured me she was looking forward to the fresh air.”
She stood, and he came to his feet as well. “They left a short while ago. I’m sure you’ll be able to find them there.”
“Thank you for everything, my lady.” He dipped his head and then hurried from the house. He had a bride to catch.
He instructed the carriage driver to head toward Hyde Park. The trip was a short one, and he hoped luck would be on his side. It was still early, and if the park wasn’t crowded, he might spot her faster from inside the carriage.
A few minutes later, he groaned when he saw the lineup of vehicles waiting to enter the park. He stopped the carriage and notified his driver to wait just outside the gates. He would have to search for Eleanor on foot.
He strode along the path, which was already filled with strolling couples and their chaperones. Lydia had wanted to walk that one time he’d brought her here, so he hoped they were on foot again. His heart had begun to race, but not from his quick pace.
He was forced to stop several times along the way when well-meaning acquaintances who thought he was in need of company tried to engage him in conversation. Finally, after twenty minutes that seemed much longer, he spotted them walking toward him. He froze in place and watched them.
They were walking as a group in the middle of the road. Lydia was holding on to Stanley’s arm, her appearance that of a woman who wouldn’t be able to walk without the support. The two had wide smiles and kept glancing at one another as though they were the only people present in the world. Really, it was a miracle they didn’t trip over their own feet or bump into others who were walking in the opposite direction.
Eleanor was walking next to Lydia, and his heart broke as he stared at her. She kept glancing over at her cousin, and her expression was clearly pained. Since he knew she was genuinely happy for Lydia, Geoffrey could only attribute her sadness to him and the way he’d treated her.
He walked toward them. He was still several feet away when Eleanor must have sensed his presence because her eyes shifted to the left and unerringly met his. She stiffened and looked away again.
He wouldn’t be deterred by her attempt to give him the cut. He deserved her censure.
Stanley called out to him when he reached the small group. Geoffrey greeted them and made a passing comment about the pleasant temperature.
A small frown formed between Stanley’s brows. “I’m not sure whether you’ve heard—”
“I have,” Geoffrey said, cutting him off. “I offer you and Miss Pearson my sincerest wishes for a happy marriage.”
Stanley’s brow cleared. Then he looked around. “You’re not here with anyone?”
His gaze was on Eleanor, who still wasn’t looking at him. “Actually, I’m here for Miss Pearson.”
Stanley opened his mouth to say something, but Lydia placed a hand on his forearm. “He means Eleanor.”
“Oh right. Of course. You did mention what happened yesterday. But I was under the impression that matter was at an end.”
Lydia was staring at Eleanor, and then she looked at him.
He wanted to grab hold of Eleanor’s hand and drag her away somewhere private where he could beg her forgiveness. Instead, he said, “It is important that I speak to her. If you could spare her for a few minutes, I would be most obliged.”
Lydia smiled, and he felt a shift in his chest. She knew he was here to make things right with her cousin.
“I don’t think Lord Hargrove and I have anything to discuss,” Eleanor said. “We settled matters yesterday, and I do not wish to revive the subject.”
Stanley looked from him to Eleanor. “If Miss Pearson doesn’t wish to speak to you…”
This time it was Lydia who cut him off. “Come, my love. We’ll just walk on ahead for a little bit and give them a few minutes together.”
Chapter 25
Eleanor turned to Lydia, panic beginning to take hold. “This isn’t necessary.” The last thing she wanted to hear was another apology from this man. Or worse, he might hope to convince her to be his mistress.
Lydia smiled at her. “Just speak to him for a few minutes. You’ll regret it if you don’t give him this chance.”
Eleanor gave her a tight nod but said nothing more. Lydia was in love and seeing romantic possibilities everywhere she looked. She wouldn’t be able to convince her cousin that she was wrong.
Lydia reached out and grasped her hand. After squeezing her fingers, Lydia gave Geoffrey a sympathetic look, and then she and Stanley resumed their walk.
The man Eleanor had been hoping to avoid stepped into place next to her. He offered her his arm, but when she didn’t take it, he clasped his hands behind his back. Without another word, they began to walk.
