Sara blinked in surprise as Miss Cartwright laughed softly, as though she had said something foolish.
“It is to say that such an emotion does not simply appear one day. Perhaps for some, they might feel a great and overwhelming emotion initially, but the depths of feeling that I now experience I believe will take a little time. That is where patience is required.”
“You have not always felt so for Lord Millwood?”
Sara looked at her friend as they walked, noting the smile which seemed to linger every time Miss Cartwright spoke of Lord Millwood.
“No, not always. My dear Lord Millwood and I courted for some time before he decided to propose. My feelings about him were, by that time, so great that I was able to consider everything that I felt and accepted him without hesitation, knowing that it would be both a practical match as well as one of love.”
“You mean to say you told him all that was within your heart?”
A little surprised at the openness of her friend, Sara’s eyes widened as Miss Cartwright nodded.
“Of course I did. Because we had been in such close acquaintance for a long time, there had grown a great bond of trust between us. I would not have kept anything from him for the world.” The envy that Sara had battled with again rose up like a fiery wave that she had to fight hard to push away. “That is why I speak of patience,” her friend finished. “Such a close acquaintance can take a good deal of time to develop. You cannot expect it to rush towards you at great speed - although I have heard on occasion that ithasdone so for certain individuals, even though that is not my experience.”
“I believe that my feelings for Lord Coatbridge would have grown still further, had I been courted by him for any longer length of time.”
Her shoulders dropped.
“But that is good, is it not? It is good that your feelings were not so very great, so that you have not been completely shattered by his betrayal, although I shall not say that you are in any sort of enviable position. I would encourage you to push against your mother’s urge to match you with a suitable gentleman. Take as much time as you can to find a husband who truly suits you. Allow the Season to go by with great slowness and deliberation on your part and use that inquisitive nature of yours to make certain that any gentleman who seeks your affections is worthy of them.”
Sara arched an eyebrow.
“Are you saying that I am a little nosy, my dear friend?”
Again, Miss Cartwright laughed, but she did not immediately disagree.
“I believe I used the word inquisitive,” came the answer, making Sara laugh. “Come now, we are dear friends, are we not? I know you well – and after our conversation this morning about Lord Stoneleigh, I can already imagine what questions are in your mind when it comes to him.” Sara attempted to find the words to disagree, but her conscience forbade her from speaking aloud. “Am I incorrect in my assumptions?”
Sighing, Sara shook her head, as they turned to step into a bookshop. Dropping her voice low, she spoke a little more quietly to her friend as they wandered among the shelves stacked with books.
“If you are asking whether or not I am thinking about Lord Stoneleigh, and the injury to his arm, and whether or not he spoke to me of it, then the answer would be yes. I will not pretend otherwise.” She threw a smile to Miss Cartwright, but her friend did not see it as she picked up a book, now scrutinizing the cover. “I find myself wondering where he sustained such an injury, and why his arm is still so painful to the point that he felt the need to speak of it. And I find myself wondering whether or not he spoke to me about it in the same way he spoke to you. Yes, my friend, I do have a great many questions about Lord Stoneleigh!”
“I did speak to you about my arm before we began the dance.”
A deep voice made her jump in surprise and, when she turned her head, there, standing before her, was none other than Lord Stoneleigh. His back was straight, his head held high with one hand holding his hat close to his side.
“I do not… That is to say…” Closing her eyes for a moment, she took a breath. “Good afternoon, Lord Stoneleigh.”
Aware that she was fumbling for what she ought to say in such a circumstance as this, Sara let her gaze dart around the shop rather than looking into his face.How long has he been standing there? How much has he heard from my lips?
“Good afternoon.” Lord Stoneleigh murmured the words, inclining his head as Sara’s heart ricocheted around her chest. She managed to drop into a quick, bobbed curtsey. “And good afternoon to you also, Miss Cartwright.”
Sara caught her friend’s eye for a moment as she gave a soft reply, only to then turn away from Lord Stoneleigh entirely - but not before Sara had caught the redness in her cheeks. She had no other choice but to turn her attention directly back to Lord Stoneleigh.
“Forgive me, Lord Stoneleigh, for what you have, no doubt, overheard from me.” Sara’s face was burning as Lord Stoneleigh looked at her, his eyebrows a little lifted. His dark brown eyes were in sharp contrast to the fair hair which draped itself across his forehead, and Sara struggled to look straight into his face. There was a tightness to his square jaw, and the way that he dropped his chin a little to look down at her was somewhat intimidating. Choosing to be honest, she threw out both hands. “My friend has only just finished accusing me of being much too inquisitive and alas, I find that I must agree.”
“So it would seem.”
Lord Stoneleigh clasped his hands behind his back, his lips pursing for a moment. His sudden change in expression reminded Sara that she had spoken of his arm.
“Forgive me for my lack of attention last evening, my Lord. I believe I was a very poor partner for you, and missed a great deal of your conversation, no doubt due to my own feelings and distractions.”
“Youwerepreoccupied,” he agreed, shifting from one foot to the other, his head turning slightly as she took him in. His expression was inscrutable, and she could not tell whether or not he was irritated with her, or whether he found the entire situation a little mirthful. The broad shoulders and obvious strength in his frame were entirely in contrast to Lord Coatbridge, who was rather slender in his frame, and Sara found her heart quickening all the more. “I have been informed about the difficulties which you faced last evening, Lady Sara.” His hands swung back but she did not miss the flicker in his dark eyes which came as he did so. Evidently, his arm still pained him. Clearing his throat, he lifted one eyebrow as she flung her eyes back towards him, only just realizing that her gaze had been on his arm.
Tension burned the air between them.
“Pray forgive my inquisitiveness. I shall not be demanding any answers from you, I can assure you.”
