Lady Almeria chuckled softly and looked back at him.
“Alas, whilst such a thing may be true, there are good many of them akin to Lord Hayling, and quite frankly, I do not wish for them to prolong the time in my company.” Thankfully, her laughter pushed away the strain between them, which faded, and a companionable silence returned to take its place. “Although I will confess that there is one gentleman who has been showing me a little more attention than others lately.”
Having never expected to hear such a thing from her, Marcus sucked in a breath.
“Oh.” Coughing, he lifted his chin. “Is he an honorable gentleman?” Trying to smile, he nudged her lightly. “Or is he a gentleman you wish to ignore entirely?”
A large part of him prayed it would be the latter, only for his hopes to be dashed as she laughed.
“It is Lord Penforth.” Her eyebrows lifted as she looked at him. “From your response, I would say that you have not heard much about him! I hope that means there is nothing but good things said about his reputation and character.”
Urgently Marcus searched his mind for anything which might be wrong with Lord Penforth, but he could recall little. No, he considered, there was nothing the gentleman had done or said which would make society turn against him. A trifle irritated, he still managed to smile, although it faded very quickly.
“From what I know, Lord Penforth is a genial fellow, albeit a quiet one.”
She laughed brightly.
“I certainly shall not hold that against him,” she remarked, grinning. “If he is a fine fellow, then I shall give him the opportunity to steal my heart.”
Marcus’ heart pulsed with a snap of pain as he looked at her sharply.
“I beg your pardon?”
Lady Almeria blushed beautifully, looking at him for a long moment before, with a sigh, she continued.
“No doubt you will think me a little foolish, but I have every intention of making myself fall in love. I wish very much to be in love, and therefore have decided I shallonlymarry a gentleman who has cause to love me – and who I have fallen in love with.”
Her chin lifted, her eyes flashing as though she dared him to refute her idea.
Stopping their walk, Marcus turned to her, casting a quick glance over her shoulder and seeing Lady Fairburn no longer watching them, but now in deep conversation with a friend. Looking back at Lady Almeria, Marcus swallowed hard. His breath was coming so quickly that he feared it might pull the words from his lips before he was ready but, inwardly, he was practically dancing with both joy and terror. This was his moment.Thiswas the time he would tell her the truth of his heart.
I love you,he wanted to say.I shall always love you. If only you will give me an opportunity, I shall give you all of myself.
He grasped her hand, a little overwhelmed at the opportunity which had been given him.
“Oh, my dear Almeria.” His heart was beating painfully, and he took a breath, hearing a roaring in his ears. “I do not think it foolish, not in the least.” Closing his eyes, he lifted his chin and looked down into her beautiful face, seeing how her hazel eyes searched his. “There is something I must tell you. I –”
“I am soverysorry to interrupt.”
Marcus stammered to a stop, but quickly dropped Almeria’s hand, not wanting anyone to see their close connection. Turning, he forced a smile in Lord Penforth’s direction, battling his anger at being so interrupted.
Lord Penforth smiled genially back, though his gaze was fixed on Lady Almeria. He was a tall, rather slim man with a crop of thick golden hair and piercing blue eyes which, to Marcus’ mind always appeared to be somewhat cold. But then again, he considered, a little ashamed of himself, was he not thinking such a thing simply because of this interruption?
“Again, I am sorry to interrupt, but I could not simply walk past you without greeting you.”
Fully aware that Lord Penforth’s attention was turned solely to Lady Almeria rather than to himself, Marcus cleared his throat and finally caught a look from Lord Penforth.
“But of course.” he managed to say in a calm tone, as Lady Almeria inclined her head. “You have thought to take the afternoon air also, I see.”
Lord Penforth did not respond to Marcus, looking only at Lady Almeria as though she were the morning sun that brought the day into all of its glory. Marcus could not blame him for it. Lady Almeria held such beauty – both of face and character – that he had always believed no one could compare to her.
Desperately, he wished that there was something untoward about Lord Penforth’s character, something which would push him away from Lady Almeria, but in his heart, he knew there was not. He did not know the fellow particularly well, but a man’s reputation could easily be sullied, and all of society would know of it. Even though Marcus had not been in London all that often, he was certain that he would have heard a whisper of any wrongdoing on Lord Penforth’s part.
“Will you be at the ball this evening?” Lord Penforth smiled warmly at Lady Almeria, a hopeful glint coming into his eye, and Marcus’ stomach dropped.
“Yes, I have every intention of attending.”
“I do hope you will permit me to dance with you, for it has been some time since I have been able to do so, has it not?”
