Lady Sherbourne’s eyes lit up.
“More than that!” she exclaimed, speaking hurriedly. “What if they were to demand that no liquor be drunk at the table? It would be unexpected, certainly, but my husband could demand that there be no brandy nor whisky served, so that every gentleman keeps a clear head. That would make certain that it was not Lord Brookmire’s doing when he could not offer brandy to Lord Marchmont, for it would be at my husband’s request.”
The dark clouds, which had been surrounding Deborah for many an hour, began to break apart as she looked first at Lady Sherbourne and then at Lady Yardley.
“Do you think such a thing would work?”
“I think it is the only chance we have.” Lady Yardley lifted both shoulders. “I know you are deeply concerned, but we must explain the plan to all three gentlemen, and thereafter hope that it all goes as we wish. I would warn you to be cautious.” Reaching across, she squeezed Deborah’s hand for a moment. “Lord Anderton is always watching. I am certain that he has others who watch for him, and they may very well be aware of the amount of time Lord Brookmire spends in your company. It is not that I think they would have any suspicion that you were involved in the whole affair, but rather that they might seek to use you against Lord Brookmire.”
“Do you think Deborah might be in danger from being in Lord Brookmire’s company?”
Miss Millington’s eyes were wide, but Lady Yardley quickly shook her head.
“No. It is not Lord Brookmire who is at fault in this, although, had he not done certain things then he would not find himself in this situation – but now he is at the mercy of Lord Anderton. I do not think that I have ever heard of a more calculating fellow than he.”
Her eyes flashed for a moment and Deborah’s stomach twisted suddenly. She did not think that she could step away from Lord Brookmire’s company, not even if she were instructed to by her mother. Even the thought brought her too much pain… but she dared not say a word about her feelings to any one of her friends, or even to Lady Yardley.
“I understand.” She managed a small smile “Thank you, Lady Yardley, I will write to Lord Brookmire and state that a meeting will be arranged very soon.”
“Of course.” Lady Yardley smiled. “Tell Lord Brookmire to call upon me tomorrow afternoon, if he pleases. You may be present also, if you wish.”
Deborah nodded; her mind already on the letter she would write. When Lady Yardley offered her the use of the library to write the letter immediately, Deborah accepted the chance at once. Hurrying from the room and into the silence of the hall, she drew in a deep breath, letting relief flow through her. She had to pray that this plan would succeed and that, yet again, Lord Anderton’s cruelties would be prevented before they could even begin.
Making her way to the library, Deborah stopped suddenly at the sight of the very gentleman she had been thinking of, walking down the hallway toward her. The butler was walking ahead of him, no doubt intending to lead him to Lady Yardley and announce him but, upon seeing her, Lord Brookmire turned his steps towards her. The butler melted away into the shadows as Deborah quickly bobbed a curtsey.
“Lord Brookmire.”
Much to her embarrassment, her hand reached out for him by instinct, and she pulled it back sharply, praying that he had not noticed.
“Miss Madeley.” His hands going behind his back, Lord Brookmire bowed to her. “I was just going to speak with Lady Yardley. How good it is to see you.”
His compliment made her blush.
“Thank you, Lord Brookmire. Can I ask if something more has happened?”
Lord Brookmire looked away.
“No. I come to seek her wisdom. I confess, I am overwhelmed as I look back upon my life and see how dreadfully I have acted in the past. I thought that it would be wise to speak to someone who, from the very start, has told me that they hope that this experience will give me the opportunity to change.”
He dropped his gaze and shuffled his feet as if there were something more he wanted to say but, after a few moments, it was clear that no further remark was to come from him.
Deborah smiled at him. How different he was to the gentleman she had first met, the gentleman who had laughed and teased and been overly confident, who had been determined to prove to her that he would have his way regardless!
“I am sure that Lady Yardley will be more than willing to speak with you but, from my perspective, I do see a great difference in you already.” Again, she reached out, but this time she pressed his hand for a moment, not pulling it back as she had done before. “Lady Yardley is to be admired, for she certainly has a great deal of wisdom within her, wisdom that she is more than happy to share.”
Lord Brookmire chuckled, but there was no happiness within the sound.
“I wish I had taken heed of such wisdom before now.” He shrugged his shoulders, then straightened them. “However, do not allow my reflections to hold you back from your task. Was there somewhere you were going?”
A slight flush edged its way up into Deborah’s cheeks as she laughed.
“I was to go to the library and write you a short note, but since you are here, you have saved me from that task.”
Lord Brookmire grinned, his green eyes busy with a burst of sudden laughter.
“Then I am glad to have interrupted you,” he answered, his smile sending lightning through Deborah’s veins. “What is it that you were to write to me? I should have been very glad to have received a note from you. I am sure it would have lifted my spirits.”
The heat within her now turned into a furnace, and Deborah quickly pulled her eyes from his face, finding herself unable to hold his gaze steadily. She felt too much when she was looking into his eyes and, no doubt, her words would soon become incomprehensible if she kept gazing into his face.
