A muffled groan slipped from Jonathan’s lips as sat down in an overstuffed leather chair. Thus far, this was not the delightful Season he had anticipated. Instead, it seemed to be becoming overly complex, confusing, and frustrating. He did not want to have Lady Vivian chasing after him, nor did he wish for Miss Fullerton to be the subject of a bet between two of his friends!
I wish my mother had never returned to London.
Accepting the glass of brandy from the footman, Jonathan threw it back in one gulp and then ordered another.
Although then I would not have met Miss Fullerton.
Closing his eyes, Jonathan let out another heavy sigh.
This was all becoming very complicated indeed.
Chapter Eight
“Good afternoon, Lord Thornley. Thank you again for calling.” Deborah smiled warmly at the gentleman as she rose from her curtsey. This was the second time that Lord Thornley had come for an afternoon call, and from the sidelong glances which Lady Havisham was sending her way, she clearly thought this was of significance.
“I look forward to seeing you both this evening.” Lord Thornley smiled before turning and taking his leave of them. Quietly, Deborah sat back down in her chair and smoothed her skirts over her knees.
“Well, what do you think of Lord Thornley?”
Deborah blushed at Lady Havisham’s knowing glance.
“I think him a very kind gentleman.”
“I believe he is!” Lady Havisham exclaimed as the door opened again. “Ah, Havisham. You have decided to join us, I see.”
She lifted one eyebrow in question as Deborah dropped her gaze. There was still an awkwardness between herself and Lord Havisham, where neither of them appeared to know what to say in front of the other. In the few days since he had come to speak to her in the gardens, that tension had only increased rather than faded, leaving her stomach twisting and her heart beating a little more quickly.
“I passed Lord Thornley upon my arrival.” There was no lightness in his voice and the knot in Deborah’s stomach tightened all the more. “He came to call, I take it?”
“Yes, he did. Pray do not inform me that Lord Thornley is not a suitable gentleman for Miss Fullerton to consider, else I shall be very cross indeed.”
There came a short silence and Deborah lifted her gaze to Lord Havisham’s, suddenly feeling a little sick. Surely there was not something questionable about thesecondgentleman who appeared to be interested in her! Lord Havisham caught her gaze and looked into her eyes for some moments. Silence surrounded the three of them and it appeared as though he were considering what to say next, for his jaw tightened and he clasped his hands tightly in front of him.
“No, there is nothing of concern.”
Deborah’s eyes closed but the nausea in her stomach remained. Lady Havisham was exclaiming that she was very pleased to hear such a thing whilst Deborah herself considered that there was more that Lord Havisham had wished to say but, for whatever reason, he had chosen not to do so.
“I am only grateful for Lord Thornley’s willingness to call.” Speaking up, she caught both Lady Havisham and Lord Havisham’s attention. “You can be quite certain, Lord Havisham, that I would not give any true consideration to any gentleman of thetonwithout being certain of their background and circumstance.”
“Nor would I,” Lady Havisham declared, lifting her chin as though she was daring her son to disagree with her. “Lord Thornley appears to be a very considerate fellow at least, but it is only the second time that he has come to call.”
A tap at the door came and within a few moments, Deborah found herself sitting quite alone, for both Lord Havisham and his mother had been called away for separate matters. Settling her hands in her lap, she closed her eyes and tried to breathe away the coil of tension that had wound itself around her heart. She had no need for concern. Lord Havisham seemed a little worried about Lord Thornley but, given that there was nothing of importance between herself and that particular gentleman at present, what did it matter?
“Miss Fullerton.” Her eyes flew open. “I – I have something I must ask you and whilst it is not my business and you might well find yourself eager to remove yourself from my company, I find that I must ask it.” Before she could respond, Lord Havisham had seated himself beside her, turning his body a little more towards hers. Shock lodged itself in her throat and she could only blink up at him in surprise. “You must promise me, Miss Fullerton, that you will tell me if you do not wish to answer.” Deborah nodded, her throat tight. She did not think that Lord Havisham had ever sat so close to her before. His green eyes glittered, searching hers with a gentle carefulness that she had never once seen before in all their interactions thus far. “I am not intending impertinence in my question nor seeking to throw doubt on anything that you have said, nor on your standing.” His chest lifted in a long breath and Deborah curled her fingers together, tension beginning to ripple down her spine. “I have been informed – and I need not say by who – that your father does not acknowledge you.”
“Ah…”
It was as if he had struck her hard in the stomach, for Deborah caught her breath as shock poured into every vein. She could not move, could not speak, hearing the blood roar in her ears.
“I have upset you.” Lord Havisham scowled as if angry with himself. “As I have said, the reason I ask is not because –”
“Who informed you of this?”
Before she knew what she was doing, Deborah reached out and grasped Lord Havisham’s arm, her fingers curling around his sleeve and brushing against the skin of his wrist. Another shock seemed to spike up her arm, but Deborah ignored it, desperate to hear his answer.
“It – it is not from anyone of significance.” Lord Havisham leaned forward, looking back into her eyes as if to try to reassure her. “You need not be concerned, Miss Fullerton. It is not as though thetonis going to know of this particular rumor.”
It would not be a rumor.