by Rose Pearson
Lady Hayward nodded, her smile now a little sorrowful. “My father remained in London over the winter, and thus I found myself often in Lord Hayward’s company,” she said quietly. “By the time spring had come, I was engaged, and our wedding was set for the month of April. He had thoroughly convinced me of his devotion, his affection, and his eagerness to wed, Lady Rebecca. And even now, so many years later, even when he is gone, I am glad that I chose to consider him for so long before accepting. Therefore, I would expect the same from you.”
Rebecca let out a small sigh, turning her head so that she did not have to look at Lady Hayward any longer. There was something both very beautiful and yet very sad about her story, and Rebecca’s heart was already beginning to ache. “I do not think that my father would be best pleased if I did not find a suitable match this Season, Lady Hayward,” she replied heavily. “I do not think that I have the same luxury of time as you.”
A smile crept across Lady Hayward’s face. “I am sure that your father could be convinced otherwise, Lady Rebecca,” she said encouragingly. “Do not permit any such fears to hurry you into an engagement.”
Rebecca nodded but said nothing more, with Lady Hayward dropping her hand from Rebecca’s arm so that she might catch Lady Selina and Lady Anna who were now standing close to the bookshop they intended to enter, waiting for their chaperone to enter first. Rebecca sighed softly to herself, trying not to allow any sort of panic to grasp a hold of her heart. It was very difficult, indeed, trying to allow her thoughts to remain calm and controlled when it came to her considerations for matrimony and the like.
On the one hand, she had Lady Hayward, who was encouraging her to take her time, to consider carefully and to think not only of what her father would like in a suitable match for her, but also what she would prefer in a husband. On the other, she had the Duke, who was more than eager for his eldest daughter to wed, regardless of what Rebecca herself wanted. So long as his requirements were met, then the gentleman would be considered suitable. Would Lady Hayward be able to convince him that good matches took time? Would she be able to encourage him to allow Rebecca another Season, if she did not find a suitable gentleman this year?
You are letting your thoughts take hold of you, Rebecca, she told herself firmly. Do not worry so.
It had been a very different way of thinking, of course, for Rebecca had never truly considered what she really wanted when it came to a husband. She had only ever thought of what would be agreeable to her father, rather than to herself. But now, Rebecca was beginning to consider what she would like—and that was both surprising and intriguing to her. She discovered that she did not like overly loud gentlemen, who were bold and brash and laughed a good deal. She certainly did not like the way some of them looked at her, eyeing her as though she were some sort of prize that they might be able to claim as their own. No, she thought to herself, hurrying towards the open bookshop door so that she might step inside after her sisters, she much preferred a gentleman who was a little quieter in his character, who did not try to catch the attention of others with his overt remarks or his brash laughter. Rather, she enjoyed the company of those who spoke with consideration and tact, who did not look at her as though she were nothing of consequence save for how she might look on their arm.
The bookshop was quiet as Rebecca stepped inside, immediately filling her with a sense of peace. Lady Hayward was speaking quietly with her sisters, who then nodded and separated, each perusing the shelves quickly and silently. Rebecca, a little surprised that they seemed so eager to purchase a book when they had not ever shown much interest in reading, merely shrugged her shoulders and made her way to another part of the bookshop, her fingers lingering on one or two of the books as she meandered slowly towards the back of the shop.
Rounding the end of one of the shelves, Rebecca caught herself just in time, seeing a gentleman standing just before her, his head bowed as he looked through a page of the book he held in his hand. Obviously, he had not yet seen her, for his countenance did not change and he did not even look up—but he stood directly in Rebecca’s path and blocked her way entirely.
She cleared her throat gently, a little embarrassed to have to do so, and the gentleman lifted his eyes from the book immediately.
“Forgive me!” he exclaimed, stepping aside at once. “I did not mean to block your path.”
