by Abby Ayles
James frowned a little bit, still nodding his head. He knew as well as Rodrick did how stubborn the man could be when he put his mind to it. Lord Drake didn’t always think of others when he had something that he wanted.
And it seemed as though he currently wanted the affections of the very same lady that James adored.
“I did try and pluck up the nerve to speak with her more upon the subject of my affection, but every time I said a word, it seemed that Fairfax was there to say two more.”
“The only thing we can really hope for is that Lady Catherine will come to her senses and remember who her real admirer is,” Rodrick said, wishing that he could get Alphonse to come to his senses at the same time.
Before they could really spend too long dwelling on it, the Earl of Montgomery and the Marquess of Fairfax returned from their walk around the grounds. They both seemed to be in good spirits. He could only hope that Alphonse would see the truth in his words.
Rodrick was not convinced of his friend ever changing, but he would hold onto hope until it was proven hopeless.
Chapter 21
Several weeks went peacefully by and finally, it was time for the wedding of dear Lydia to Lord Andrews. Noelle was excited to see her oldest and dearest friends married to each other. This wedding was also likely to bring in the attendance of a lot of her other friends as well.
Noelle and Catherine primped in their bedchambers the morning before the wedding. Lydia was so sweet; she had asked the pair of them to be in her wedding along with two of her own sisters. It felt a little bit like a glimpse of what Noelle’s wedding could be like someday.
The ladies, along with the rest of their family, rode off down the street to the church in the morning. Noelle could not recall ever seeing a lovelier wedding.
There was a party held not long after the wedding ceremony that afternoon, at the home of the groom. The Viscount of Kent lived in a stupendous mansion in Epping, which was quite close to the Duke of Salisbury’s manor in Essex. As much as Noelle enjoyed staying in London for the Season, ever since she’d stayed a few nights in Hertfordshire with Mr. Edwards and his mother, she had been looking forward to sleeping in her own bed in Essex.
The Salisbury family managed to cram into a large and rather ornate carriage and they rode to Epping together. Noelle and Catherine both wondered who might be in attendance at the reception. There were not that many people at the wedding, but she didn’t put it past dear Lord Andrews to invite more friends and family to the party so he could further show off his lovely new bride.
Noelle thought that Lydia looked prettier than ever now that she was the proud new Viscountess of Kent. There was a glow about her that she’d never possessed when she was Lydia Quinn. I shall never tell her this, of course, Noelle thought with some inner chagrin at her own prejudice.
She wanted, most of all, that Lydia should be happy and well-loved by everyone in her new home and life. This sort of thing was not something that Noelle had ever anticipated for Lydia, but now that she was married to the Viscount, she’d settled into her new role quite nicely. Noelle was proud of her; she wasn’t sure if she would ever settle into her own role, not even the one she currently held.
If I am to indeed become the wife of the Marquess of Fairfax, I don’t think I will quite know what to do with myself for some time. At least it shall be a while before he becomes a duke. She didn’t have to wonder at her mother choosing a gentleman like him for Noelle; he was destined to be a duke someday and he was, therefore, an equal to her family.
Hang all of that, Noelle thought sourly, doing her best not to frown too much. They were at a grand reception, so it wouldn’t do for any of the young ladies – including Emily – to look mopey. For her part, Emily was behaving quite admirably.
She was even laughing a little as she stood there in the ballroom with her younger sisters.
Noelle didn’t know what it was that had put Emily in such a good mood, but she liked it.
When the servant in the ballroom doorway announced the arrival of ‘The Right Honorable, The Viscount of Easton,’ Noelle became excited. She looked over with a smile as Lord Edwards entered the room alongside Mr. Edwards.
There was no sign of Mrs. Edwards, his mother, but she supposed that the older woman probably didn’t wish to go to every last ball, especially not one all the way in Epping.
They were formally presented to the duke and his family and Noelle smiled and blushed – like always – as Mr. Edwards bowed at her. She didn’t like to think so much and so often about her status, but somehow with him, she always felt like no less than a princess.
“How have you been, my lady?” he asked her sweetly. “I trust that you’ve been well since last I saw you. I hope that you shared nothing but good thoughts about Mr. Arne’s opera.”
Noelle laughed lightly. “We did so, sir. Thank you ever so much for extending the invitation to us.”
She knew that the invitation had really come from Lord Drake, but the less they could speak of him the better.
Right as she was thinking this, fate cruelly intervened and the servant presented ‘The Most Honorable, The Marquess of Fairfax.’
Of course.
Noelle didn’t roll her eyes, but she imagined herself doing so as Lord Drake proudly came strolling into the room. He was carrying a long and shiny black cane, acting as though he was much grander of a person than he really was, to her mind.
He marched right up to her and her family, but he stood in front of Catherine and bowed before her first. Catherine giggled and curtsied. Noelle glanced over and looked at their mother, who’d turned a bit white but didn’t seem to be entirely displeased.
