Lady Almeria’s tinkling laugh shattered Marcus’ heart.
She seems so at ease with him. Might she be considering him as a potential suitor?
“Good gracious, Lord Penforth, we have not danced together for only two days. I hardly think that is an excessive amount of time.”
Lord Penforth sighed and shook his head.
“Ah, is it only as short a time as that? Well, it must be simply because I am so very eager to dance with you that it appears so pronounced! Perhaps it is a recognition of how much I desire your very fine company.”
Marcus shot Lady Almeria a glance, seeing how easily she smiled at Lord Penforth. He was nothing to either of them at this present moment, he realized; naught but a shadow – present but unacknowledged.
What happens if some other gentleman snatches her away? You must not delay too long.
Lord Trevelyan’s words came back to his mind as Marcus lowered his head, taking a long breath. Was this the beginning of such a thing? Had Lord Trevelyan spoken the future without being aware of it?
After a few more minutes of general conversation, Lord Penforth took his leave, barely glancing at Marcus before he inclined his head and stepped away. To Marcus’ utter dismay, Lady Almeria let out a soft sigh, a smile on her face as her gaze followed the gentleman.
“I am quite certain that I could fall in love with him,” she declared firmly, turning her head away to look up at Marcus. “Do you not think so? He is a very handsome gentleman and quite amiable. Do you think that he has the potential to care for me?”
“I think anyone has the potential to care for you, Almeria,” Marcus spoke from his heart, feeling it break into tiny fragments as she turned to face him, her eyes seeming to glow with a new sense of evident happiness. “You are a wonderful young lady. Any gentleman who manages to steal your heart will be the most fortunate of fellows.”
She tilted her head at him and smiled.
“You do say the kindest things, Marcus.” Slipping one hand through his arm, she began to walk again, and Marcus had no other choice but to fall into step beside her, wishing Lord Penforth had interrupted them only a few moments later, so that Marcus might have had the opportunity to tell Lady Almeria the truth about how he felt. Yes, he might do so now – but Almeria’s thoughts were on Lord Penforth at present. The idea of speaking of his own heart now seemed a little foolish. “Wait!” Lady Almeria’s voice was suddenly very excited indeed. “What ifheis the one who has been sending me the bouquets? What if this is his way of encouraging my attentions?”
Marcus had not thought that he could experience more pain than having a shattered heart, only for yet another moment of jarring agony to blast its way through him.
“You should ask him.” It was the only thing he could think to say, for if she did ask Lord Penforth and he made it clear that he had very little idea of what she spoke of, then no doubt, she would wonder who else it was sending her flowers. Perhaps then he might find himself with a little more hope. “Yes, I think you should simply ask him.”
Lady Almeria giggled.
“Sometimes I think that you are just as eager to find out the truth as I am, Marcus.” Smiling, she looked up at him again. “You are the most wonderful friend. I hope you know how glad I am that you are here this Season. It has been a joy to my heart to be in company with you again.”
Marcus’ throat constricted.
“As joyful as I am to be with you again also, Almeria,” he managed to say, wishing she could see into the depths of his heart and know just how much he truly felt for her. “My life was not the same without your presence.”
Her smile softened and she leaned into him a little more.
“I feel the very same,” she murmured quietly, and Marcus’ heart cried out in agony all over again.
Chapter Six
“Ithink I should like to put something into ‘The London Ledger’.”
Her words drew a few audible gasps from her friends, for both married and unmarried were sitting together, taking tea in Lady Yardley’s drawing room. Lord Yardley had gone out this afternoon, leaving the ladies to themselves.
“How very interesting.” Lady Yardley smiled warmly. “And what is it you intend to put in ‘The London Ledger’?”
Almeria spread her hands.
“It is about all the bouquets I have been receiving.”
Her friends either nodded or cast her an assured glance, for they all knew that she had been receiving bouquets without notes attached every two or three days, and another had arrived only that afternoon.
“You want to find out who has been sending them?”
Almeria nodded in answer to Lady Sherbourne’s question.