Rebecca looked into a pair of blue eyes and found herself smiling, touched by the gentleman’s immediate apology. “It is quite all right,” she replied, keeping her voice low so as not to disturb the quietness of the shop. “You must be very interested in whatever book you are reading.” She lifted one eyebrow, expressing quiet curiosity whilst knowing full well that they had not been properly introduced and that, as such, she ought to continue on without remaining to converse further.
But there was something about him that made her want to linger, even though she could not quite place what it was. Perhaps it was the look of embarrassment that was now etched across his face, his cheeks warm and his eyes darting from one place to the next, or perhaps it was simply that she was, in fact, a little interested to know what it was that had caught his attention with such fervor.
“It is...a novel,” he replied, clearly still a little embarrassed. “Nothing of particular interest, but I found myself drawn in.” He cleared his throat and set the book down. “It is not the sort of book I usually engage with, but on this occasion...” He shrugged, and then, his gaze shifting to something over Rebecca’s shoulder, cleared his throat abruptly and inclined his head. “Good afternoon, Lady Hayward.”
Rebecca turned at once, surprised at the expression on Lady Hayward’s face. She was not smiling but was looking at the gentleman with sharp eyes, her lips thin and her brows furrowed.
“Good afternoon, Lord Richmond,” she said, a coldness in her voice that Rebecca had not heard before. “I see that you are acquainting yourself with my charge.”
Lord Richmond’s face lost all color as he looked back at Lady Hayward, making Rebecca wonder what had been implied by such a remark. Looking from one to the next, she was forced to make a small murmur towards Lady Hayward, clearly requesting an introduction that, as yet, had not been made.
Lady Hayward did not look pleased.
“Might I present Lady Rebecca, daughter to the Duke of Landon,” she said tightly. “Lady Rebecca, this is the Marquess of Richmond.”
A little surprised at Lady Hayward’s fierce reaction to a gentleman that was of such a good title, Rebecca curtsied quickly and hoped that her astonishment did not show in her expression. “How very good to meet you, Lord Richmond,” she said, as he bowed formally towards her. “You are in town for the Season, then?”
“I am,” Lord Richmond replied as Lady Hayward took a small step closer to Rebecca as though attempting to stand directly between her and Lord Richmond. Rebecca did not understand what was occurring and thus merely looked at Lady Hayward for a long moment, only for the lady to turn her gaze back towards Lord Richmond.
“You intend to remain in London, then?” Lady Hayward asked, her voice still tight, her words clipped. “You will stay for the rest of the Season?”
Lord Richmond drew himself up. His shoulders rose, his chin lifted, and he gazed back at Lady Hayward with something akin to frustration flickering in his eyes.
“I will remain in London, Lady Hayward, for there is no reason for me to depart,” he said, coolly. “You may wish to believe the rumors, but I will stand before you now and state unequivocally that I am innocent of any wrongdoing.”
Rebecca shifted uncomfortably, aware of the tension that was now growing between both Lord Richmond and Lady Hayward. She had no knowledge as to what they spoke of, but it was clear that Lady Hayward’s apparent dislike of Lord Richmond came from something he had evidently done. Something that he, it seemed, was now vehemently denying.
“You will hardly wish to believe me, of course,” Lord Richmond continued, “but surely you know, Lady Hayward, that rum
ors and gossip can often come from something that is entirely different from what is being spoken of. Whispers grow into all manner of stories until the person involved in such a tale has no other choice but to hide away from society until it passes from the beau monde’s sphere. And that might well take many months, if not years, in some cases. Therefore, I have decided I shall not return to my estate, for in doing so, I believe that I would make it quite plain that I have something to hide from, that there is some truth in these rumors. Therefore, I am not doing so. I shall remain here without fear and without reservation.”
Lady Hayward did not reply for some moments. She considered Lord Richmond, looking at him steadily, although her expression did not change. Rebecca said nothing, wondering what it was that Lord Richmond had apparently done yet knowing that she could not ask outright.
