“I have already promised my mother that I will not be seen either in prolonged conversation or dancing with him.” She lifted both shoulders. “Not that such a thing is of any trial to me. Should Lord Brookmire try again, I have every intention of being just as forthright with him as I was the first time.”
Lady Yardley nodded, but she did not smile. Her warning continued to linger in Deborah’s mind as the conversation then floated to something else. Was Lord Brookmire truly as determined as that? Would he again seek her out, would he try to make her accept him? With a small smile, Deborah shook her head to herself. Try as he might, she was quite certain that she would never allow herself to be cajoled into accepting Lord Brookmire as a suitable acquaintance, nor even as a gentleman.
* * *
“Goodness, I am quite exhausted.”Deborah laughed as she slipped her arm through Lord Cleverley’s. “An excellent dance, Lord Cleverley.”
The gentleman smiled down at her.
“It was very pleasing, Miss Madeley, and might I say, you are a remarkable dancer.”
She giggled, a little surprised at her flush of warmth at his words.
“You may say so,” she answered, softly. “I did enjoy my time dancing with you.”
Lord Cleverley smiled and to her surprise, reached across to press her hand as it rested on his arm. Lord Cleverly was a tall, slim fellow whose features were not overly handsome, but whose eyes always sparkled when they talked and whose smile was always kind. This was the third time they had danced together most recently and, as she had done before, Deborah continued to enjoy his conversation.
“I wonder,” Lord Cleverley continued after a moment, as their steps slowed. “Might you ever be willing to take a walk with me through the park, Miss Madeley? Or perhaps even a carriage ride? Of course, I should probably call upon you first, but I confess I find it difficult to have a prolonged conversation when the time to take tea is so short and, no doubt, you will be surrounded by a good many gentlemen all wishing to capture your conversation and attention for themselves.”
Deborah laughed softly.
“I think that you consider me a little too highly.”
“Indeed, I do not think so!” Lord Cleverley responded quickly. “I consider you a diamond or a flower that I should like to pluck before it is chosen by another.” Her smile dropped, for she did not much like this explanation, only for Lord Cleverley to laugh somewhat brokenly and shake his head. “Forgive me, I am not particularly used to having to express myself in such a manner, and I am sure that I do not find the correct terms to compliment a lady. Please forgive me for my lack of sensibility in this. What I am attempting to say is that I find you most wonderful, and I should very much like to spend more time in your company… that is, if you should wish to do so also.”
Deborah’s lips curved upwards as he released her arm so that they could stand facing each other. She found Lord Cleverley rather endearing, particularly in his attempts to speak honestly of his desires as regarded their acquaintance.
“I thank you, Lord Cleverley, for your honesty.” She smiled brightly. “It is very kind of you.”
Lord Cleverley’s lips lifted for a moment before dropping again, clearly still a little uncertain.
“Then will you accept me?”
“I shall accept your offer for a walk together in the park, certainly.”
Deborah refused to permit herself to say more than that, for fear she would find herself drawn towards him when she was not certain that she wished to be.
I am still to find a gentleman to fall in love with and while Lord Cleverley is quite pleasing, such feelings take time to grow.
“I am delighted to hear it!”
Deborah laughed softly at his exuberance.
“Shall we say perhaps the day after tomorrow?”
Lord Cleverley grinned suddenly, his cheeks filling with color as he passed one hand over his forehead. Clearly this was had been more of a strain than Deborah had realized!
“I should like that very much, Miss Madeley.” With another smile, he dropped his hand to his side. “The day after tomorrow. Yes, that would suit me very well.”
“But have you not forgotten, Miss Madeley? You and I have an arrangement the day after tomorrow.”
A deep voice broke into their conversation, immediately wiping the smile from Lord Cleverley’s face and replacing it with a deep frown. Deborah swung around to see who was speaking to her in such a way, only for a deep and unsettling anger to bubble up from the pit of her stomach, flooding right through her.
“Do please ignore Lord Brookmire.” She rolled her eyes as Lord Cleverley’s frown continued to grow. “He jests, Lord Cleverley. I am certain that you will understand that a lady of my standing would never permit herself to be caught by a gentleman with such a reputation as Lord Brookmire holds.”
The frown was immediately wiped from Lord Cleverley’s face.
“Ah. Of course. I quite understand.”
