“I will have your carriage prepared once you have eaten your fill,” Lady Ashbourne replied, sitting herself down. “I am sure your parents will want to have you back with them.”
“I thank you.” The smile on Lady Amelia’s face was one of relief and Nathanial immediately frowned, wondering if this was due to his own strange behavior toward her last evening. He already had the name, ‘the Beastly Duke’, did he want Lady Amelia to spread yet more whispers about him? A sudden fear began to wrap around his mind, telling him that even though he had no intention of going to London for the Season, if Lady Amelia was to go as she had indicated, then she would start telling every one of her friends precisely what had happened. Thetonwould mock him, no doubt, spreading yet more whispers about his character, adding a heavier weight to the title of, ‘the Beastly Duke’ and leaving him without any comfort whatsoever.
I must speak with her.
“You say you are both to go to London this Season?”
Both Lady Charlotte and Lady Amelia looked towards him at once, surprise glittering in their eyes though Lady Amelia was the first to answer.
“Yes, Your Grace. We are.”
“Why do you ask?” Lady Ashbourne poured herself a cup of tea, looking over at him as she set the teapot down. “You have not thought to go to London yourself, have you?”
Nathanial coughed and looked away. “I – I am no longer as certain as I was, Mama. It may be that I decide to make my way to town after all.” He looked again to Lady Amelia, seeing the way her eyebrows lifted in obvious surprise. “I have not decided as yet.”
“I see.” There was a slight hint of triumph in Lady Ashbourne’s voice though Nathanial steadfastly ignored it. “I am certain that both William and myself would be very glad to have you join us there.”
Nathanial nodded and picked up a piece of toast. “I should like to see my brother again, as you well know, Mother,” he said, making it quite clear – he hoped – that this was not to do with Lady Amelia’s presence. “I was thinking on this last evening. If he isnotto come home to the estate – or if he is to stay only briefly – then that shall not satisfy me. I must go and spend time with him where he is. Namely, in London.”
“As I have said, I am sure your brother would be very glad to see you.” Lady Ashbourne looked again to Lady Amelia. “When is it that you will be leaving for London, do you know?”
Lady Amelia smiled. “I believe by the end of the month, Lady Ashbourne.”
“Capital. Then we shall see each other very often in London, I am sure.” Lady Ashbourne smiled and sent the glowing look in Nathanial’s direction though he looked away. “Now then, let us finish breaking our fast and we will have you prepared for home.”
***
“Lady Amelia, might I speak with you for a moment?” Nathanial folded his arms across his chest as Lady Amelia jumped in surprise, then turned to look at him directly. He had stepped out from a corner in the library where the young ladyhad unexpectedly come in, evidently not quite ready to depart as yet.
“Your Grace.” She inclined her head. “Do excuse me, the carriage is not yet ready and – ”
“Might I speak with you?”
The lady lifted her chin and looked back at him, perhaps determined not to show him that she held any fear in her heart over his presence. “Yes, if you wish.”
“The door is ajar and you may escape whenever you wish,” Nathanial said, gesturing to it. “I come to speak with you about last evening.”
Lady Amelia let her gaze settle on his, a steadiness in her eyes that he had not expected. “I do not think that there is anything that needs to be said, Your Grace. It is clear that you found great distress in your dreams.”
“I did not – ” Stopping himself, Nathanial closed his eyes briefly. “Yes, I suppose that is true. If I am to be truthful, I would tell you that I often have dreams which can be rather unsettling. It was not simply because your sister and you had resided here or because of the storm.” A little uncertain as to why he said such a thing, he quickly cleared his throat and lifted his shoulders, letting them fall quickly. “I apologise that you saw me in such difficulty.”
The edge of Lady Amelia’s lips curved. “Your Grace, there is nothing for you to apologise for. You were asleep, as you said. Therefore, why would you apologise for that? It was not as though you could be freed from your dream nor could you be responsible for what happened.”
“But you were a little alarmed.”
Her smile grew softly. “Yes, I admit that I was. However, when I saw that you were in distress, my concern for you grew rather than being concerned for myself. I am only glad that you recovered quickly and that I was able to help you in a small way.”
Nathanial cleared his throat, now feeling a little disconcerted as he remembered how he had taken her hand and the comfort that had brought him. Was she thinking of the same thing?
“It is just as well you will not see me in such a state again,” he muttered, passing one hand over his eyes and recalling what it was that he wanted to say to her in the first place. “However, now that I know you are to go to London and that all of society will be there, I must ask you if you might be willing not to speak of this to anyone else.”
The moment he said it, Nathanial grew concerned that he had made some dreadful mistake. Lady Amelia’s eyes grew wide only for her then to frown, her hands going to her waist, her elbows akimbo.
“Your Grace, I am deeply offended that you think I am some sort of gossip!”
“It is not that, Lady Amelia,” he said, quickly, only for her to interrupt him, her eyes blazing with indignation now.
“I am not the sort of person who wouldeverspread rumours about you or anyone else,” she exclaimed, her voice growing in strength. “You might not be aware of my character given that you have neveroncecome to call, nor have accepted any invitations which have been sent to you but had you done so, then you might now be aware that I am not in theleastbit inclined towards any sort of gossip. I despise it. I think it the very worst thing of all. I should not like to have a word of rumour spoken about me and therefore, I would not be willing to speak a word of it about anyone else! What sort of person would I be if I willingly laughed and spoke about a gentleman’s distress? A distress known solely to himself and something that, I am sure, you are eager to keep entirely to yourself! I am not unaware of such things, Your Grace nor am I unsympathetic to them. So no, you need not have any concern. I will not say a word about thisto anyone. The only person I have spoken to of it andwillspeak to of it is my sister, Lady Charlotte.”