Noelle took the marquess’s hand when it was offered. “It is so good to see you again,” she said, of course lying through her teeth. “I hope you have been well?”
Lord Drake grinned at her. She felt as though he was always grinning. “I have, Lady Noelle; indeed, I have.”
She was grateful that Mr. Edwards and his cousin the viscount stayed close as well. She didn’t know what she would do if she was left to spend the rest of the party alone but for the insufferable marquess gloating to the family about his recent exploits.
What she gleaned from his speaking was that he’d spent a lot of time at the manor of his father, the Duke of Cumberland, who was not well but had not been well for some time. When he wasn’t there, he apparently was always off visiting friends around London and spending lavish amounts of money on drinks and entertainment.
She knew that he thought it sounded as though he led a profoundly interesting life, but to her, it was quite the opposite. And moreover, it seemed as though he was trying too hard to impress them… chiefly, to impress her.
She looked over at Catherine and indeed her sister was simply eating up his every tale. Kitty continued to giggle like a silly schoolgirl, which she more or less still was.
Noelle’s eyes fell back on Mr. Edward’s enchanting emerald ones and she smiled sincerely for the first time in some minutes. “Would you do me the supreme honor of taking a turn about the room with me, my lady?” he asked her.
As if she would ever say no, especially when her mother was thoroughly preoccupied with the presence of the Marquess of Fairfax. The duchess would be quite distracted for some time. At least he’s good for something, Noelle thought with a smirk.
Nodding her approval, Noelle took Mr. Edwards’s arm and they went for a walk around the expansive ballroom. Most everyone was standing around, conversing and enjoying the champagne that had been provided. No one felt the pressure or urge to dance.
“I take it that things have not exactly improved between yourself and the marquess?” Mr. Edwards asked her curiously as they strolled arm-in-arm around the shining hardwood floor. When he saw the look of worry and doubt on her face, he frowned a bit but his eyes retained their amiable sort of glow. “I am terribly sorry to know that.”
Are you? Are you really, sir? It seems to me that you and I are quite of o
ne mind on the subject – we know the Marquess of Fairfax to be a rake and a bore besides.
Of course, Noelle did not actually voice this. Instead, she sighed softly and attempted to change the subject. “As my chances of seeing you after tonight may be remote, I should like to speak of something else, if you don’t mind.”
To her great delight, Mr. Edwards nodded his head approvingly. “As you like,” he replied. “What do you make of the new couple?” He asked this as he gestured another nod towards Lydia – now Lady Andrews – and Lord Andrews.
Noelle smiled. “Oh, I think that they shall get along very nicely. I am so happy for them; they’ve both been friends of mine for so long, you know.”
As she thought of this, she had to wonder what good fortune had caused Mr. Edwards to be invited as well. As far as she was aware, he was not a friend of Lord Andrews, and obviously, Lady Andrews didn’t really know him. Noelle supposed that it was more the doing of Lord Edwards’s, or perhaps – she hated to admit it – Lord Drake…
The Viscount of Kent knew a great many people in the nobility, so it stood to reason that he should have invited either one of those men due to some casual acquaintanceship, but Mr. Edwards did seem out of place amongst all of the titled guests. Noelle didn’t mind this, however; in fact, it made her appreciate him all the more.
“I do see a certain symmetry to them,” Mr. Edwards said, agreeing with her assessment of the new couple. “And I must say that it is nice to see them both so happy.”
Noelle laughed a short, soft laugh. “Lydia ought to be very happy,” she said. “She’s married very well for a girl of her station. Do you know many ladies who rise from nothing to become a viscountess almost overnight?”
She knew at once that she should have chosen her words more carefully, but fortunately, Mr. Edwards did not seem to take offense. He smiled a little back at her, his eyebrows slightly raised. Likely in amused surprise to hear her say such a thing.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I don’t really mean from nothing. I just mean… To go from Miss Quinn to Lady Andrews, The Right Honorable Viscountess of Kent seemingly from nowhere. I’m very happy to see her so happy with a gentleman like him.”
Mr. Edwards chuckled, evidently enjoying the voice that she put on when she was pronouncing Lydia’s new name. “Quite right,” he agreed with a nod. “It is all rather a mouthful, isn’t it?”
Noelle smiled at him. “Yes, it is. I must say, I do prefer your name.”
He regarded her with a look of amusement. She got the feeling that he didn’t think, not even for a moment, that what she said was true. This made her empathize with him.
She wished that she had some way of letting him know that it really didn’t matter at all to her that he didn’t have a title or any prestige that wasn’t paid for by his wealthier family members. There was no easy way of saying such a thing to a man, and anyway, what did it matter how she felt? It would never change the fact that they could never be together anyway.
“I do hope you know that I value our time together and our friendship very highly,” she said instead. “I’ve never really met a gentleman like you before – someone that I could share things with and be myself around.”
