“As you know, I am seeking a bride.” He offered her a smile, but his eyes did not meet hers. He appeared to be looking somewhere over her shoulder, as though something in the distance was much more interesting. “I am afraid we cannot always be in company; else I would never have occasion to dance or speak with anyone else, and what would be the point in that?”
Almeria blinked, a little surprised at his tone.
“Y… yes, of course.” Her delight in seeing him began to blow away, like a candle that had been snuffed out. “But would you not call upon me soon? I am certain that you will be able to spare me a few minutes, surely? Perhaps we could take tea and talk, as we have done so many times before?”
Lord Coppinger shook his head and Almeria’s heart tore.
“As I have said, I am very busy becoming better acquainted with various young ladies and I am afraid that I must give all of my time to them.” Finally, he looked directly at her but there was no flash of happiness in his eyes. “How is your acquaintance with Lord Penforth proceeding?”
There was a slight curl of his lip as he spoke, and Almeria caught herself frowning. Something was most concerning here. After all of her years of friendship with Marcus, he had never once before turned down an opportunity to be in company with her, nor had he ever not been able to look into her eyes. What was it that troubled him? Was it because she had long been in company with Lord Penforth? Was that his reason for stepping away?
“I am not certain about continuing my association with Lord Penforth. He has not yet asked to court me, but when he does, I cannot yet state what my answer will be. I am not in love with him and therefore, that shall be the determining factor – although there is time for my feelings to change, of course.”
The instant those words left her mouth, Lord Coppinger’s gaze shot to hers.
“You… you are not certain?”
His eyebrows lifted and Almeria found herself breathing out slowly.
The difficulty lies with Lord Penforth, then.
“No, I am not,” she told him honestly. “It has taken me some weeks to be sure of it, but I do not find myself at all inclined to his company. He may be a quiet gentleman, but he is certainly able to share hismanyopinions with me whenever he wishes… which is very often indeed.”
She did not mention to Lord Coppinger the fact that Lord Penforth was still very dismissive of him – becoming almost aggressive in that dismissal. Of late, should she so much as mention Lord Coppinger, Lord Penforth’s lip would curl and he would state that he did not think Lord Coppinger as fine a gentleman as she did, and would again remind her of the whispers he had heard which, as yet, he had not shared in their entirety, but which he was desirous to do so. It was becoming rather irritating, to the point that Almeria now mentioned Lord Coppinger as little as she could in Lord Penforth’s company.
“I see.”
Seeming to be suddenly lost in thought, Lord Coppinger turned himself, looking completely away from them all – including Lord Trevelyan. Lord Trevelyan made some sort of remark to Miss Madeley and a short conversation took place between them, but Almeria continued to focus her attention on her friend
Growing both concerned and irritated when Lord Coppinger did not make any move to turn back towards her, Almeria chose to act.
“Whatever is the matter, Marcus?”
Stepping closer, she put a hand on his arm, encouraging him to turn around. Immediately Lord Trevelyan and Miss Madeley moved a little away, allowing them to speak freely whilst still being in proper company together. Lord Coppinger looked at her, then shrugged.
“There is nothing the matter.”
“Nonsense!” Almeria exclaimed, furiously. “You have been staying so far away from me these last few weeks, I feel it most painfully.” The honesty with which she spoke was a familiar one, for she had never held anything back from Lord Coppinger before. Why should she do so now? “If there is something the matter, if there is something I have done which has troubled you so, would you not speak to me of it?” Her hand ran down his arm to his hand but the moment their fingers touched he pulled his away very swiftly indeed. Almeria made to grasp his fingers again regardless, only to realize that she could not be so forward, not when they were in a public setting. Even if Miss Madeley’s mother was now standing a short distance away, speaking with her acquaintance, that did not mean that she would not be watching them all carefully. “Speak to me, Marcus,” she said, beseechingly. “Why is there such distance between us? What is it that I have done?”
Coughing roughly, he shook his head, barely catching her eye.
“You have done nothing wrong, Almeria.”
His low voice sent a pang of longing into her soul, and her breath seemed to catch in her throat as she realized that what Miss Madeley had suggested might very well be true. Could it be that she was in love with Lord Coppinger, her very dearest of friends, the man who had always been a part of her life for so many years? Blinking, she swallowed away her thoughts, then looked at him again.
“Then what is it?”
When he did not answer, Almeria again reached for his hand and this time he did not pull away. Finally his steely grey eyes met hers, but his jaw tightened, and only a short moment later he was already looking past her.
“As I have said, it is quite natural for our friendship to move to another place.” Muttering this, he passed one hand over his eyes, as though speaking to her in such a way was painful for him. “I must seek a bride and therefore spend a good deal of my time in that pursuit. If it is not Lord Penforth who will court you, then I am certain that you will have a good many gentlemen seeking to replace him. You shall have to choose wisely.”
Almeria’s chin wobbled as tears began to prick at the corners of her eyes. This was not the gentleman she knew. This was not Lord Coppinger, as she had always known him. This was someone different; a stranger standing before her, pretending to be the very gentleman she cared for.
“I think you forget how long our friendship has been.” Forcing back her tears and murmuring softly, she saw his eyes alight to hers and allowed her fingers to lace through his own, stepping closer so that their grasp would be hidden from any prying eyes. “I can tell when something is troubling you, Marcus. You have never behaved in this manner toward me, and you may give me every excuse that you wish, but I shall not believe it. Something more is occurring, something you do not wish to tell me about, and while I can respect that, I still pray that you might be honest with me. If it is something that I can aid you with in any way, then you know that I would be willing to do it.”
“Almeria.” Speaking her name so softly, Lord Coppinger looked at her and there was such a sadness in his eyes, Almeria caught her breath. What was the reason for such sorrow? “Would that I could tell you.”
The throatiness of his voice made her heart pound with a sudden fear and she squeezed his hand tightly.
