Page 25 of The Uncompromising Marquess
“Yes, given that you have not only danced the waltz with her – a waltz where you took her under the mistletoe bough – but also now to sing with her, accompanying you. Does that not mean that you might have an interest in her?”
Joseph sniffed and ignored the way truth pressed in at his heart. “Not really, no. We are acquainted, yes, but she is also acquainted with my sister. There is a friendship there, but nothing more.” Joseph did not let himself be honest with Lord Chester, wanting to make sure that he said nothing to the fellow that might be taken by him and then flung around as gossip. “I do hope that you have success with Lady Prudence, however.”
“I thank you.”
A small noise caught Joseph’s attention, and he turned his head sharply, wondering at it. Movement caught his eye and, with a snatch of breath, he saw Lady Florence herself hurrying towards the door of the drawing room. She glanced back over her shoulder, met his eyes but then turned her head away again before stepping out into the hallway, alone.
12
Lord Applegate’s ball was not something that Florence wanted to attend, but there had been no thought of saying such a thing to her mother. Now, on the way to his townhouse in the carriage, Florence felt her heart sink low.
When he had offered to sing with her, she had been so overcome, it had been almost impossible to speak, such had been her joy. How greatly he had risen in her estimation! How well she now thought of him! And yet, once the moment was over and the music was at an end, she had heard him speak such sorrowful things, her heart had quite broken over it.
There is a friendship there, but nothing more.
It was ridiculous of her to believe that there might have been something more than just a mere acquaintance between them, but she had not been able to help her heart. It had pulled towards Lord Applegate with an ever-increasing strength, finding herself almost desperate to put her arms around him and have him hold her close, such had been her relief and her joy in what he had done in saving her. She had found her thoughts returning, over and over again, to the brief kiss they had shared under the mistletoe bough, both confused and a littleembarrassed that she should be so caught up in that moment, but she had not turned from it.
Now, however, she would have to. It was clear that Lord Applegate saw her as only an acquaintance, and she, for her part, would have to do all she could to release the feelings that held her heart so captive.
“I would have thought Lord Cheswick might have come to find you, after your performance at the soiree.” Lady Grangemouth’s words were short and clipped. “He suggested you go to play a parlor game together, did he not? What did you do to turn him away?”
Florence looked out of the window and tried to steady herself. Did her mother truly think Lord Cheswick a suitable gentleman for her? “Mother, Lord Cheswick spoke most inappropriately to me. I would not have gone to join him in a parlor game, even if he had requested it.”
Lady Grangemouth sniffed. “I think you would be able to return him to a good sort of fellow, Florence. All you need to do is give him opportunity and – ”
“Lord Cheswick is not at all suitable, however.”
Florence’s eyebrows lifted as her father spoke up, interrupting his wife.
“Nor is Lord Spenway. I would have thought you would have understood that any gentleman connected to our family must be upstanding, else our family name could become quite tainted.”
This made Florence more than a little astonished, hearing her mother’s swift snatch of breath as her husband berated her – albeit, in a gentle manner.
“The Marquess of Applegate, however,” Florence’s father continued, glancing at Florence and then looking back to his wife, “might be someone worth considering.”
Florence closed her eyes and inwardly wished for the darkness to swallow her up. She might well understand why herfather would consider Lord Applegate in such a way, but she did not have any hope for herself, not any longer.
“Lord Applegate?” Lady Grangemouth snorted aloud. “He was only showing Florence a kindness. Do you not know of his reputation, husband? He is a gentleman with very high standards indeed, a gentleman who is always critical of those around him and who will think poorly of any mistake. There is certainly no consideration in my mind when it comes to that particular gentleman, not when there are so many genteel, entirelyproperyoung ladies for him to think of!”
If the darkness had not swallowed her up before this moment, Florence wished it would do so now. To hear just how poorly she was held in her mother’s estimation caused Florence great pain, to the point that she could not breathe. Her hand went to her heart to make sure it was still beating, suddenly desperate to be entirely alone so she might dissolve into tears. Tears that were the result of her mother’s disapproval of her, but also because of her sincere lack of hope when it came to Lord Applegate.
“I think you a little too harsh, my dear.” Lord Grangemouth spoke in a quiet voice but with great weight in his words. “I shall hear no more of it, if you please.”
Whilst this came as something of a relief to Florence, the agony in her heart remained. It lingered on, growing even more painful as she made her way into the townhouse.
The agony turned to dread as she realized she would soon have to meet Lord Applegate at the receiving line. Her stomach knotted, threatening to cast up her accounts if she did not get a hold of herself.
Florence looked down at the floor as they began to approach. Her mother was whispering something to her, but she did not give it any attention, too distracted by what was to come. Herhands tied together as she waited for the Marquess to see her, her heart beginning to pound.
“Florence, do stand up straight.”
Her mother poked her in the side much too hard, and Florence let out a shriek that bounced off the walls and all around the hallway. Covering her mouth – although it was much too late – Florence dropped her head and studiously stared at the ground, horrified by what she had just done. Someone tittered behind her, and her face grew hot with shame, her mother exclaiming wildly at her.
I cannot do this.
“Lord and Lady Grangemouth, good evening.” The Marquess of Applegate bowed and, as Florence dropped into a curtsy, smiled at her. “Are you quite all right, Lady Florence? I do hope you will still be able to dance?”
“Yes. I am quite well.” Knowing it was the height of rudeness but caring nothing for it, Florence bobbed another quick curtsy and turned away, hurrying towards the ballroom. Her heart was beating so furiously, she could barely catch her breath, sweat breaking out across her forehead, and such a buzzing in her ears, she heard nothing but that even as she stepped inside.
