The blue of her eyes shifted for a moment, sending dark, shadowy streaks right through them as she frowned, looking away from him.
“I am aware of that, Lord Blackmore, but I must beg for some time to consider what has taken place. It is overwhelming. You must understand that.”
Swallowing, Hugh dropped his head.
“I do. I did not mean… that is to say, I had no expectation of saying such a thing, Miss Simmons.”
“But now that it is said, it is impossible for us to step back from it,” she replied, quietly. “Let us both take some timeto consider what this means. Mayhap you might think about coming to call on me soon, so we might discuss it?”
“Of course. But will you be in attendance at my ball tomorrow evening?”
She looked up at him and pressed her lips flat.
“I suppose I cannot hide myself away now, given that I am your betrothed.”
The word on her lips sent a flurry of sensation through Hugh, though he did not know exactly what the feeling was, nor where it came from.
“I am glad that you will still attend. Forgive me for the difficulties I have caused by speaking without truly thinking of what would follow. It was not my intention. My intention was to aid you.”
A tiny flickering smile pulled at her lips – but only for a moment.
“I understand, Lord Blackmore.” At this, her hand pulled from his arm, and she began to walk away, only to turn around to look at him again. “There was something I wished to tell you, unrelated to our betrothal. There was a conversation I overheard at a soiree some two days ago, one where you were not present, and the conversation was… a little concerning. I–”
“Lord Blackmore!”
Hugh caught the flare in Miss Simmons’ eyes, just before he turned himself to see who it was calling his name. Not recognizing the fellow, Hugh frowned and looked back, but Miss Simmons had already hurried away from him and had returned to her mother.
“You were not betrothed before this moment?” Lord Kelling asked, his voice quiet and eyes filled with surprise. “Good gracious, Blackmore, whatever were you thinking?”
Hugh closed his eyes as the gentleman calling his name drew ever closer.
“In truth, Kelling, I was not thinking clearly at all. I wanted to protect Miss Simmons, to have thetonstop speaking these incredibly damning things and, somehow, I found myself stating that we were already betrothed as a reason for her not to have done what they accused her of.”
Lord Kelling let out a low whistle of surprise.
“Goodness. I shall offer you my congratulations nonetheless, however, for I think Miss Simmons, from what I have heard, is a decent young lady. You cannot step back from this – or from her – now, you are aware of that, yes?
With a nod, Hugh turned to face the approaching gentleman, seeing three ladies hurrying behind him. Clearly, news about his betrothal had spread fast.
“I have no intention of stepping away from my betrothal,” he declared, firmly. “I fully intend to marry Miss Simmons and make her my wife, just as I have stated.”
With a polite smile on his face, Hugh began to answer the many questions the gentlemen and ladies started to throw at him. All the while, however, his heart began to lift, happiness settling through it and, as he considered what it would be like to stand up in church and take Miss Simmons as his wife, a joy began to fill him, making his spirits rise and his smile broad.
Perhaps this moment of thoughtlessness would bring him more happiness than he had ever imagined.
Chapter Ten
Rachael blinked hot tears out of her eyes, shock ricocheting through her as she reached her mother.
“Mama. We must return to the carriage. Now.”
Her mother looked at her with a frown, though she hurried along the path beside Rachael without so much as a word of protest.
“Do not tarry, I beg of you.”
“It is still some time until your friends are to join us for afternoon tea,” Lady Grant reminded her, making Rachael shake her head, her breath coming in quick pants as she rounded the corner that would lead them back to the gate and the waiting carriage. “You do not need to worry. I am sorry that I stepped away from you for a few minutes, but Lady Armitage and I fell into such a deep conversation that I quite lost myself! Were you quite all right? I saw you walking with a gentleman and–”
“No, Mama, I was not quite all right.”
