Page 37 of The Uncompromising Marquess
Though I must think about how much she has endured this evening,he considered.Mayhap she was so overcome that her father thought it best for her to take time away from us all.
“I have every intention of speaking with Lord Grangemouth very soon,” he said, turning back to Lady Venables and Lady Abernyte. “As I am sure you can understand, Lady Florence will need some time to recover from this.”
“Of course, of course,” Lady Venables agreed, as a hand touched Joseph’s arm. “We shall let you go now, Lord Applegate but yes, yes, well done again.”
With a nod and a smile, Joseph turned his attention to the lady behind him, smiling back at Lady Wickton as she grasped his hand with both of hers. Her husband came to stand beside them also, his expression one of relief.
“Thank you, Lord Applegate,” Lady Wickton breathed, tears in her eyes. “You cannot know the depth of my gratitude.”
Joseph put one hand to his heart and inclined his head. “It was only because of you that I acted, Lady Wickton.”
“And acted you did!” Lord Wickton declared, reaching to shake Joseph’s hand as Lady Wickton released it. “You did very well there, Lord Applegate. I know just how dreadful this situation has been and how it upset Helena. To know now that Lady Florence is safe and away from Lord Cheswick is both a relief and a joy.”
“It is to my heart also,” Joseph promised, as Lady Wickton beamed at him. “And yes, before you ask, I have every intention of pursuing Lady Florence myself.”
Lady Wickton closed her eyes and let out a long sigh of contentment, her smile soft.
“She has been taken home, I think,” Joseph continued, as Helena opened her eyes. “But I will go to speak with Lord Grangemouth as soon as I can.”
“I know Florence will be very glad indeed to see you,” Lady Wickton said, encouragingly. “She feared that this was to be the very worst Christmas she had ever had to endure… but now, I think, it will be the happiest.”
That remark made Joseph’s smile spread wide, a fresh sense of hope and joy exploding in his chest. “I hope it shall be,” he answered, as Lord Wickton put one arm around his wife. “In fact, I have every intention of making not only this but all the Christmases still to come, the happiest Lady Florence has ever known.”
18
Florence paced up and down the room, her fingers at her lip as she walked. Yesterday evening had been both the worst and the happiest of her life, though she had been a trifle frustrated at just how determined her father had been to take her from the room. She had wanted to wait, had wanted to stay and speak with Lord Applegate but her father had insisted. Florence had not missed the way he had shot one or two angry looks at her mother. Nor had she ever seen her mother so bowed and quiet on the carriage ride home. It seemed that Lady Grangemouth had more to answer for than Florence had realized, that the weight of responsibility for Lord Cheswick’s presence in their lives had been solely her doing and that would bring with it its own consequences.
The door opened and Florence spun around, her heart throwing itself up into her throat, only for it to crash down again. “Helena. Good afternoon.”
Her cousin paused in the doorway, her eyebrows lifting. “You need not sound so disappointed to see me, Florence.” Her smile was quick, reassuring Florence that she was only teasing. “If you wish for me to take my leave again, then I can do so.”
“No, no. Please, do come in.”
Helena chuckled and came to grasp her hands. “Tell me, Florence, are you quite well?”
Florence nodded. “I am.”
“You look a good deal better than I saw you and I do not think it is because of the brandy from Snapdragon last evening!” Helena’s words were lilting, her eyes twinkling as Florence flushed. “You are happy, are you not?”
“I am relieved,” Florence answered, walking with Helena to a chair. “But yes, more than anything else, I am happy. Happy because I do not have to spend another moment with Lord Cheswick! Happy because my mother has finally seen that she was wrong to push me into an engagement I did not want.” She winced as Helena rolled her eyes. “There were some sharp words this morning as we broke our fast. My father asked me to quit the room so he might speak with my mother and his voice was… very loud indeed even when I closed the door.”
Helena held her gaze. “You are very good to feel concern but you must see that it is deserved.”
Florence shrugged. “I do not think of that, to be truthful. Now that I am free of Lord Cheswick and have such a hope in my heart – and because it is so near to Christmas – I confess that there is nothing but relief present in me. I do not want to hold any anger or upset towards her, not when I have so much now to look forward to.”
“And by that, you mean the hope of Lord Applegate coming to confess his affection for you.”
A flush tore into Florence’s cheeks. “I do not know if it is affection but there is certainly an interest there.” She grasped Helena’s hand, a sudden wave of happiness crashing over her. “Oh, Helena, when I heard him say that he had such an interest in me, I felt as if every part of me had come to life! I wanted tocry out aloud, to jump up and down for sheer joy, to laugh with the relief and the wonder of it all!”
“And instead, you simply turned and sobbed into my shoulder.” Helena squeezed her hand. “You care for Lord Applegate so very much, that is clear to me. You shall find happiness with him, Iknowit. I will see you wed before Christmas, mayhap!”
Florence laughed as a thrill of excitement ran up her spine. “I do not know if he will propose, my dear cousin. It may be that he will want only courtship first, with engagement to follow if we suit each other well enough but – ”
A knock came to the door and Florence caught her breath, her heart slamming into a hurried rhythm. She tried to call for the servant to come in but her voice catching in her throat. Helena did so instead and the footman came in at once, handing Florence a calling card.
“The Marquess of Applegate, my lady.”
Helena grinned at her as Florence rose to her feet at once, a nervous excitement pulling at her. “But of course. Send him in at once.”
