“There is no need.” She put one hand on his arm, but her eyes sank to the floor. “I am sorry to have pushed in here in such an unruly fashion. Thank you for telling me everything, Marcus. I am grateful.”
Entirely frustrated over what might have taken place within these last few minutes had not Lord Trevelyan been present, Marcus smiled lightly and then nodded.
“But of course. I will write to you soon, once we know where the meeting with Lord Wilson is to be.”
“Thank you, Marcus.”
Instead of looking at him, smiling, or even embracing him, Almeria simply turned away, leaving Marcus to watch after her until the door closed behind her, leaving him with a mixture of frustration and relief within his heart.
Chapter Fourteen
“There is something I must tell you all.” Almeria lifted her chin and looked around the room at all of her friends. “Lord Penforth is not a gentleman of fine character.”
This news brought some dramatic gasps from Miss Millington, and also from Lady Shelbourne, but Lady Yardley did not appear at all surprised. Instead she simply nodded, her eyes remaining steady as she looked at Almeria.
“I knew something was wrong the moment that Lord Coppinger hastened to leave my side when Lord Penforth approached myself and Miss Madeley, only last week.” She looked to Miss Madeley who nodded in firm agreement, quickly recalling how startled they had been to see his firm but hasty departure, and Lord Penforth’s questions thereafter as to whether or not it had been Lord Coppinger who had been speaking with them. Nodding to Miss Madeley in thanks, Almeria continued as her friends looked back at her. “I asked Lady Yardley if we might stop for a brief visit to Lord Coppinger’s townhouse on our way here, and she was kind enough to agree. After speaking with Lord Trevelyan and Lord Coppinger, I am now very well aware that there is something most unsavory about Lord Penforth’s character. I say this so that you will all make certain to remain far from him. I have no intention of lingering close to him at all.”
Miss Madeley let out a long, audible breath.
“And I, for one, am very pleased to hear it,” she remarked, bringing a little levity to the room as some of the young ladies smiled. “I confess that I do not much like Lord Penforth at this moment – in fact, I have not liked him very much at all, from the very beginning of our acquaintance!”
Even Almeria managed to laugh at this, nodding her head as her friends looked around the room, murmuring to each other.
“Would you like to tell us what has taken place?” Lady Yardley reached out and squeezed Almeria’s hand for a moment. “When you came back to the carriage, you did look very pale, though something was shining in your eyes which had not been there before.”
Smiling softly, Almeria ignored the lump in her throat.
“The light was there because I finally learned the truth. I see now that Lord Coppinger has done his best to protect me from being surrounded by evil. Lord Penforth has attempted to blackmail him, for Lord Coppinger followed him one night, determined to speak to Lord Penforth about his acquaintance with me. To his horror, he discovered that Lord Penforth went to a gambling den in the East End of London - a most concerning place from his description! Once Lord Coppinger stepped inside, with his friend Lord Trevelyan, Lord Penforth saw them. He stated that should Lord Coppinger say a word about Lord Penforth’s presence there, and whatever it was he was doing in a small private room within that place, then Lord Coppinger’s name would be attached to it also. In fact, Lord Penforth threatened that he would say whatever untruths he wished about Lord Coppinger and Lord Trevelyan and would have his words confirmed by some friends, who were also with him that night, although I do not think that Lord Coppinger or Lord Trevelyan recognized them all.”
There was a brief silence before a quiet murmur of shock ran around the room.
“This proves that not every gentleman is as he appears.” Lady Yardley’s voice held a warning. “I am very glad that you were considerate in your acquaintance with Lord Penforth, for it seems that you are clear in your mind about him. In fact, I believe you had already made your decision about him before speaking to Lord Coppinger this afternoon.”
“Certainly I had.” Almeria lifted her chin, looking again to Miss Madeley who returned her look with a smile. “There is no love in my heart for Lord Penforth. I have given him the opportunity to try to steal my heart, have given him the opportunity to prove his supposed affection for me – but now, upon considering what I feel, I find I am… rather disdainful of him. If I am to be honest, I do not like the gentleman. As I have said, he may claim to have a great affection for me, and he continues to send bouquets, but I take no pleasure in his company.”
“Which is quite understandable!” Lady Elizabeth spoke up first. “How very distressing for you to have found all of this out, Almeria. Might I ask what you now intend to do? You say that you will stay far from Lord Penforth, but does that mean his threats will then lessen against Lord Coppinger and Lord Trevelyan?”
Almeria shook her head.
“I cannot be certain, but I am afraid that they will not. For whatever reason, Lord Penforth seems quite determined to push Lord Coppinger away from me. However, I am determined not to allow him to do so – and also to assist Lord Coppinger in doing what I can to prove Lord Penforth’s character to society. They shall both see that my determination is just as great as theirs, even though I am a mere woman.”
She said this with a wry smile, and some of her friends chuckled while Miss Madeley frowned, clearly aware of her ongoing concern about Lord Penforth.
“Let us hope that you succeed.” Miss Madeley caught Almeria’s gaze. “What is to happen next?”
“Lord Coppinger and Lord Trevelyan are to speak with a gentleman they believe to have been present the night Lord Penforth threatened them. I should like to be there also.”
“Well, there is no reason for you not to be,” Lady Yardley stated, with a smile. “If you wish to discover the truth, then I would be glad to accompany you at the time of the meeting. They could not refuse if I am to be there also.”
Almeria smiled at the lady.
“Thank you, Lady Yardley. I will send word to Lord Coppinger that you will be present, so that he might inform me of when this meeting will take place.”
“You may use my writing desk if you wish,” Lady Sherbourne offered as Almeria rose from her chair. “It is through in the small parlor.”
“I thank you. I shall do so .”
Quickly, Almeria stepped from the room, only to glance behind her and see that Miss Madeley had come to join her.
