She quickly began to do so, but Marcus barely registered a single word. All the hopes which had begun to build within him now cracked and shattered. Lady Almeria did not see him in the same way that he had seen her for so long.
Time had changed nothing.
She did not expect, perhaps did not even want, anything more than friendship - and that sent a knife into Marcus’ heart.
Chapter One
“Isee Lord Coppinger is to dance with you again.”
Almeria immediately laughed.
“Yes, but that is only Marcus.”
Seeing Lady Yardley’s eyebrows lift, Almeria quickly explained.
“You will think it odd for me to refer to him so informally, I am sure, but he and I have been friends since childhood. We practically grew up alongside one another and indeed, I think of him almost as one of my brothers. His father and mine were friends, and since his estate bordered my father’s, we spent many hours together – very often outdoors until my mother insisted that I spend a little more time pursuing all of the things which were required of young ladies!” Her heart warmed with the happy memories which flooded her. “Even then, Marcus was always ready to spend time in my company. He and I were even given the same dancing master so that we might learn together, although I think we infuriated that poor gentleman a great deal with our nonsense!”
“I see.” Lady Yardley smiled warmly. “How wonderful it must be to have someone whose friendship you have enjoyed for so long. I assume that you know each other very well.”
Almeria nodded.
“Yes, very well, although I have not seen him for a few years, since I have been in London for the Season with my elder siblings, and he has had a great deal of responsibility on his shoulders with taking on the title after his father died.”
“Then you would say that he is a responsible gentleman?”
“Oh yes. He is an excellent gentleman in every way, I think.” Her heart softened all the more. “The very best of fellows, I would say.” Lady Yardley gave her a long look, and Almeria flushed and looked away, somewhat uncomfortable. “There is nothing of that sort between us, I assure you,” she found herself saying, as though she needed to somehow defend herself when it came to Lord Coppinger.
Lady Yardley smiled.
“Of course. I did not mean to tease you. It is good to have a gentleman as close as a brother, for you will value his friendship a great deal, I am sure. Though might I suggest that you do not refer to him as ‘Marcus’, but rather by his title when you are in company.” Lady Yardley pressed her hand. “I say such a thing not to embarrass you, but only because I do not want anyone to think you are overly familiar with him for any other reason other than friendship.” Tilting her head, her eyes brightened. “But if he is as amiable as you describe him to be, perhaps you ought to consider him for one of your friends – provided he is a gentleman willing to consider falling in love!”
Almeria opened her mouth to say that Lord Coppinger would be an excellent match for any one of her friends, but the moment that she opened her mouth, the words were taken from her lips and blown away. It was as if someone had stolen her breath, leaving her with an uncomfortable prickling sensation running through her frame and a heavy weight dropping low into her stomach. Lady Yardley frowned, clearly waiting for an answer, and perhaps confused as to why none came.
Forcing the words out, Almeria demanded silently to herself that she smile.
“Yes, of course.”
It was all she could say, but it was enough, for Lady Yardley smiled back, her frown gone.
“I am very pleased to hear it, Almeria. He looks to be a very pleasant fellow.”
Almeria only half listened to Lady Yardley’s remarks, wondering at her strange reaction to Lady Yardley’s question. There had been no reason for her to react in such a fashion, for it was more than reasonable for Lady Yardley to question whether or not Lord Coppinger would be a suitable match for one of Almeria’s friends. After all, excellent gentlemen were a little hard to find upon occasion, and she knew for certain that Marcus was a truly excellent fellow. Why should she mind if any one of her friends became better acquainted with him than she? Surely she should be glad that they had found happiness together.
But all the same, there was something deeply unsettling about the idea of Lord Coppinger being wed to one of her friends. She could not quite understand it, and the more she thought of it, the less she understood. It must be, she considered, only because they were such great friends that she found herself so concerned.
“Indeed, I should think it would be a very pleasant thing if your friend was wed to another dear friend.”
Lady Yardley’s words floated in towards her heart, but they did not bring Almeria any comfort. Rather, she found herself scowling, as though the thought of having one of her friends wed to Lord Coppinger was most displeasing. After fighting to arrange her features into a much more pleasant expression, she finally managed to do so, just as the very gentleman in question came towards him. Her heart lifted suddenly, but she turned her gaze away sharply, a little embarrassed by her reaction.
“Lady Yardley, this is my dear friend, Lord Coppinger.”
“So it is.” Lady Yardley smiled, and Almeria quickly made the introductions, seeing how Lady Yardley’s keen eyes took in Lord Coppinger’s features. Did she find him pleasing? To Almeria’s eyes, Marcus was not at all unhandsome. Rather, with his somewhat stocky frame, his bright smile, and cloudy grey eyes, to her he was a very handsome gentleman indeed - although she had never allowed herself to consider his features with any great depth of feeling. “And you were absent from last Season, I understand.”
Hearing Lady Yardley’s question, Almeria concentrated her attention on Lord Coppinger. He had said to her that yes, he had been absent, but had not given any reason for it. A dark thought pushed itself into her mind. Was he perhaps already married? Was it that he had been on his wedding trip the previous Season and had now come to inform her that he was in fact, wed? Perhaps his wife was soon to be in her confinement, and thus he had come to London with her for a short time of enjoyment before such a thing began. Could it be that she was here with him, and as yet he had not had the opportunity to tell Almeria?
Her eyes closed tightly.
Please do not let it be so.
