“Better than I would have without your aid. Thank you, My Lord.”
“Not at all. I was but a guide, nothing more.”
“Your kindness means a great deal to me and my aunt, of that I can assure you.”
“Then that is all the thanks that I need. It pleases me greatly to know that I have made a difference in your time of suffering. To have added even just a bit of light to the darkness is all that I ask.”
Cleo smiled at the Earl, then sat down in the chair that the footman was holding for her and allowed herself to be waited upon. “Thank you, Stephen.”
“My pleasure, Miss Wallace,” the footman murmured with a smile then returned to his place against the wall.
Another footman stepped forward with a plate of food that had been kept warm for her. “Thank you.” The footman bowed and backed away much as his comrade had done.
Cleo was not used to such treatment or extravagance. Mrs. McGrath had been all of the help that they could ever need in their humble home back in Oxfordshire. Every member of the household had worked in one way or another to ensure that it operated successfully and that everyone was cared for. The servants of Dustshore’s household had made Cleo feel as if she were a proper noblewoman and not simply the daughter of a deceased professor. Cleo was not certain how she felt about it.
“How did you sleep, My Lord? I trust that our little excursion did not cause you any undue sleeplessness.”
“Nay, no more than is usual,” he reassured her. “I must admit that I am looking forward to our outing today. It has been some time since I have visited the British Museum and I am looking forward to seeing it through your eyes. I am certain that you have some interesting insights from your father’s work. I look forward to learning from him even now through your memories.”
The idea that her father might live on through her greatly pleased and overwhelmed Cleo in nearly equal measure. Her father’s legacy left a great deal to be lived up to, but the notion that he and his work could live on through her memories being shared with others brought her a sense of peace and joy that she had not felt since his passing. The Earl’s astute nature had surprised her once again. She found herself wishing that it had been Arthur MacDonald who had made the observation, but she dismissed it.
Arthur MacDonald is at his estate tending to his own business. Had he time for me, he would have returned to speak with me. As it is, I am on my own.
Once they had broken the fast, the Earl of Dustshore, the Lady Chapman, Aunt Caroline, and Cleo all loaded into the carriage once more and rode to the British Museum. As much as Cleo had detested the notion of leaving home at such a time of grief and mystery, she had to admit that she was looking forward to returning to the place that her father had so enjoyed on his trips to London. The Greek collection had been a constant source of interest to him as a Greek studies professor, but he had loved everything about the museum.
Cleo’s favorite artifacts had been those within the Egyptian exhibit and so she led the way there first bypassing other exhibits in favor of the sarcophagi and its various other burial treasures. “Are they not extraordinary?” She breathed as she admired the light of the lanterns upon the gold and jewel bedecked remnants of a bygone era.
“Indeed, it is,” Dustshore smiled, standing beside her.
Aunt Caroline and Lady Chapman exchanged a not-so-covert look between them. The look caused Cleo to feel uneasy with what they might be planning, and she took a step away from all of them, pretending to go and look at another artifact just off to the side. As she turned her back on the rest of her group, she could hear her Aunt Caroline doing her best to charm the Earl into pursuing her niece further. It took everything within Cleo’s power for her to not run screaming from the room in embarrassment.
Honestly, I would have thought that the Lady Chapman would have put a stop to Aunt Caroline’s plans by now. After all, why would she wish for her son to be interested in courtship with a lowly professor’s daughter? We are not rich, well connected in the academic world, but not enough to be of import to a noble family. It was her own husband who paid for my father’s education. Friends they may have been, but amiable affection does not overcome the strictures of society. I cannot imagine how such a marriage could possibly benefit the Dustshore earldom or the Chapman family.
Cleo studied the Lady Chapman out of the corner of her eye attempting to read the thoughts behind the woman’s actions. Instead of disapproving, the Lady stood nodding and encouraging everything that Aunt Caroline said. “Unfathomable,” she murmured in disbelief. “I will never understand the nobility.”
“Nor will I,” a familiar masculine voice answered from behind her.
Cleo whirled around in disbelief and came face to face with Arthur MacDonald, Earl of Irondale. “Arthur,” she breathed before she realized what she was doing.
“Cleo,” he murmured, a light of affection in his eyes.
“What are you doing here?” she asked him softly so as not to draw attention to his presence.
“I received yer letter and went tae yer house tae find that ye had gone tae London. Yer missive seemed urgent, so I came tae London.”
“Oh, Arthur, I have so much to tell you.”
“And I look forward tae hearing it, lass, but I dinnae believe it wise tae discuss it here.” His eyes darted toward the group of people that she had come with. Cleo turned to follow his gaze and found that he had been noticed and that her three companions were moving swiftly towards them. “Meet me later at this address,” he whispered softly and pressed a piece of paper into her hand under the guise of kissing it, before turning to greet the others.
Cleo tucked the piece of paper into her reticule.How am I supposed to accomplish that without a chaperone?Turning her attention back to the group, Cleo was determined that no matter what it took, she would find a way to meet him without anyone else being any the wiser on the matter.Even if it means my reputation.
Chapter 14
“My Lord Irondale, I would very much like to show you one of my favorite pieces over here,” Cleo pulled Arthur away from the group as her Aunt Caroline unintentionally distracted the Earl of Dustshore and his mother once more.
“Aye, I would be happy tae,” Arthur acquiesced and followed her across the room.
“How do you expect me to be able to sneak out of the house and meet you anywhere unchaperoned? I am not a nobleman who may flit about as he pleases without repercussions. If I am caught, I will be ruined, my reputation in tatters. For the sake of my father, I would do anything, including sacrificing my honor, but if there is a way to avoid such disgrace I would very much like to do so.”
