“What is it, old chum? You look pale.”
Kenneth shook his head. “Not here. May we speak outside? I require the air, I’m afraid.”
Jack frowned; his green eyes full of concern. Leading his friend out of the billiards room, they walked down a hall lined with rich tapestry on either side interspersed with paintings of the Earls of Caster.
They exited through the French doors leading to the garden and when they were out in the air once more, Kenneth looked up at the sky, allowing a groan to escape him.
“It is a disaster, Jack.”
“What happened? You look as queer as Dick’s hatband, my friend. I cannot imagine what has put you in this terrible mood.”
“I am afraid I behaved very poorly toward our new arrival. Yes, I am sure she thinks me the most unpleasant of men. Certainly not a Lord. I …Jack…I could not hide my disgust at the sight of…” He bent over, hands on his knees. His hair fell into his face as he shook his head. The memory of her face - and the expression in her eyes upon seeing his reaction – was still imprinted in his mind.
His friend stood beside him and waited, knowing him well enough to realize pushing him would do no good. At last, he calmed himself enough to continue.
“The young Lady Ruth. She has a scar on her face. A burn. It is … terrible. And in such contrast to the untouched side of her face. Indeed, she must have been a great beauty once upon a time. But now, Jack. Her face is a mask, the burn stretches across her entire cheek. I could not help but stare and I’m ashamed to say I felt sick with the shock of it all.”
To his surprise, Jack did not seem at all taken aback by the revelation. He stood with his eyes narrowed and his lips pressed together.
“A scar? Is that all? Is that what has you in such a fit? Surely a scar does not make a person.”
Kenneth straightened up. “Not the scar. No. I mean, yes. The sight of it so shocked me that I was unable to hide my surprise and my unsettled feeling over it. But what I am truly upset with is my behavior. I acted like a common fool, not the graceful lord I am meant to be.”
Jack sighed and placed a hand on his back.
“Let us take a turn around the garden.” They set forth side by side, walking between the beautiful red and yellow roses the Countess of Caster took such pride in. “I will agree that it was perhaps not the most graceful of reactions, but I dare say you cannot be blamed for it. After all, you were entirely unprepared.”
Kenneth nodded. “Father told me that the young Lady’s mother died in a fire years ago, and I assume this is where Lady Ruth was injured. Why did he not tell me?”
“Perhaps he did not know?”
Kenneth pressed his lips together.Could it be true that Papa didn’t know? But it seemed as though he wanted to tell me something else, something more. And then there was Lawrence. Did he not imply something about one of the Duke’s daughters as well? I wish I had known. I would not have reacted so poorly.
“I suppose it does not matter. I apologized and she seemed amenable to forgive me.”
“She is certainly used to a reaction such as yours if the scar is as bad as you say.”
He had not considered this at all. The realization made him feel even worse now.
“I fear I will not be able to look past it. I am to dine with the family in a few short hours and…I fear I will be overwhelmed by the sight of it again and injure her once more. She will think me a monster.”
Jack indicated to the bench by the stream on the edge of the garden and the two sat side by side.
“You cannot judge yourself so harshly. You were surprised, that is all. Now that you know, you will be able to brace yourself. You will see beyond the scar.”
“You sound very sure of this.”
Jack shrugged. “I saw many a scarred man in the war. I still carry a scar from my injury, as you may recall.”
Kenneth sucked in a lung full of air. He’d quite forgotten that his friend served one year in the Royal Military and had seen action in France. He would have still been there, fighting alongside the troops, had he not been injured.
“Of course, it is much harder for a woman to have such a scar, and for it to be so very visible. Still, I know your heart and I know you will eventually see the person, not the scar.” He stopped then and tilted his head to one side. “Is she the one you are to marry?”
Kenneth found himself shuddering at the thought but then chastised himself for his reaction.
“She is one of the Duke’s daughters. The other is Lady Sophia. I must say at the present moment I am not concerned with the marriage so much as getting through the dinner.”
“I wish you could join us for dinner, as I would feel much calmer knowing you are there to steady my nerves.”