Lord Stoneleigh’s smile was sudden, bright, and took her breath for a moment.
“That is a very great relief. I only spoke a little in apology for being unable to dance with my usual vigor, but did not give any particular details. Given your own situation, I am sure that you can understand my reasons for doing so.”
His eyes were suddenly lit with a fire that Sara had never seen in him before, and her embarrassment grew all the more. Pressing one hand to his heart, Lord Stoneleigh bowed and, without another word, turned on his heel and made his way from her company and the bookshop itself. Sara blinked in astonishment, following him with her eyes and wondering whether or not she had seen mirth his expression, or if it had been something entirely different.
“Goodness, that was most embarrassing.” Miss Cartwright was beside her again in a moment, clearly relieved that Lord Stoneleigh had left the bookshop. “How much did he overhear, do you think?”
Grimacing, Sara let out a long breath.
“I cannot say entirely, but from what he said, I believe that he caught me talking about his arm and the injury he has so clearly sustained to it.”
Her friend patted her arm.
“Pray, do not give it too much thought. He will forget it soon enough, and you apologized quite beautifully.”
Sara’s embarrassment did not fade.
“Perhaps, although I do not think he will ever ask me to dance again.”
“Answer me this. After this situation, are you going to step back from such curiosity?” her friend asked, as she returned her gaze to Sara. “Shall you continue to wonder about Lord Stoneleigh and his injured arm, or will you push him away entirely and focus on something else?”
As much as she wanted to say otherwise, the truth formed words on her lips, and she had no choice but to speak it.
“I am afraid that what I will do is quite the opposite of what I ought to do, my dear friend,” she answered as Miss Crawford laughed and shook her head. “But, after speaking with the gentleman, I am ashamed to say that I am all the more intrigued by him. I do not think that I can let my curiosity about him aside, yet.”
Chapter Four
“What is it you remember from that evening?”
“Very little.” Gideon passed one hand over his eyes. “I know that is the same for most of us, but my memory is so clouded that I struggle to recall even a single thing that happened. All I can remember is pain.”
Lord Wiltsham scowled.
“The fact that you were injured shows that these are men who are willing to go to any length to get what they want,” he replied. “You know that I have tried to speak to Lord Kingston about that evening and whether he knows the gentleman involved with what happened to you, but Kingston is saying very little. I believe he is so furious with having to capitulate that he will remain quite silent on the matter from now on.”
Gideon shrugged.
“It is to be expected. I can understand that he wishes to defend himself as best he can. He will not want to give in to anything else, any more than he already has done.”
“Precisely. His reputation is quite ruined, of course. The gentlemen of thetonalready knew to avoid the fellow, but the fact that they are now speaking openly about him and his situation at present, as well as about all that he has done, means that there is very little left for him. It is very strange how angry he is, given that what he has done, he has done to himself. But he seems to believe that he is being treated most unfairly.”
Unable to help himself, Gideon chuckled darkly.
“It is very odd how one’s sins never appear to be so very bad until they affect oneself.” One hand rubbed over his eyes. “How much I would give to speak to Lord Gillespie about what he did.”
Lord Wiltsham shook his head.
“Do you remember him leading us there?”
Gideon hesitated, dropping his hand.
“I know that we all went to the East End of London on Lord Gillespie’s advice. I recall that he encouraged us to go there to gamble and enjoy the evening, but I cannot remember sitting at a table with anyone – himself included. I am beginning to wonder whether or not I actually did such a thing or if perhaps I was involved in something else. How would I have become injured?”
“Ah, there is something I cannot answer,” Lord Wiltsham replied, swirling his brandy around in his glass. “There were many other pursuits and interests available there that evening, I remember. Why do you not return there? Why do you not go to see what there is to see in that location? Perhaps being back in the place where you were injured might bring something to mind.”
Gideon nodded slowly, ignoring the worry which began to coil around his heart at the thought of returning to that place. Even remembering what he had endured – the struggle and the pain – made him shudder.
“You are probably right.” Taking a sip of his brandy, Gideon let out a long sigh. “To be truthful, I am struggling to find any hope in this situation. I am a little more encouraged now that I know that both you and Lord Foster have regained your fortunes, but at the same time, I find it difficult to allow that same hope for myself. It is a strange conundrum.”
