Honora lowered her head and made to follow her aunt, glad that they would not have to linger in Lord Crampton’s company, only for the gentleman to reach out and catch her arm.
“Miss Gregory.”
She was unable to move past him, her arm still in his tight grip as she lifted her head, looking first towards her retreating aunt and then to Lord Crampton thereafter. Her aunt had no awareness of Honora’s concern, and she was left staring up into Lord Crampton’s eyes.
“I–”
He looked at her confused, his lips pulling to one side as he looked down at where his hand rested on her arm as though he had not expected to behave so.
“Miss Gregory, I apologize.”
His hand dropped from her arm and Honora, instead of swinging on her heel and hurrying after her aunt, merely looked up into his face. There was a frown adorning Lord Crampton’s brow and, as he pulled his hands behind his back, he cleared his throat and shuffled his feet, giving the impression of a gentleman ill at ease.
“But of course.”
She made to turn but Lord Crampton spoke again.
“I behaved poorly at our first meeting, Miss Gregory. I apologize. I shall, of course, make certain to apologize to your aunt also.” Honora blinked in surprise, her stomach turning over on itself. After all, she had said and discussed with her aunt as regarded Lord Crampton and their decision that he wasnotto be considered, talked to, or even acknowledged unless they had no choice to do so, she now found herself quite at a loss as to how to address him. This was most unexpected. “I shall not keep you from your aunt.” His frown lifted and a small smile pulled at one side of his mouth although his eyes remained grave. “Excuse me.”
She watched him take his leave, her heart beating in wild confusion. It took her a moment to turn on her heel and go after her aunt and, even as she did so, Honora could not stop herself from looking over her shoulder after him, managing to do so at the very same moment as he looked behind him towards her.
Their eyes met and a streak of warmth ran the length of Honora’s frame, making her blush furiously. Turning her head sharply, she caught up with her aunt and, keeping her head low, stood quietly to one side, with her hands clasped loosely in front of her. But her mind whirled furiously, and her heart continued to pound at the most ridiculous pace. Whatever was she to make of him now?
Chapter Five
“Ido not think I have ever seen you so troubled over a lady.”
Robert sighed and wondered if he ought to have brought this matter into discussion in the first place. After a sleepless night, he had risen early and, even though he had attempted to sit at his study desk and work through his correspondence, had done nothing other than stare blankly at an untouched piece of paper. When Lord Venables had come to call, Robert had ended up talking to him about Miss Gregory – although Lord Venables was entirely unaware of the lady’s situation.
“You behaved poorly, and you apologized. Is there any need for this mental torment?”
“No, there is not. That is why I am so very frustrated with myself.”
Lord Venables swirled his glass of brandy but kept his eyes fixed on Robert.
“What is it that you wish of her? It is not as if you have any intention to marry.”
Snorting at the idea, Robert shrugged.
“She ought to mean nothing to me, I know.” Raking one hand through his dark brown hair, he forced himself to tell Lord Venables the truth. “She is a companion!”
Lord Venables’ mouth fell open and he stared at Robert in silence for what felt like many minutes. Robert, aware of the heat rising up his neck, turned his gaze away and wondered if he ought not to have said anything at all.
“A companion?” Lord Venables spluttered, his eyes wide as Robert threw back the rest of his brandy, feeling the fire of it burn down his chest. “You are this frustrated over acompanion?”
“She is a lady!” Robert protested, as though that made any particular difference. “She is the companion to her aunt, who is here, I believe, to make another match if she can.” Seeing Lord Venables’ lifted eyebrow, he sighed and shook his head. “Miss Gregory is the daughter of a Viscount who has very little financial security at present and thus, she is now the appointed companion of her aunt. A little strange, I grant you, but that is as it stands.”
“Which still does not answer my question as to what it is about her that has you so caught up with her?”
Robert groaned, tilting his head back against the chair and closing his eyes.
“I found myself eager for her to know what had occurred last Season. I found her manner towards me at our first meeting to be intolerable.”
Lord Venables sighed and shook his head.
“That is an explanation, certainly, but not one that I particularly like,” he mumbled, as Robert sighed and quickly signaled the footman for another brandy.
“It is not the full explanation, however.” Closing his eyes, Robert spread out his hands to either side of himself. “I believed her to be in the wrong. I thought that if I approached and told her of my standing in society such as it is now, then she would not think to treat me so again. But the moment I drew near, I found myself… a little confused.”