Page 10 of The Uncompromising Marquess
“Oh, goodness!” The young lady whom Florence had not yet been introduced quickly stepped forward as Lord Applegate only stood there, his brow furrowed. “Are you quite all right?”
“I – I must excuse myself.” Unable to even raise her eyes towards Lord Applegate, Florence reached for Helena, who quickly took her arm. “Do forgive me.”
Without so much as a backwards glance, she turned hastily and walked away with Helena right beside her. From behind them, she could hear the lady speaking fervently to Lord Applegate, but she gave it no consideration, quite sure that Lord Applegate would be blaming her for what had happened.
“That was not your fault,” Helena murmured, leading her through the drawing room and into the hallway. “Lord Applegate should have been taking more care as to where he stoodandto his actions.” Looking at Florence, she sighed. “I am sorry that happened to you. We will go to a quiet parlor and find a cool compress.”
“I thank you.” Hearing her voice thin and knowing she was close to tears, Florence said nothing more, concentrating on taking steadying breaths so that she would not lose her composure entirely. Despite what her cousin said, Florence was convinced that the injury to her face had been entirely her own fault and Lord Appelgate’s silence had only confirmed that.
I am doomed to fail,she thought to herself, her heart aching with a fresh pain.No matter what I do, even if I am simply standing in conversation, something always happens to shame me… and I cannot seem to stop it.
5
“You will have to apologize to that young lady.”
Joseph closed his eyes and sighed aloud. “Emily, I do not want you here.”
“And yet, this is where I am.”
Shooting a sharp look at Lord Lanark – a look which his brother-in-law steadfastly ignored – Joseph rolled his eyes in what he knew was a childish manner, but he did not care. He was weary enough of Emily’s incessant chatter on the subject of Lady Florence, for it had begun last evening and, despite a night’s respite, had begun again this morning when they had called upon him without invitation or notice.
“I came because I thought it would be very pleasant to spend the festive period here in London, withyou,” Emily told him, firmly. “Yet you appear greatly displeased! Why are you so upset at our arrival here?”
“I am not sorry for that,” Joseph said quickly, not wanting her to think that he was criticizing her for being present in London, “but as I have said before, I do not want you to think that I require your support in finding a wife.”
“Given the state of things last evening, I am quite certain you do.”
Letting out a loud groan, Joseph flung back his head, silently begging Lord Lanark to do something about his wife.
Unfortunately for him, Lord Lanark did not appear to hear this desperate plea, for he said nothing at all and instead turned the page of the newspaper he was reading.
“You struck Lady Florence in the face, brother.” Emily spoke gently now as a twist of embarrassment turned in Joseph’s stomach. “Thereafter, you did not even think to apologize!”
“That is because she was standing too close to me. If she had been more careful, then that would not have happened.”
Emily shook her head. “You were the one who moved towards her, Applegate. When I came towards you, you were so surprised, you stepped back. Lady Florence did not move an inch.”
Joseph opened his mouth to defend himself, to tell her that she was not at all correct, but the response died on his lips. He remembered now. Ithadbeen just as she had said. Emily’s arrival had been so surprising, he had stepped backwards, away from her. With a drop of his shoulders, he frowned. “I suppose, then, I could blame you for it.”
Emily laughed brightly, making Joseph’s jaw tighten.
“You will do anything other than take responsibility for your own failings, will you not? There is always some criticism to give, some words of reproach that must be given to others instead of yourself.”
Joseph glowered at her.
“My dear brother,” she continued, her tone gentling, “have you never wondered why you have such few close friends? Why thetondo not warm to you as they have to others?”
The change in this conversation struck Joseph with confusion. He shifted in his chair, catching Lord Lanark setting the newspaper down and looking askance at his wife.
“It is because you have such high standards for everyone and everything, as I have told you before,” his sister continued, as Joseph’s lips flattened. “It is also because you do not hold to these same standards yourself, just as you have demonstrated here.”
“I most certainly do!” Joseph exclaimed at once, before he could stop himself.
“No, you do not.” Emily spread out both hands on either side. “You will have a remark to make about some gentleman and his conduct, appearance, or the like, but you will never say anything about your own failings, despite how obvious they may be.”
Anger began to burn in Joseph’s veins.
“You have always a critical word about a soiree or a ball, but you have never even thought to throw a ball of your own!”
