It took a moment for Lord Stoneleigh to respond. His eyes flashed with something unspoken, and then with a heavy sigh, he spoke.
“Yes, it is. It isincrediblydifficult. There were times when I had lost all hope. I despaired of what I would do, what the future would be for my title and my family line. I say this not to bring you any despair but to be truthful with you about what you must prepare yourself for.”
James slumped in his chair and let out a long breath.
“I appreciate your honesty. I am struggling with what I must face already. My title is certainly not as high as yours, but my fortune is equal. If I should lose that, then I lose a great deal. Yes, there is land and property which I could sell, but it would not be enough to regain the entirety of what I would lose should I be forced to pay the vowel completely.”
“Let us hope it does not come to that. Your present intention is to speak with Miss Shaw, is it not? If it transpires that she is unable to help you in any way, then we can speak again of what you could do next. Therewillbe an answer. Regardless of how long it takes, I can assure you that there will be an answer.”
Whether that answer brings me what I hope for remains to be seen.
“Quite how I am to speak to Miss Shaw, I do not know.” James ran one hand over his hair, shaking his head to himself. “She has been absent from society of late and, given how she pulled away from me, even if I was to see her, I fear that if I draw near to her, she will only move away all the more.”
Another frown dragged at his forehead as he thought of the lady, and when he had last seen her. His hands had been burning from where they had rested against her waist and thereafter, caught her arm and he had been a little surprised by the quickening of his heart. His own emotions had been swiftly forgotten when he had taken her in. Miss Shaw’s cheeks had been so pale and there had been no smile upon her lips. The urge to close the distance between them, to do what he could to comfort her and to reassure her, had been great, but he had fought not to act in a less than appropriate manner.
Was it possible to feel so much for someone he had only recently become acquainted with? She had been constantly on his mind, it seemed, ever since their first introduction, and that had been evenbeforehe had known of her involvement, whatever it was, with that particular bawdy house. He had been sure that they had met before, but perhaps that had come from only the sensation of a feeling that he had never experienced before. It did not matter to him that she had a quiet character - in fact, he would much prefer that over someone who was loud and abrasive.
Miss Shaw had a quiet beauty about her which he had noticed from the beginning, giving her a distinction that, to his mind, set her apart from the other young ladies in society. And now the fact that she was at a great distance and in a good deal of distress was tearing at him, for he was eager to do all he could to help her, but he was completely restrained by her reluctance. Yes, he very much wanted to know what she had to say about that bawdy house in the hope that it would be something of a help to him, but neither did he want her to suffer and struggle alone, as she appeared to be doing, with no mother present and her father seemingly almost entirely ignorant of his daughters’ requirements. Why else would he permit the elder daughter to chaperone the younger?
James could not help but take the impression that Miss Shaw was rather alone in the world, and his desire to be near her had only grown in the last few days. He had spent almost every evening in society looking for her, his eyes shifting from one part of the room to the next, to the point that he had missed out on more than one conversation.
“I need not ask if you are a little taken with the young lady. I know that you have only been acquainted recently, but you certainly seem to be showing an interest in her that goes further than this particular situation.”
James shook his head, but Lord Stoneleigh chuckled, forcing words of denial from James’ lips.
“No… I…”
Lord Stoneleigh chuckled again, and went on before James could say more.
“First – and you may not be aware of this - but you have spoken of none other than her these last two weeks. Secondly, I have seen you searching for her at society events and ignoring others entirely. You may protest, but you have certainly done so. Is there a particular reason for that, I wonder?”
“It is just as well we are good friends, else I would be eager to deny everything,” James responded as Lord Stoneleigh chuckled. “Goodness, you are bold in your questions.”
Lord Stoneleigh shrugged.
“Matters of the heart ought always to be discussed, as far as I am concerned,” he stated firmly. “Particularly in circumstances such as this, when one is already caught up with a great many thoughts. I understand your eagerness to speak with the lady as regards the bawdy house, but if there is something more, then that is something else to be considered, is it not?”
“Perhaps it is,” James admitted. “What is disappointing to me is that she seems so afraid.”
“It may be that she is not afraid of you in particular, but more that she is unwilling to speak to anyone. I have already told you that she has a quiet nature, have I not?” Seeing James nod, Lord Stoneleigh continued. “Given that she is chaperoning her younger sister, I suspect Miss Shaw will be much too ready to shrink into the background.”
James nodded slowly, considering this. It was a wise remark and yet his heart twisted all the more when he thought of it. He did not want her to fade into the background. He wanted her to be seen, to be aware that she was just as important as her sister. Why he should have such a thought was another matter entirely and, with an effort, he forced himself back to the conversation about how to find the lady so that she would speak to him without fear.
“That still brings me to the difficulty I have at present, in talking with Miss Shaw,” he stated. “There is a ball this evening. Mayhap she will decide to be present, and I can attempt to speak with her then.”
A quiet rap at the door interrupted their conversation and James called for the butler to enter.
“My Lord, there are two young ladies wishing to speak with you.” He lifted one eyebrow as James shot a glance towards Lord Stoneleigh. “They areunchaperoned.”
“Their names please.” The butler handed James a card and to his utter astonishment, he read the name of Miss Tara Shaw. Blinking rapidly, he handed it to Lord Stoneleigh, then nodded to his butler. “Send them in, and then bring us some tea.”
The butler did not so much as raise an eyebrow. Instead, he nodded and exited the room, leaving James to try to collect himself.
Whatever are they doing here, particularly if neither of them has a chaperone?
He did not have much time to think, and Lord Stoneleigh was only able to mutter one small exclamation before the door opened again, and the two Misses Shaw stepped into the room.
James went to them immediately, even as Stoneleigh also rose to welcome them.