Though it was true that she had family and friends, such as Lady Stephen Andrews, that she could confide in and spend her time with, that was quite different somehow from what she experienced with Mr. Edwards. He’d never done anything that should make it feel different, but all the same, she noticed that time spent with him gave her a feeling unlike anything else.
Noelle would never call such a feeling love. The very notion seemed preposterous.
And yet…
Chapter 22
Rodrick was having a wonderful time at Lord and Lady Andrews’ wedding reception indeed. He was not sure when he was invited along by James if he should enjoy it. He didn’t really know the couple and he was anxious about spending yet more time with the somehow-changed Alphonse.
What made the situation even odder for him was the fact that his darling mother had elected not to come this time. She was a bit tired out from all of the activity of late. He couldn’t blame her for that.
Yet there he was having a good time. He supposed that the true reason for that was Lady Noelle. She smiled at him and was clearly so glad to see him there; she likely hadn’t expected it. And then she told him that she highly valued the time that she spent with him.
What gentleman didn’t want to hear that from a lady like her?
He was rather taken aback when she said this, in the best kind of way. He smiled at her delightedly. “I must confess that I feel the same about you,” he replied readily.
Lady Noelle blushed and beamed at him. What Rodrick wouldn’t give to kiss her pretty, rosy cheek...
Suddenly, she leaned in towards him and it was almost as if she had read his mind. Rodrick blinked his eyes at her, now blushing himself as she smiled up at him. “Please, let us see how long we may spend together instead of having to go back to that wearying crowd,” she said softly and directly into his ear.
“You don’t think that they will miss us?” he asked her, still smiling. “Especially you?”
He was amazed actually that her absence hadn’t already been noticed.
Lady Noelle shrugged a bit. “I wish they wouldn’t expect me to cling to them all evening.”
“But people may talk.”
A shadow seemed to pass over then. She looked down and loosened her arm’s hold on him. “Perhaps you’re right,” she said disappointedly. “I only wanted to get away from him for a while.”
She didn’t need to explain; Rodrick knew exactly who she meant. He glanced over at her family, still standing all together in a line as if they were the ones receiving guests at this party. Alphonse was still standing there with them, talking to them all as if he was delivering some kind of oration.
Rodrick frowned slightly and then looked back at Lady Noelle. “I understand,” he said. “How about we go back together?”
He didn’t know how much assistance this would give her, but at least she wouldn’t have to feel alone if he stayed by her side. It was a comfort to know that her family – namely her mother – already knew that Lady Noelle and Rodrick were friendly. There was nothing wrong with friendship…
They walked back to her family, remaining arm-in-arm as if they might somehow present a united front.
“Ah, there you are,” Alphonse said with another of his grins at the two of them as they sidled in with the rest of the family. “I was beginning to wonder where you two had gone to.”
Lady Noelle smiled at him, all kindness which Rodrick knew a lady of her station was expected to perform, no matter what the situation. “We just went for a little walk around the ballroom. We didn’t think that it would interrupt things here.”
“Indeed, it didn’t,” Lady Catherine told her sister, beaming excitedly. She came over closer to Lady Noelle and took her hand. “Lord Drake has invited us – you and me and Mother – to his estate!”
Rodrick felt something seem to drop in his stomach. He didn’t think that it was such a good idea for the ladies to go to Stone Hill Manor, not least of all because of Alphonse’s behavior of late. His grouchy father wouldn’t make a very good host for them either.
“I’m not so sure that the Duke of Cumberland is well enough for such an occasion,” he asserted.
“But I thought we were to stay the night at our home in Thornwood?” Lady Noelle asked, looking from her sister to her mother. Rodrick took some small pleasure in her unsure and hesitant expression.
He didn’t believe that Lady Noelle would ever choose to stay at the Duke of Cumberland’s estate, but for her sister…
“Oh, but Haverhill is not more than three hours from Thornwood,” Lady Catherine persisted. “We shall stay the night at home and then travel the next day. Mother and the others will journey back to London.”
Lady Noelle continued to frown, but Rodrick knew from the expression
s on Lady Catherine’s and the Duchess of Salisbury’s faces that saying no to this invitation was simply not an option for her.
Perhaps there is some way that I may insert myself into this plan, he thought, thinking only of trying to help his dear new friend. He couldn’t think of any reason that Alphonse wouldn’t want to have him there at Stone Hill as well.
He wondered what sort of chaperone their mother would be to them; the Duchess of Salisbury quite obviously wished for Lady Noelle to marry him, and she wasn’t doing much to dissuade Lady Catherine from flirting with the man either. Rodrick knew that she would keep everything proper while they were there, but perhaps only just.
“I guess I shall go then,” Lady Noelle said in a defeated sort of voice that was seemingly lost on everyone apart from Rodrick and perhaps the lady’s father, the Duke of Salisbury. This man seemed as though he was used to such occurrences and he’d learned to live with it with a smile.
