Valeria nodded, turned, and followed Lord Woodsford into the sitting room.
He was already seated by the fire when she reached him. She had fantasized about sitting right beside him, but it seemed she had missed her opportunity. She took a seat on the chaise opposite him instead. Charlotte perched on a hard-backed chair by the wall.
Valeria cast about for something to say. The silence in the room was suddenly stifling.
“I hope your journey was pleasant this morning,” she said at last.
“It was fine, thank you,” Lord Woodsford said. “And I hope you’ve been keeping well since last we saw one another?”
Valeria nodded. “Yes,” she said. “I… I’ve really been looking forward to seeing you again, Lord Woodsford.”
He nodded but said nothing.
The awkwardness of the moment was broken by the arrival of a maid with a tea cart. Grateful for the interruption, Valeria turned her attention from Lord Woodsford. “Prepare a cup for Charlotte too, please,” she said. “Charlotte, there’s no need for you to sit all the way over there. Come and join us.”
Charlotte rose and joined them in the seats nearer the fire. She looked extremely uncomfortable.
And suddenly it struck Valeria that that was exactly how Lord Woodsford had looked since he had arrived. He seemed uncomfortable, just as Charlotte did. They both looked as if they were somewhere they weren’t sure they ought to be.
The maid handed around the cups of tea. Lord Woodsford took a small sip of his and set it down.
“Lord Woodsford,” Valeria said quietly. “Is there something wrong?”
“Wrong?” Lord Woodsford looked rather startled. “Certainly not. Why should anything be wrong?”
“Well, I’d like to think that it isn’t,” Valeria said. “But you must admit, you’ve been rather quiet and standoffish since you arrived. Have I done something to cause offense?”
“Of course you haven’t,” Lord Woodsford said. “Don’t be silly.”
Valeria frowned. She didn’t think that she was being silly, and she didn’t much appreciate being treated as if she was.
A part of her was beginning to really wish that Duncan was here. If he had been, he would have been able to break the tension that existed between Valeria and Lord Woodsford. He was so good at navigating social situations.
Maybe that was the problem. Maybe Valeria and Lord Woodsford were simply too much alike—both reluctant to open up to new people, for example, and both scarred by their traumatic pasts. Maybe it had only been Duncan’s presence that had enabled them to bond so quickly.
If that was true, had Aunt Alberta been wrong to send Duncan away for this visit?
Or had she been right?
If I can’t figure out how to socialize with this gentleman without my cousin present, there’s no hope for us in the future. We have to find a way to communicate with each other.
Valeria steeled herself, resolved to give it her best effort. After all, they had been so happy together at the ball. That connection must still exist. She would be able to rekindle it if she tried hard enough, she was sure of that.
“So tell me what’s been happening in your life,” she said. “Since you and I saw one another last, I mean.”
“Nothing of note,” Lord Woodsford said. He definitely wasn’t looking at her now.
“Somethingmust have happened,” she urged him.
“Why do you want to know?”
His tone was almost accusatory. She was taken aback. “I’m just interested,” she said. “I like you. I want to know what’s happening with you when we can’t be together. What have you been doing?”
“I have been tending to my affairs,” he said slowly, picking up his tea and taking another sip. “Of course, I have many financial concerns that I wouldn’t wish to bore you with. It’s all rather tedious.”
“But I wouldn’t find it tedious,” she said. “I’d like you to feel as though you can confide in me, Lord Woodsford.” Didn’t he remember how they had spoken to each other at the picnic, how much they had had in common? “I certainly hope nothing is happening that’s caused you worry or distress.”
“No, no,” he said. “Nothing like that.” But his gaze was far away.
