“Yes, I would love to go with you, Nathaniel. I mean, Lord Balwood.”
“Wonderful,” he said, getting to his feet. “We can leave in the next few minutes if you are ready.”
Still smiling, she stood. She walked closer to him, and his heart skipped. Would she embrace him here in front of her friend? In the house with her aunt and uncle not far away. He never got to find out, for the door opened, and instead of Mr. Minton, it was Lord Claridge standing in the doorway.
“Oh, Lord Balwood, Mr. Minton mentioned that you were in here, but I told him he did not need to announce me, for I am family.”
“Lord Claridge,” Nathaniel said with a slight bow, speaking through gritted teeth.
“Edward,” Jane said. “This is a surprise visit.”
Nathaniel was relieved to see a little tightness in her expression as she spoke to her cousin.
It seems there have been a few surprise visits from Lord Claridge of late.
“Yes, it is. I was wondering if you would like to ride in the park. It is a beautiful day, and we will simply wrap up warm to keep out the chill of the February breeze.”
Nathaniel felt justified in his suspicion of the man. Clearly, he was interested in Jane, and interested in far more than familial connection.
“Well, I'm sorry, Edward, but Lord Balwood has already asked me to join him out this afternoon, so I will have to decline your invitation.”
“Ah, I see.” Lord Claridge turned to him, and even though the man was smiling, Nathaniel could tell he was not pleased by how his eyes had narrowed ever so slightly. “Where are you going?”
“To a lecture at the Royal Society,” Jane replied.
“Well, how fascinating,” Lord Claridge said. “Why don't I join you? You will need a chaperone after all, and since I am the cousin, it would be perfectly acceptable.”
Nathaniel wished that Jane or her friend would fight against him. Her friend or lady’s maid could join them as chaperone, and they would not need the strange, unsettling company of Lord Claridge.
Nathaniel opened and closed his mouth. Clearly, the man had no idea of decorum. He seemed very keen to step on Nathaniel's toes. Nathaniel wasn't entirely sure if he knew what he was doing or if he was just an annoying person in general. Neither Jane nor her friend said anything.
“That will have to be up to Lady Jane, I'm afraid,” Nathaniel said, turning to her.
To his enjoyment, she looked just as crestfallen as he was sure he did. She sighed, looking up at Lord Claridge.
“Yes, Edward, you may accompany us. We are leaving now, however.”
“How perfect,” he replied. “Come then, we shall gather our things and be off right away.”
Nathaniel exchanged glances with Jane before they walked out of the room, Jane turning to Lady Margaret and saying, “Join us, won’t you, Margaret? I’m sure that Lord Claridge would enjoy hearing about the latest novel you read.”
“Oh,” Lady Margaret said, getting to her feet, and Nathaniel felt secretly satisfied at Lord Claridge’s annoyed expression.
“Ah, but of course, Lady Margaret. You must accompany us,” he said, and he offered her his arm.
“My carriage is here, so we can take that.”
Again, Nathaniel deferred to Jane, and she nodded. He wondered if there was a reason she needed to be so kind to him. From what he had heard, the man had lived in France for a long time, so it was not as if they were close. Nor did she seem particularly interested in him at all.
Lord Claridge chatted away on the carriage ride to the Royal Society. He did, however, pose most of his questions to Jane, who was so kind and patient and answered each and every one. Lady Margaret did her best to distract Lord Claridge as best she could. Nathaniel, however, by the end of the carriage ride, wanted to punch him in the face and be done with it.
“Ah, here we are,” Lord Claridge said, jumping out of the carriage with Nathaniel at his heels. Nathaniel watched as Lord Clardige reached up a gloved hand to help Jane to the ground, but it was Lady Margaret who appeared instead.
Nathaniel bit his lip to keep from laughing at Lord Claridge’s very obvious crestfallen expression. Lord Claridge took Lady Margaret’s arm while she chatted away prettily, and Nathaniel took Jane’s.
Jane seemed stiff, but at the same time her eyes were happy as she stared up at the Royal Society entrance.
“You will enjoy it, I think,” Nathaniel said, leaning down to whisper in her ear, his hand brushing lightly against her arm.