“Regardless of whether or not you are innocent or guilty of such rumors, Lord Richmond, you must be aware that you cannot linger by the side of a lady such as this,” Lady Hayward remarked, gesturing to Rebecca. “A daughter of a duke, who is in London for the very first time?” She shook her head at him, clearly all the more displeased. “You may consider yourself innocent, Lord Richmond, but the ton does not, and they will taint whomever it is that you keep in your company. Therefore, you will excuse us both.”
Lord Richmond opened his mouth to protest and then, after a moment, closed it again. A long sigh issued from his mouth as he shook his head and ran long fingers through his thick, dark hair. Rebecca watched him carefully and, to her surprise, felt a rush of sympathy in her heart for the man. She did not know this gentleman at all, had barely said more than a few words to him, and yet, from his appearance alone, she found herself filled with compassion. If he was being tossed about by the ton and their malicious rumors, then she could not help but feel for him and his present circumstance. Studying him carefully, she took in the dark smudges underneath his eyes, the way his mouth tugged downwards. Lines formed across his forehead as he frowned, his jaw working furiously for a few moments as he slowly lifted his gaze back towards Lady Hayward.
“Good afternoon, Lady Hayward,” he muttered before turning back to Rebecca. “Good afternoon, Lady Rebecca. It was my honor to be introduced to you.”
“And I to you,” Rebecca found herself saying, ignoring the sharp look from Lady Hayward. Lord Richmond said nothing more, turning on his heel and making his way to another part of the bookshop, leaving the novel he had been so engaged in sitting quietly on the shelf.
Lady Hayward let out a long breath of relief.
“I am sorry for the abruptness of my manner, Lady Rebecca, but you cannot associate yourself with such a gentleman,” she said firmly, astonishing Rebecca greatly. “I am doing it for your own good, for Lord Richmond is not a gentleman that you ought to converse with.” She turned to face Rebecca a little more, her gaze severe. “He may be a marquess, but there is a rumor about him that has flown through the ton with such force that I do not think he will be able to remove it from his person for even the following Season!” With a small sigh, she reached to catch Rebecca’s hand, her eyes searching Rebecca’s face. “You do quite understand, I hope?”
Rebecca hesitated, looking back at Lady Hayward and choosing to speak the truth rather than merely agreeing without discussion. “Might I ask, Lady Hayward, what it is that he has done? Why is it that I must not be in his company, particularly if he is denying what has occurred?”
“Because,” Lady Hayward said with a sigh, spreading her hands, “the ton do not see it that way. I confess to not giving his words even a momentary consideration. Many times has a gentleman claimed not to be guilty of what is being said of him, only for it to soon be revealed that he has done precisely what is being whispered, if not more. Either way, it is best for you to remain away from him, Lady Rebecca. It is not wise for you to be in his company.”
Rather than accepting this, Rebecca found something small beginning to burrow into her heart. An urge to rebel and tell Lady Hayward that she did not want to do such a thing and did not have any intention of doing so. It was remarkably strange to have such a reaction for, whilst she did not know Lady Hayward particularly well, Rebecca already trusted her guidance and advice. So why should she step back from it now?
“What do the rumors say?” she asked, pressing Lady Hayward again for the answer. “If I am to remain away from him, then I must know the truth.”
Lady Hayward frowned. “Why should it matter, Lady Rebecca?” she asked, clearly unwilling to speak of whatever it was that had evidently occurred. “You were only briefly introduced to him and have no need to return to his company.”
There was no simple way to express her strange desire to know more, to tell Lady Hayward the reason for her eagerness. Given that she could not express it herself, Rebecca could only shrug and look away. “Call it curiosity,” she replied, a little embarrassed. “It is not something I can easily express but there is an urge within me to know what is being said of him.” Her lips twisted for a moment as she struggled to find a way to state clearly what was within her heart and mind. “He seemed very determined to state his innocence, Lady Hayward. And to remain in London when he is clearly considered guilty must take great strength of character and surely must speak of his lack of guilt?”
Lady Hayward sighed and closed her eyes, opening them after only a moment. “You are interested in Lord Richmond, then. Quite what he has said to you to make you so eager for his company, I cannot imagine, for you were only together for a few minutes before I came to join you!”
