Edith wished she knew what Adele was thinking, what she was feeling. She could not be certain, of course, but a slight shiver trailed through her friend’s body, and Edith felt it like an echo.
And then they all stood face to face, and introductions were made. The Lord Halston and his son spoke politely, smiles upon their faces, their words kind. Still, Edith could not shake the feeling that Adele’s betrothed felt just as apprehensive about their upcoming marriage as her friend did herself. Perhaps this was a good sign.
Or perhaps not?
Remembering the utterly overwhelming surge she felt the moment her eyes had landed on Lord Whickerton, Edith could not help but notice that neither Adele nor Lord Halston’s son showed any such spark lighting up their eyes. Might it still come? Not everyone fell in love at first sight, did they?
“Would you care for a stroll, Lady Adele?” the duke’s son, Albert Kingston, Lord Aberley, asked with a formal bow.
Although clearly hesitant, Adele agreed, and they turned down the path, walking side by side.
Edith saw smiles come to their parents’ faces as they fell a few steps behind, eagerly discussing their children’s upcoming marriage. All the while, Edith strolled along, her gaze fixed upon Adele and her fiancé, wondering what their hearts were telling them at this very moment.
Straining to listen, Edith heard them exchange inquiries about their journey here before discussing the weather as well as current affairs. It was nothing personal. It was the kind of conversation one would have with a stranger; of course, that is what they were. Eventually, though, Lord Aberley asked Adele what pastimes she enjoyed.
A smile came to Adele’s face as she spoke of the outdoors, of riding and hiking, enjoying the feel of the sun upon her face and the sensation of her heart beating fast in her chest from physical exertion. Edith could see that these thoughts brought her friend joy, but she could just as easily see that Lord Aberley knew not what Adele spoke of.
“I must admit,” he finally said, a touch of regret in his voice, “that I never much enjoyed the outdoors.”
Adele’s smile vanished, replaced by a frown. “And yet you traveled the continent, did you not?”
Lord Aberley nodded. “That I did. It broadens the horizon, and as heir to my father’s dukedom, it is my duty to prepare myself as best I can for such a noble position.”
Edith could have groaned, recognizing his words as something he had no doubt been told many, many times throughout his life. It was not something he believed himself, not something he felt, but rather something he had come to accept as the truth.
“What books do you prefer, my lady?” Lord Aberley asked after a somewhat painful silence.
Again, Edith wanted to groan, for she knew Adele did not much care for the written word. She did not have the patience to sit still and read, her limbs always eager to move and experience things firsthand.
As much as Edith had hoped that her friend would find happiness with her betrothed—of course, that would make things easier by far—it seemed clear that that would not be the case. So, essentially, Edith had two options: she could either stand by and let things unfold, risking her friend’s unhappiness, or…she could interfere.
Meddle, as her old governess used to call it.
Excusing herself, Edith left the path and headed back toward the castle, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that she simply could not stand by. Adele would find herself most unhappy, and so would Lord Aberley. But what to do? She mused as she climbed the few steps to the door. It was not her place, and yet…
As she stepped across the threshold, Edith once more looked over her shoulder. However, her gaze did not fall on Adele and her fiancé…but on Lord Whickerton instead.
His dark brown eyes looked into hers, and instantly, that flutter returned with full force. Edith drew in a shaky breath, delighting in the teasing smile that came to his lips. Indeed, he could be just the man for her. If only she knew!
Chapter Three
UNBECOMING OF A GENTLEMAN
“You’re staring again,” Andrew murmured quietly beside him, jabbing an elbow into Jasper’s side.
Jasper glared at his friend. “And you are commenting upon it again,” he snapped, annoyed by that look of glee upon Andrew’s face. After rolling his eyes at his friend, he instantly turned back to staring at Lady Edith as she followed her friend Lady Adele and Lord Aberley down the path. Her head was pitched forward the slightest bit, as though she were straining to listen to their conversation.
Jasper grinned.
“As I said, Lady Whickerton,” Andrew addressed Jasper’s mother as she stood watching Lady Adele and her soon-to-be husband with a disapproving frown upon her face, “Lady Adele is promised to the Duke of Halston’s son.”
A noncommittal, yet displeased sound escaped his mother’s lips. The look upon her face, though, suggested that she loathed admitting defeat, her mood now as dark as that of a storm cloud. That did not bode well for any of them.
Doing his utmost to ignore his mother expressing her disapproval of his sister’s dress, her posture, her smile—basically her entire person—Jasper watched Lady Edith intently. Even from this far away, he could all but see the cogs inside her head turning, and he realized he burned to know what she was thinking.
Generally, Jasper found that women, like Lady Lucinda, for example, most often thought of balls and gowns, accessories and invitations, their only concern the next event, the next moment to present themselves. Indeed, these thoughts were mind-numbingly boring, which was precisely why Jasper tended to escape their company as quickly as he possibly could.
Lady Edith, however, was not thinking of these things; of that, he was certain. Why, he did not know. However, he would have wagered his entire fortune on it. However, if she truly was not thinking of the things women generally thought about, what went on in her head instead? Jasper did not know. He did not even have the slightest inkling, and that bothered him more than he thought it would.