“Yes, Mama, we were.” Lady Judith clicked her tongue and then leaned a little further forward, catching Henry’s full attention. “Did you know that she told Lord Dartford that she would not be interested in him and his attentions, even if he should offer them to her?”
Henry blinked.
“I… I do not see how such a statement is in any way improper. In fact, I–”
“Do you not?” Lady Judith sat back in her chair, turning to face her mother again. “Did you hear that, Mama? LordYarmouth does not think there is any difficulty in a young lady speaking her mind so.”
A frown drew itself across Henry’s forehead as he looked from one to the other. The moment he had sat down in the chair in Lord and Lady Eltringham’s drawing room, Lady Judith had begun to speak – and thus far, both she and her mother had not stopped talking. There had barely been any opportunity for him to talk and, whenever he did so, it was a struggle to finish his sentence.
Evidently, Lady Judith was not as quiet a soul as he had anticipated.
“I think that most strange, Lord Yarmouth.” Lady Eltringham shook her head. “I have always taught my daughter to keep her thoughts to herself as much as she can. I should notdreamof ever insisting that she speak all of her thoughts aloud!”
This was something of a peculiar statement given that thus far, Lady Judith had spoken about everything and anything she had wished, never once giving herself pause. Henry sat silently, looking from mother to daughter and realizing now that his first impressions of Lady Judith had been utterly mistaken. Yes, she was his cousin, but he did not know her, and now was quite sure that he had no desire to further his connection with her, either.
“The gentleman was arrogant, certainly, but everyoneknowsthat he is so,” Lady Judith continued, quickly. “There was no need to embarrass him in such a way by throwing his words back at him!”
Henry’s frown became deeper.
“You mean to say thathewas the one who first stated that he would have no interest in this young lady? That he was the one–”
“He said that to Miss Bosworth, yes.” Lady Judith nodded as her mother murmured the same. “That is exactly what was said.”
“And then Miss Bosworth told Lord Dartford thatshewould have no interest in his company either and, even though theyhave both said the very same thing, Lord Dartford is the one who is pitied, and this Miss Bosworth held up as an example of how a young lady oughtnotto behave?”
It was the first time during his visit that he had been able to speak for so long without being interrupted and, satisfied with himself, Henry picked up his tea and took a sip of the lukewarm, pale liquid, though he did not much like the taste. Silence settled across the room, with Lady Eltringham and her daughter sharing a long glance that told Henry very little.
He had no idea what they were thinking, be it either what he had said, or of he himself, but at this juncture, he did not particularly mind. The fact that Lady Judith had turned out to be an entirely different character from what he had expected told him that his expectations for this afternoon’s visit were certainlynotgoing to be met. He would not wish to call upon her again, nor take her out for a carriage ride, or the like. This visit would be more than enough.
“I confess that I am a little surprised to hear a gentleman speak in such a way.” Lady Eltringham sniffed and arched an eyebrow in her daughter’s direction. “I would have thought that propriety would have been expected in all things.”
“Indeed it is, for both gentlemenandladies,” Henry agreed, quickly. “I do not think it fair to hold this young lady – Miss Bosworth, did you say? – to account, whilst leaving Lord Dartford entirely without blame. To my ears, it sounds as though he was being rather rude in his manner.” The silence which followed told Henry that his time for this visit had come to an end and, with a smile, he rose to his feet and inclined his head. “Thank you both for the tea and the cakes. I have enjoyed my visit.”
The two ladies rose as one, with Lady Eltringham gesturing to her daughter.
“And will you call again, Lord Yarmouth? We are kin, after all! I know my daughter would be glad to see you.”
Henry cleared his throat, shuffling his feet a little as he clasped his hands behind his back.
“I am certain that we shall be in company together again soon, Lady Eltringham. Lady Judith, good afternoon.”
It was neither a promise that he would return, nor an outright refusal, and Henry hurried from the room, glad to be finished with the visit. Making his way to his carriage, he stepped inside, only to jump with surprise when he discovered that none other than Lord Falconer sat there also.
“I was passing by and saw your carriage,” he said, as Henry rapped on the roof, eager to take his leave. “I hope that you do not mind me waiting for you?”
“You do not have your own carriage?” Henry narrowed his eyes a little. “And this is a strange place to simply be passing by.” When his friend grinned, Henry could not help but snort with laughter. “You came here deliberately, did you not?”
“I did.” Lord Falconer chuckled, his eyes twinkling. “I could not wait to see just how you fared with Lady Judith. She is not as you expected her to be, I think?”
“She certainly is not!” Henry rolled his eyes. “I do wish you had told me earlier.”
“What good would it have done? You would have still had to call.”
“But I would have been more prepared and less disappointed.”
Lord Falconer shrugged, the smile still on his face.
“But then I would have been less amused. To see your expression as you came out of the house wasmostentertaining.” Laughing, he slapped his knee as Henry broke into laughter along with his friend, unable to help himself. “What did youspeak of? Or were you unable to speak, given all that Lady Judith and her mother said?”