“I am not interested in him in that sense,” Rebecca protested weakly. “But rather to know what it is that has caused such consternation.” Warming to the explanation she now clung to, she shrugged one shoulder. “I have never seen you behave in such a way towards a gentleman before, Lady Hayward. You can hardly expect me not to seek out the truth of this rumor given that it has practically pushed me from his company!”
This did not appear to convince Lady Hayward, who shook her head, ran one hand across her brows as she muttered something inaudible that Rebecca took to be nothing more than frustration. A knot of anxiety sat in her stomach as she waited for Lady Hayward to say more, wanting desperately to know now the truth of the matter.
“It is to do with a lady named Lady Kensington,” Lady Hayward said eventually, lifting her head. “She is, from what I understand, something of a…flirt.”
“I see,” Rebecca replied slowly. “And she is wed, I presume?”
“Yes, she is not a widow or any such thing,” Lady Hayward replied with a grimace. “She is wed to the Earl of Kensington, who is a very respected gentleman, although he is certainly a good deal older than his wife.”
This did not surprise Rebecca in any way, for she had been told that such things often occurred. A gentleman who had not married earlier in life would seek out a younger wife in order to produce both the heir and the required spare. Evidently, this was the case with Lord and Lady Kensington.
“However, given that Lady Kensington is known to behave so, it is wise for respectable gentlemen of the ton to remain out of her company should they wish to maintain their reputations. It appears that Lord Richmond was not doing so.”
A small frown crossed Rebecca’s forehead. “He was in her company, then?”
“When her husband—and everyone else, it seems—was absent,” Lady Hayward replied delicately. “It is not known the precise details, I will say, but the rumors have been flying around London for a few days now. It seems that Lord Richmond and Lady Kensington were discovered by her husband in a less-than-proper situation. Lord Richmond denies such a thing whilst Lady Kensington has said nothing and now remains steadfastly by her husband’s side.” She looked at Rebecca steadily. “Does that now satisfy your curiosity?”
There was no immediate response from Rebecca, who considered all that Lady Hayward had said without instant judgment. Lord Richmond had been quite determined to state his innocence, had been eager to impress u
pon them both that he had not done anything that the rumors suggested, and yet Lady Hayward was determined to take her from his company without any hesitation. That was, of course, very wise indeed, but there was still something within Rebecca that felt the unfairness of it all. She wanted to know whether or not Lord Richmond spoke the truth, for if he did, then was there any particular reason she could not be in his company?
Why are you so eager to see him again? came a quiet voice in her head. It is not at all sensible. You ought to be accepting of what Lady Hayward had said and, in doing so, remove yourself from his company. Why do you seek out more?
“Lady Rebecca?”
Taking in a deep breath, Rebecca gave Lady Hayward a tight smile, one that she had to force to her lips. “I understand why you wish me to remain far from him,” she said honestly. “However, I struggle to accept that a gentleman who states clearly that he has done no wrong should be so rejected by society, and by myself also.”
Lady Hayward’s brows lifted, and she spread her hands. “What else would you wish to do, Lady Rebecca?” she asked, as Rebecca frowned. “Continue to seek him out? To improve your acquaintance with him when the very act of doing such a thing might only damage your own, perfect reputation?” She waited for Rebecca to respond and, aware of the truth of what was said, Rebecca could only sigh, nod, and look away.
“I do not know what it is about Lord Richmond that has caught your attention so, but I can assure you that there will be plenty of other gentlemen who are eager to make your acquaintance,” Lady Hayward finished, putting a hand on Rebecca’s arm. “Come now, let us go in search of your sisters. And perhaps you might like to find something to purchase also?”
On instinct, Rebecca reached for the book that Lord Richmond had put down, picking it up and studying it for a moment. “Yes,” she said slowly, knowing that Lady Hayward would have no knowledge of why she had chosen this particular book and yet feeling a small stab of guilt in doing so. “I should like to purchase this one, I think. And perhaps another also.”
