“Well, now that we have spoken, I think it is time for me to take my leave. As I have said, I am going to take tea with Lady Emily.”
This time, Nathanial was out of his seat before his brother had even finished his sentence. “And I am to go to call upon Lady Amelia.”
There came surprise into his brother’s face, only for William to laugh as Nathanial followed out after him, hurrying in his sudden desperation to be where Lady Amelia was.
***
“The Duke of Ashbourne, my lady.”
Nathanial strode into the drawing room, his smile broad as he took in Lady Amelia, her mother and Lady Charlotte. That smile then fixed itself to his face as he looked at the other gentleman sitting beside Lady Amelia.
“Lord Wilcox.” Nathanial cleared his throat, lifting his chin a little as the gentleman got to his feet and inclined his head, though there was a glint in his eye that Nathanial did not like. “I am apparently interrupting. Do excuse me.”
“No, please do stay.” Lady Amelia came over to Nathanial directly, her eyes wide with warning. “We are just now expecting Lord Stirling, my sister’s betrothed. Lord Wilcox was just about to take his leave, I think.”
Nathanial looked back at the other gentleman, one eyebrow lifting. “Is that so? Then I am glad I came when I did.”
Lord Wilcox sniffed and clasped his hands behind his back, his lip curling. “It seems as though I am to take my leave, yes. Forgive me, I did not mean to intrude upon your visit, Your Grace. Though I have said everything that I desired to say so thus, I am glad now to step away.”
Lady Stanton, who had risen to her feet when Nathanial had come into the room, sat back down again. “Good afternoon, Lord Wilcox.” Her voice was thin, her words tight and there were two dots of color in her cheeks. “Please, Your Grace, do sit down. It will be a good opportunity to introduce you to Lady Charlotte’s betrothed.”
Lord Wilcox, seeing that he was dismissed, stepped away without another word, leaving Nathanial to look first to Lady Stanton and then to Lady Amelia, though the latter quickly and silently encouraged him to come and sit by her. Nathanial did so, wondering what it was that had taken place and why Lady Stanton appeared to be so displeased. His anger began to burn as Lord Wilcox took a very long time indeed to leave the room, speaking to each lady in turn and talking at length about how good they had all been to indulge him for so long. To Nathanial he did not speak a word, though the glance which was thrown in his direction when he spoke about being glad of being listened to was one of sheer dislike.
Nathanial curled his hands tightly into fists and kept his gaze away from Lord Wilcox, seeing the flush of color in Lady Amelia’s cheeks and the spark of frustration in her eyes. Knowing that she felt the same brought him a comfort though it was not until Lord Wilcox quit the room entirely that he felt relief.
Lady Amelia let out a long breath in a whoosh, closing her eyes and then reaching across to put her hand on his. “YourGrace, pray forgive Lord Wilcox’s presence and thelongtime he took to quit the room. I am sorry that you had to be in his company especially after everything he has said and done to your family name.”
Nathanial managed to smile, appreciating the touch of her hand on his. “But of course.” Looking away from her to Lady Stanton, he saw how she too had her eyes closed. “I do hope everything is quite all right?”
Lady Amelia sighed. “Lord Wilcox was coming to speak with me – and my mother also, it seems – about the dangers that would come from courting you, Your Grace.”
Fire leapt up in Nathanial’s heart and he shook his head, his jaw tightening. “I see.”
“The mostimpudentman!” Lady Stanton’s exclamation had Nathanial’s heart leaping in surprise, though he was almost glad that the lady seemed to understand the sort of fellow that Lord Wilcox truly was. “I cannot quite believe that he had the audacity to show his face here and then speak so poorly of you, Your Grace! When Amelia has already decided to court you, he believes that he has a right to speak into that! Even though he is nothing to any of us!”
Nathanial looked to Lady Amelia, seeing the frustration flickering in her eyes, the way her mouth pulled flat. “I am quite surprised to hear of such audacity,” he admitted, quietly. “Though I can assure you, Lady Stanton, whatever you have heard of me from Lord Wilcox will be touched by his own dislike. He has already told some untruths about me and has spoken cruelly to my brother both directly and indirectly.”
Lady Stanton held his gaze steadily. “I do not know what Lord Wilcox intended by coming to speak to me in that way, Your Grace, but I can assure you that I have absolutely no intention of listening to a single word that gentleman said. There was only one intention behind his visit and that was to discredityou in our eyes.” She lifted her chin. “I am a strong enough woman to make my own decision on such matters,” she finished, then turning her gaze to Amelia. “As are my daughters.”
Nathanial smiled then, relieved to know that Lady Stanton was willing to trust him and to ignore Lord Wilcox. Perhaps now he could see where Lady Amelia gained her kind heart from. “Thank you, Lady Stanton. I shall do everything in my power to prove to you that I am nothing like the gentleman Lord Wilcox claims me to be. I will defend my family if I must and defend my good name also, but I will never resort to violence simply for the sake of it. I can assure you of that.”
Lady Stanton smiled at him for what was the first time since Nathanial had sat down. “Thank you, Your Grace. I do appreciate your words a great deal.”
There was no time to say anything more for the door opened again and Lord Stirling was shown in, much to the delight of Lady Stanton and Lady Charlotte. Lady Amelia, however, turned to Nathanial and, coming a little closer, smiled up into his eyes.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Ashbourne,” he told her, seeing her eyes round. “If we are to be courting then you may as well refer to me as ‘Ashbourne’, if you wish.”
Her smile grew. “I very much wish to do so,” she said, softly. “Thank you… Ashbourne.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“I could not quite believe it!” Amelia shook her head as Lady Violet listened with shock rifling through her expression. “Whatever Lord Wilcox thought to do, he failed entirely.”
“That is good, I suppose.” Lady Violet turned her head to look over her shoulder to where Charlotte and Lord Stirling were walking arm in arm around the gardens. “And Lord Stirling’s arrival appears to have been a joyous one?”
Amelia smiled softly. “Yes, it was very good. I was glad to be able to introduce the Duke of Ashbourne to him as well and Charlotte appears to be very happy.”
