“And that is what you think I am trying to do, is it?”
Lord Penforth’s eyebrows lifted, but Almeria did not change her opinion in the least.
“Yes, it is. I know Lord Coppinger almost as well as I know myself.” Her eyes still held tight to his, unflinching. “I would not have anyone speak ill of him, and I would prefer you to not do so, Lord Penforth. If you have, in fact, heard something about him, it would be most unwise to simply believe it, would it not? That is the veryessenceof gossip, and not something I should give any consideration to, myself.” She took a breath but spoke again before Lord Penforth could interject. “He and I are as close as siblings and, given that I could not think more highly of him, I would advise you to apply great caution before you even consider speaking ill of Lord Coppinger to me.”
At this, Lord Penforth lifted his eyebrows but chose to say nothing.
Satisfied, Almeria turned, beginning to move down the path once more, with Lord Penforth falling into step beside her. She did not take his arm, however, and they walked forward in almost stony silence.
Some moments passed, but Almeria did not find herself at all willing to make conversation. Rather, she remained disgruntled with Lord Penforth. Quite certain that the only reason he had spoken so was simply to discredit Lord Coppinger in her eyes, she scowled and kept her gaze away from him. What sort of gentleman sought to return a slight in such a way as this?
“You are mistaken.”
Almeria lifted an eyebrow, barely glancing at Lord Penforth.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You are mistaken,” he repeated firmly. “I do not say anything about Lord Coppinger in an attempt to discredit him. I say it out of legitimate concern for you. As you say, you are as close as siblings, but might it not then be wise to be careful in your connection with him, if he is found to be a little lacking in some regard?”
Almeria resisted the urge to roll her eyes again, choosing instinctively not to believe him.
“As I have made quite clear, Lord Penforth, I have no intention of either listening to, or believing, anything that is said or whispered about Lord Coppinger, which includes from you.”
“Wait.” Lord Penforth stopped, turned, and catching her hand before she could snatch it back, looked deeply into her eyes. “Does that mean that you do not believe I have a genuine affection for you? You do not think that what I say is true, which must mean that you view me in a deeply unfavorable light.”
Almeria opened her mouth, only to snap it closed again. Was she being unfair to Lord Penforth? Mayhap she ought to reconsider, for even though she did not believe anything said about Lord Coppinger, Lord Penforth might be speaking of something he was concerned about, rather than simply doing so for his own ends.
But that does not mean that I think well of him, particularly not at this juncture.
“I did not ever say such a thing.” Speaking plainly, she held his gaze steadily. “But my considerations still stand.” Pulling her hands away from his, she folded them across her chest so that he could not take her hand again. “I have seen the interplay between you. Therefore, is it understandable that I would consider where your supposedconcernfor Lord Coppinger might come from...”
“I can see that.” There was a slight softness to his tone, something she had not heard before. “But I believe you underestimate me, Lady Almeria. I am not as foolish a gentleman as you might think me.” This last part stung rather painfully, and Almeria turned away sharply. “We are not yet particularly well acquainted, as you might recall.” Lord Penforth swung into step beside her again, a slight smile playing around the edges of his mouth. “Which I suppose is a satisfactory excuse.”
A little irritated, and feeling as though she was being chastised by an older sibling or even a parent, Almeria curled the edge of her lip.
“I am quite able to make my own judgments on matters such as this, Lord Penforth.”
“Then I shall have to prove it to you. I suppose. As I have said, I overheard a whisper about Lord Coppinger’s conduct. I shall not share such whispers with you unless you request it, of course, but I should ask you to be careful. In fact, I should almost insist upon it.”
She shook her head.
“I do not need your advice, and nor do I want to hear anything about Lord Coppinger.” How much she was beginning to dislike this gentleman, how much she disliked his insistence that she do ashethought best, particularly since their acquaintance had been of so short a duration. “Lord Coppinger and I shall be just as we have always been.”
“And if I am proven correct?” Lord Penforth lifted an eyebrow. “If what I have warned you about proves to be legitimate, then might you not consider me, and my promised affection, to be entirely genuine?”
Considering this for a moment, Almeria nodded, holding his gaze boldly.
“Yes, Lord Penforth, I shall accept it and will hear whatever you have to say about him, but for the moment, please, do not tell me of any whispers as regards Lord Coppinger. Society is as it has always been, and it does, on occasion, seek to pull down those who are of a very worthy standing, simply so that they may be as lowly as the person making up such falsehoods.” She offered a wry smile. “After all, there are a good many people who dislike a fellow simply because of how highly he stands in society, of how well he is seen by other members of theton. I should not like any difficulty to come to Lord Coppinger by such a simplistic emotion as jealousy.”
Wondering if her words were hitting hard against Lord Penforth’s heart, she saw him scowl and felt her own heart lift with satisfaction.
Lord Penforth cleared his throat and dropped his gaze to the ground.
“I do hope that he knows how much he ought to treasure you as his champion.” The words came with a slight edge to them as his smile faded. “Would that I should be so lucky as to have someone speak so highly of me, regardless of what has been said.”
“I am certain that you do the very same for a sister or a brother of your own, Lord Penforth.”
“Alas, but we shall never know,” he replied in a much more jovial tone, as though everything they had just discussed had no great importance. “I have no siblings, it is only myself. Therefore, I take great care of my acquaintances and even more so those I consider… important.”
