“First, consider. You may be over-exaggerating. It may not be as you fear. She may not have decided upon him.”
“Though her father might have,” Lord Dennington added with a grim look. “Forgive me for not being as positive as I ought to be, but that is my view of things. You must approach Lord Hayman before it is too late. I have no doubt that he will take very little convincing, given that you have a higher title and greater wealth than Lord Warrington - but it is not he whose approval you seek.”
“No, it is not,” Adam agreed quietly. “But how am I to convinceher?”
The three friends sat together for some minutes in silence, each trying to think of a solution. When the idea suddenly came to him, Adam was on his feet in a moment, his heart in a sudden flurry of excitement.
“You have something.” Lord Campbell grinned, suddenly delighted. “What is it?”
“It necessitates such haste, I have no time to tell you.” Adam hurried to Lord Campbell’s study door. “You will have to excuse me, I will tell you all very soon, I hope, but please do pray that I will be successful.”
The two friends promised that they would do so, and with that, Adam left the room and hurried from Lord Campbell’s house.
* * *
“I must admitthat this is something of a surprise.”
“I am sure that it is.”
After a bow, Adam walked further into Lady Yardley’s drawing room and sat when she waved him to a seat. She gestured to the bell.
“Should you like me to call for some tea?”
“No, that will not be necessary. My visit will not be long.” He looked at Lady Yardley, seeing her slightly widened eyes - but her gentle smile was enough to convince him that she was willing to listen, at least. He did not doubt that Miss Millington would have said something to her already, given how closely they were acquainted. “I am quite certain that I have injured Miss Millington a great deal.” Speaking directly, he made his point clearly. “I have said some things to her which were rash and foolish, and I regret them all.”
“I see.” Lady Yardley did not shift in her expression but only nodded, though her eyes remained fixed on his. “I would have thought, Lord Seaton, that as you are aware of this, you would speak to Miss Millington herself rather than to me.”
“And I can quite understand why you would think so.” Taking a breath, he put out his hands. “However, I fear that she will not give me the opportunity to speak, given how sternly I threw back her idea of a love match. Therefore, I hoped to use ‘The London Ledger’.”
Lady Yardley’s eyes rounded just a little.
“In what regard?”
Pausing, Adam licked his lips. What he was about to reveal was significant and would, no doubt, lower him in the eyes of Lady Yardley.
“Some time ago there was a letter within ‘The London Ledger’ from a young lady who sought a love match.” Still uncomfortable, Adam got to his feet and began to pace slowly up and down the room, hoping that Lady Yardley would not mind his agitation. “I should like to use ‘The London Ledger’ to write a letter of my own. My intentions are-”
Lady Yardley held up one hand.
“Wait a moment, Lord Seaton. Do you mean to say that you do not know who the young lady was who wrote the letter?”
Pausing for a moment, Adam frowned then shook his head.
“No, I do not. Miss Millington stated that she and her friends were merely discussing the letter, so she did not give me a hint as to who had written the original letter.”
Lady Yardley paused for a moment, then sighed, her sharp gaze dropping away.
“I do not know whether I ought to keep this from you, or not, but I think it would be best you know. Lord Seaton, that letter was from none other than Miss Millington herself.”
Adam could not breathe, the shock of what had been said was so overwhelming that it seemed to spread ice through every part of his frame. He stared at Lady Yardley, who nodded to confirm that what she was saying was true.
Heat burned through him, melting away the ice and he dropped his head into his hands.
“No.”
His voice was hoarse and, as he lifted his head, Lady Yardley smiled sympathetically.
“I can understand your astonishment. However, I do not think that-“
