“You know that I need to wed,” Honora told Lord Crampton, seeing how the light in his eyes began to fade. “You are also aware that I have no dowry, that my father is impoverished, and should I not find a husband, I will have no future aside from that of a companion. But,” she continued, taking a deep breath and allowing a wide smile to spread across her face, “those are not the reasons that I have for accepting you.” The light which flooded back into Lord Crampton’s eyes made Honora smile all the more. “I accept you because I believe that youarereforming yourself,” Honora said, as Lord Crampton closed his eyes momentarily, clearly relieved. “I believe all that you said to me last evening. Your regret was real, your apology genuine. And, Lord Crampton, if I am to be truthful, I would tell you here and now that my heart has begun to fill with an affection for you which I did not ever think would be there. My mind is full of thoughts of you. When I realized about Lady Charlotte, my upset and my fright was based solely on the concern that I might lose you to her entirely!” She laughed softly as Lord Crampton caught her other hand with his, his breath dancing across her cheek, his nearness igniting deep emotion within her heart. “I accept you, Lord Crampton, because you have become more to me than I ever expected.”
“I do not deserve such affection, nor kindness, nor trust,” he told her, lifting her hand to his lips, and pressing a kiss to the back of her hand. “But I shall spend every day proving myself to you, Honora. I swear it to you here and now: I will be everything a husband ought to be and more. I will thank the good God above every day for the wife he has given me and will love you with all of my heart so that you never have cause to regret your choice.”
The warmth of his lips on her hand spread heat all through Honora, and she blushed, dropping her gaze for a moment but unable to keep the smile from her lips.
“If you would be contented, I should like to announce it… now,” Lord Crampton said, as Honora laughed. “Given my present state of happiness, I should hate it if Lady Charlotte did anything to take that away from me.”
“From us both,” Honora replied, slipping her arm through his and then turning back towards the drawing-room so that they might fall into step together. “Yes, let us go.”
* * *
The butterflieswhich were fluttering through Honora’s stomach did not desist as Lord Crampton made his announcement. Instead, they only increased, although the smile on her lips remained. Her eyes roved about the room, looking at all of the faces which were now bearing various expressions – some astonished, some smiling in delight and others barely acknowledging it at all, clearly eager to return to their conversations.
“Honora!”
The hubbub of conversation had returned as Honora heard her name being hissed, turning her head to see her aunt standing there. Lady Langdon’s face was bright red, her eyes sparkling with anger.
“Whatever is the meaning of this?”
“I have proved you wrong, aunt,” Honora replied, without malice. “Ihavebeen able to find someone willing to wed me.”
Lord Crampton gave Lady Langdon a warm smile.
“I do hope that you can be glad for your niece, Lady Langdon,” he said, calmly. “I can assure you that I will do all I can to make her the happiest, most contented of ladies in all of England.”
“You have not gained my consent!” Lady Langdon exclaimed, as Honora stepped forward and put one hand on her aunt’s arm, quietening her.
She recognized that Lady Langdon was angry with Honora’s success, with the fact that Honorahadbeen able to find a match when she herself had not yet done so – and when she had been proven incorrect for what was now the second time. Speaking firmly, she gazed directly into her aunt’s face.
“I do not require your consent, aunt, and have every certainty that my father will give his without hesitation,” she stated, firmly. “Pray attempt to find alittlehappiness in my joy, aunt. I am no longer facing the dark future of being entirely alone, and instead can now look to a day when I will belong in my own house, when I will be mistress of it and can love my husband – just as you once did.” This was something which seemed to astonish Lady Langdon, for all at once, the anger left her eyes and her mouth dropped open. Honora gave her a quick smile and then stepped back, having seen Lady Charlotte just behind her aunt. “Excuse me, aunt,” she murmured, before pulling Lord Crampton away.
“Lady Charlotte.”
Lord Crampton’s voice was low, his eyes fixed.
“This is a sham!” Lady Charlotte exclaimed, her eyes narrowing. “You have done this only so that –”
“So that you cannot force Lord Crampton to take on the punishment for something he did not deliberately do?” Honora put in, catching Lady Charlotte off guard. “You love Lord Forthside? You were to elope with him?”
In an instant, Lady Charlotte’s expression crumpled. Her eyes lowered, her shoulders slumped, and Honora could see the trembling which had taken hold of her frame.
“You should feel the same pain as I,” she whispered, directing her words towards Lord Crampton. “To have been so close to the only happiness I wanted, to being in the arms of the gentleman I loved…” She shook her head, her voice thick with tears. “You took that from me.”
“But not deliberately,” Lord Crampton put in, his voice still hard with anger. “I thought to be doing you a service, Lady Charlotte. I never even imagined that there was anything more to your connection with Lord Forthside.”
Honora’s heart twisted in sympathy for, whilst what Lady Charlotte had done was entirely wrong, there was great pain there and Honora could understand that.
“I could still claim that we are betrothed,” Lady Charlotte sniffed, as Honora exchanged a glance with Lord Crampton. “You could still be shamed, torn apart, and broken, just as I have been.”
“Or,” Honora put in, one hand on Lord Crampton’s arm before he could explode with fury, “you might ask for our help.”
Lady Charlotte’s eyes lifted to hers, confusion deep within them.
“I cannot imagine your suffering,” Honora continued, gently. “But, if there is a way to assist you, a way to reunite you with Lord Forthside, then surely that is the better path to take rather than revenge?” She gave a long look towards Lord Crampton, whose brows were deeply furrowed. Giving his arm a gentle squeeze, she turned back to Lady Charlotte. “I have found a happiness and a joy which I did not expect,” she finished, softly. “I cannot imagine what I would feel should it be taken from me. But Lord Crampton did not steal you from your love with any deliberate intention.”
“And I will try to help you, should you wish it,” she heard Lord Crampton say, allowing a small breath of relief to escape her. “All you need do is ask.”
Lady Charlotte could not look at them, for she dropped her head lower still and Honora heard a small, gasping sob escape her. They stood together for some moments until, finally, Lady Charlotte lifted her head, set her shoulders, and tried to smile, despite her red-rimmed eyes.