Page 18 of The Uncompromising Marquess
“It is good to see you also.” Lord Sutherland swept a careful eye over Florence, and she shivered involuntarily. Surely her mother had not said anything to Lord Sutherland? She wouldnot have come to him beforehand and suggested that he might make an excellent match with Florence, would she?
“Might I present my daughter, Lady Florence?” Gesturing to Florence, Lady Grangemouth smiled warmly. “She is the only one left of my daughter still to marry. That is why we are here this season, you understand?” The warm smile grew as Lady Grangemouth looked again to Lord Sutherland. “I do hope it will not take her long to find a suitable match.”
Florence did not know what to do or where to look. Her mother was speaking more overtly than she had expected and given that Lord Sutherland was standing close to some other gentleman. Florence had no doubt that her mother had spoken deliberately so. In her determination, however, there came a great deal of embarrassment for Florence herself. Others would hear of how Lady Grangemouth was speaking, and soon rumors would spread through all of society. Perhaps they would laugh at Lady Grangemouth's desperation or wonder why Florence had such an urgent need for marriage. She dropped her head and looked down at the floor, heat behind her eyes. Clearly her mother had very little idea as to what she was doing in speaking so.
“You have always been able to find a good match for your other daughters.” With a sniff and a hint of a smile - a smile that did not bring any warmth into his expression - he glanced at Florence and then returned his gaze to her mother. “She is permitted to dance, I presume?”
The answer came in the affirmative, and Florence closed her eyes. Surely this could not be? Surely her mother's eagerness was not so great that she would push Florence into marrying a gentleman of age with her father?
“Perhaps the waltz then?” Lord Sutherland reached out one hand. “Your dance card, Lady Florence.”
The waltz?Florence’s heart threw itself into a panicked rhythm. There was only one reason Lord Sutherland was requesting the waltz. It would give the impression to thetonthat he was interested in forming a connection with her, which, no doubt, her mother and father would be delighted with. She could not think of anything more dreadful!
“Florence?”
The sharpness in her mother’s voice reminded her that she had no choice but to accept. However, before she could take the dance card from her wrist and hand it unwillingly to Lord Sutherland, a voice came from her left.
“I am terribly sorry to interrupt, but the waltz belongs to me.”
Florence could not think of who would say such a thing. Lord Sutherland instantly began to bluster, but as Florence turned, her eyes shot wide. Lord Applegate was standing there, a smile on his face and a light in his eyes she had never seen before.
“It is very rude indeed for me to eavesdrop as I did.” Lord Applegate spread out both hands. “But, as I have said, I could not let Lady Florence give her waltz away when she has already promised it to me.”
Tingling ran all the way down her arms as Florence met his gaze. She could not understand why he was doing such a thing as this. Was it his way of making amends for what he had done by lying? Was he trying to prove to her that he could be an upstanding gentleman? Or mayhap he had just felt sorry for her.
“Florence, is this true?” Her mother's face had gone red. Both eyebrows were lifted in clear astonishment, but Florence nodded quickly, desperate to escape the. Requirement of dancing the waltz with Lord Sutherland. Lady Grangemouth blinked once, twice, and then looked up at Lord Sutherland.
“You must forgive me, Lord Sutherland,” she shrugged and shook her head. “I did not know that Lord Applegate hadrequested Florence's waltz. This is as much a surprise to me as it is to you.”
“I do apologize.” Lord Applegate did not sound in the least bit sorry, given the smile that was spreading across his face. “Lady Grangemouth, might I be permitted to take your daughter for a short round of the room? My sister and her husband can join us so that Florence is chaperoned.”
This was all the more astonishing, and when Lord Applegate offered his arm, she took it, at once grateful for the support. She did not hear her mother's agreement, but when Lord Applegate began to walk, Florence went with him without hesitation. Her fingers were tight on his arm, but she did not apologize for this action. The last few minutes had been both horrifying and confusing, and she needed his strength at this present moment. How strange it was to be walking with the very gentleman who had caused her so much upset of late – and how strange to be so grateful to him!
9
Joseph cleared his throat, an unsettling sensation of delight rushing through him which he fought to contain. He had not meant to overhear Lord Sutherland and Lady Grangemouth, and most certainly had not meant to intervene, but he moved before he could think. Upon hearing Lady Grangemouth’s voice, he had turned instinctively, perhaps inwardly eager to avoid the lady and to move away from her, but had then caught sight of Lady Florence. There had been such an expression of fear on her face, he had been quite unable to look away. When her eyes had rounded, staring directly at the older gentleman ahead of her, Joseph had found himself moving forward without truly thinking about what he was doing. When Lord Sutherland had said something about the waltz, Joseph had spoken up at once and without hesitation. It had come as a surprise even to him that he had spoken so, but there was a sense of contentment now that he had her on his arm.
He glanced down at Lady Florence, feeling the tightness of her hand on his arm. With a tug of his lips to one side, Joseph looked away, concern rising in his mind. Mayhap he had overstepped. After all, he was the gentleman who had lied aboutthe incident between them, all so that he might save his own reputation in front of the other members of theton.
Clearing his throat gruffly, he looked at her again. “I can understand, Lady Florence, if your desire to dance with me is completely absent. No doubt you may find yourself a little irritated at my offer, but – ”
“I am grateful.”
The haste in her interruption made Joseph’s shoulders drop just a little in relief. She was not irritated or upset with him, then… at least, not any more so than she had already been.
Lady Florence glanced at him and then continued, sounding a little breathless. “You saved me from a great trial. I presume that you realized the difficulty I was in and chose, for whatever reason, to come to my aid.”
A brief smile touched his lips. He could answer her with a response that would buoy him a little in her estimation, or he could be entirely honest. Given the mistakes he had made previously, Joseph thought it best to be truthful about his intentions. “Initially, I recognized your mother’s voice, and it was that which caught my attention. When I looked, I saw you, your mother, and that gentleman.”
“Lord Sutherland.” Lady Florence shivered and closed her eyes briefly. “He is acquainted with my parents. I did not know him until this moment.”
“I see.” Joseph bit his lip, then frowned. “It was not my intention to speak as I did, Lady Florence. There was something in me that desired to take you from Lord Sutherland for the waltz. I know what the waltz would signify and what thetonmight think and, truthfully, I saw your face and… well, I felt myself a trifle concerned.”
Lady Florence blinked quickly but said nothing.
Joseph tried to smile but it felt a little forced. “Mayhap I was just satisfying my own conscience by coming to your aid,Lady Florence. I know that I did not act well when your mother came to speak with me. I should have told the truth instead of defending myself with lies.”
“I thank you, Lord Applegate.” Lady Florence’s voice remained quiet. “That is good of you to say.”
