Her heart ached until she feared that she would be forced to cry out and reveal her pain. Everything within her was tying itself together, then exploding open again in fury, only to then repeat the same motion. She did not know where she was going, her eyes were fixed upon the floor as Lady Elizabeth led her forward.
Her mind screamed as the memory of what she had seen etched itself into her thoughts. Lord Brookmire had been playing the scoundrel – just as he was known to be. Had she been so easily deceived by him?
“Come, come.” Lady Elizabeth led her to a quiet part of the ballroom, close to their mothers but far enough away that they would not be overheard. “You need something to drink. I shall fetch it. Wait a moment.”
Deborah said nothing, sitting down in a chair near the wall of the ballroom and staring blankly straight ahead. She took in nothing, and tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She seemed to have forgotten how to breathe and it was only when she recalled it, her lungs screaming for air, that she was finally able to draw breath. Deborah shuddered furiously, just as Lady Elizabeth handed her something cold and sweet to drink. Taking it, Deborah drank it all in only a few gulps, feeling the cool liquid washing through her and chasing away some of the fire which burned within her soul.
“It is very odd.” Deborah looked at Lady Elizabeth, but her friend was looking away, her eyes on the ladies and the gentlemen dancing together. “Would a scoundrel be so obvious?”
“I beg your pardon?”
Everything in her shook with a mixture of fury, shock, and sorrow and, on seeing it, Lady Elizabeth flushed.
“Forgive me. It does not matter.”
Squeezing her eyes closed tightly, Deborah gestured towards her friend.
“Please. What is it that you meant?”
With a sigh, Lady Elizabeth spread out one hand.
“It is only an idle thought. I know that he is a scoundrel, and scoundrels are less than considered when it comes to their reputation, but I would have thought that he might have hidden himself a little more. The gardens were well-lit with those torches, and I am surprised that he thought to take Lady Shawbost into his arms in such an obvious fashion. It was as though hewantedto be seen.” Something caught tight in Deborah’s chest. She fixed such a sharp gaze upon Lady Elizabeth and looked at her for so long without saying a single word, that Lady Elizabeth eventually flapped with one hand and looked away. “No doubt I am being foolish. I should not expect Lord Brookmire to behave in any fashion other than that of a rogue.”
Swallowing hard, Deborah rubbed her hand over her eyes. Was there any truth in what Lady Elizabeth had suggested? Lord Brookmirehadbeen very obvious - more than obvious, in fact. It was, as Lady Elizabeth had said, as if he had wanted her to see him.
No. Surely it cannot be!
Her head dropped forward, and she let out a long, low groan. Lady Elizabeth was beside her at the very next moment, an arm going around her shoulders.
“You must feel a great deal of pain, Deborah. I ought not to have said a word.”
“No. It is not that.” Again, Deborah lifted her gaze to Lady Elizabeth, seeing the concern sparkling in her friend’s eyes. Tears of relief now began to edge towards her eyes, and she managed a wobbly laugh. “It is not that I am distressed. It is quite the opposite.”
Handing her a handkerchief, Lady Elizabeth said nothing, taking a seat next to Deborah and waiting for her to explain.
“Lady Elizabeth, Miss Madeley.”
Before Deborah could begin to express what she now believed, none other than Lord Marchmont appeared. He was grim-faced, his mouth set into a tight line, his brows low and his sharp inclination of his head speaking of haste,
“Excuse the interruption.” His hands clasped behind his back. “I confess, I am greatly confused but I have a message for you from Lord Brookmire. He begged me to find you and to inform you that he was forced into this action – an action to do with Lady Shawbost, I think?” His brows lowered all the more, drawing a heavy line between them. “Lord Anderton came to speak with us and stated that Lady Shawbost was waiting. Lord Brookmire was entirely disinclined to go to her, but Lord Anderton, in some way or other, forced his hand. Lord Anderton demanded that he do such a thing solely to injure you, I think, Miss Madeley. Does Lord Anderton have something against you?”
Deborah’s eyes closed. It was exactly as she had begun to believe. Lord Brookmire had not behaved in this way deliberately but had been forced to do so by Lord Anderton.
“He does not have something against me, but he holds a great deal of power over Lord Brookmire.”
Lady Elizabeth caught her breath, her hand going to her mouth, just as Lady Yardley came over to join them. Putting her hand on Deborah’s shoulder, she bent down just a little, searching her face.
“I see Lord Marchmont has already spoken to you.” Lady Yardley glanced over her shoulder to the gentleman, then back to Deborah. “I have come to make certain that you know that what you witnessed of Lord Brookmire was–”
“Demanded by Lord Anderton.” Deborah managed a wry smile as Lady Yardley nodded. “After Lady Elizabeth made some remark about how it was as though Lord Brookmire had wanted to be seen, I began to wonder if Lord Anderton had insisted that he do this particular thing.”
Lord Marchmont cleared his throat.
“He was deeply troubled over how much he will have injured you. I was made to promise that I would find you and tell you all.”
Comforted by this, Deborah rose to her feet.
“I do not doubt that Lord Anderton will be currently delighting in his victory, however, whilst Lord Brookmire is utterly wretched.” Her chin lifted. “I confess that I have had quite enough.” A sudden flurry of strength rippled through her and, with her hands spread wide, she looked to Lady Yardley. “There must be something we can do to stop Lord Anderton. He will continue to hold this over Lord Brookmire’s head for the remainder of his days if he so wishes, and I cannot bear to see it. In addition, I also remain concerned for Lady Gwendoline, who will also be threatened by Lord Anderton, whether she is aware of it or not. I am certain that there are many other gentlemen, and even ladies, whom Lord Anderton currently holds in his power. Surely there is something that we can do which will force him to stop such behavior! If we free Lord Brookmire, that does not solve the true source of the difficulty. Lord Anderton will continue to behave as he has always done, and those he chooses from amongst thetonwill find themselves trapped and struggling.”
