Page 11 of The Truth about the Lady (Whispers of the Ton #6)

CHAPTER TEN

T wo weeks later.

“Might I ask you something?”

Hyacinth nodded as she and Lady Eve sat together on a picnic blanket, Lord Wiltshire standing a short distance away, speaking with another gentleman.

“Are you taken with Lord Thorne?”

The question so astonished Hyacinth that she sat up straight and looked back at Lady Eve, her mouth agape.

Her friend chuckled. “You need not look so astonished. The only reason I ask is because I have noticed just how much time you have spent in his company these last two weeks.”

Hyacinth swallowed hard. “That is only because I have been doing as you suggested!” she exclaimed, as Lady Eve’s smile grew. “I told you that there was a growing connection between us, but that thus far, I have been unable to have him say anything about the riddles!”

Lady Eve tilted her head. “You have spoken of them?”

Hyacinth nodded, praying that Lady Eve would not ask her any more questions about the present situation and her feelings as regarded Lord Thorne. For the last fortnight, she had been doing nothing but struggling and fighting against her foolish heart which, no matter what she did, never seemed to recall just how much difficulty he had caused her, nor how many lies he had told. Instead, it pulled her towards him, reminding her of his kindness to her, his consideration, and his sweet words which told her that she was just as significant as her sister.

“Your riddles have been very pointed of late also,” Lady Eve continued, with a tug of her lips in one direction. “You have had all of the ton aware that there is a distinct connection between the riddle answers, for I have heard everyone speaking of them! They have all pointed to a deceiver, a manipulator, a master of disguise, of poor traits such as arrogance and pride. But as yet, you have not had him speak to you of any of the answers?”

Hyacinth shook her head, warmth beginning to pull up from her chest into her neck and her face. The last few conversations she had enjoyed with Lord Thorne had not been about the riddles at all. Instead, they had spoken of all manner of things, including their respective families and hobbies that they both enjoyed. She had discovered, much to her surprise, that he spends a good deal of time reading and that in itself had been a shared connection.

“You may have to be a little more direct,” Lady Eve said, gently as if she realized just how much of a difficulty this would prove to be for Hyacinth. “The riddles might start speaking of revelation? Of pulling back the curtain to present the truth?”

Swallowing thickly, Hyacinth nodded though she did not instantly agree. The idea was a commendable one for it might force Lord Thorne to act but at the very same time, she found herself a little afraid. Once the truth came out and he realized that she was the one who wrote the riddles and that she had directed those words towards him, then what would he think of her? She might hope that he would be ashamed and upset but that would certainly mean the end of their connection,would it not?

And I am not sure that I want that.

“You could simply ask him directly also,” Lady Eve continued, as Hyacinth frowned. “You could tell him the truth. It may be that this plan to have him reveal the truth because of the riddle answers has failed. We might now require a direct approach to find the truth.”

Closing her eyes, Hyacinth felt her whole body tense and tight, barely able to imagine that conversation without her heart filling with panic.

“Though I have the impression you do not feel comfortable with that notion,” Lady Eve said, as Hyacinth threw her a quick glance and attempted to shrug, albeit without any real degree of strength. “What is it, Hyacinth? Why will you not tell me the truth?”

Pressing her lips together, Hyacinth looked down at her clasped hands in her lap, finding it difficult to even look at Lady Eve. “Because I am conflicted, that is why.”

“Conflicted over him?”

Hyacinth nodded. “He has shown me a good many kindnesses of late and I have found myself being a little more vulnerable with him than I had ever anticipated. I have spoken of my sister and my mother and he has been ever encouraging. He has danced with me very often and come to make sure that I am in conversation with others and… ” She dropped her head a little lower. “Because of him, I have found myself happier in society, more at ease than ever before. My mother does not accuse me of being a wallflower and indeed, appears to be a little more contented with me. Rose keeps her distance, of course, but she has not been snide nor cruel of late.”

“I see.” Lady Eve held Hyacinth’s gaze. “Then you struggle to know what it is that you feel and what you desire.”

Hyacinth nodded.

“But you must tell him the truth – or have him tell the truth to you one way or the other,” Lady Eve said, kindly. “Even if you have any sort of affection for him, nothing can build between you when there is this lie in the middle.”

Seeing exactly what her friend was saying, Hyacinth nodded but closed her eyes again, surprised at the heat behind her eyes. She did not want to cry over him, did not want to have any sort of difficulty in this present situation, and yet, the more time she spent in his company, the more troubling it became.

“Shall we take a short walk?”

Hyacinth opened her eyes just to see Lord Wiltshire standing before them both.

“A fine idea, I think!” Lady Eve agreed, though she quickly glanced towards Hyacinth. “You are welcome to join us, though if you wish to remain close to my mother, then I quite understand.”

Hyacinth shook her head and rose, thinking to herself that the walk might do her a good deal of good. “I think that would be most beneficial. I thank you.” She watched as Lady Eve took her betrothed’s arm, seeing the way he smiled at her and noticing just how tender it was. A flare of envy erupted in her heart but Hyacinth extinguished it quickly, glad that her friend had found such happiness. The three of them began to walk together, with Lord Wiltshire promising Lady Eve’s mother that they would not be long nor go too far, and Hyacinth took in long, steadying breaths as she went, grateful for the sunshine, the clean air, and the friendship which surrounded her.

And then, she saw him.

“Good afternoon, Lady Hyacinth, Lady Eve, Lord Wiltshire.” As soon as he saw her, Lord Thorne made his way towards them directly, a smile settling on his face. “It is a fine afternoon, is it not?”

Happiness flew through Hyacinth in a single moment as she held his gaze, smiling back at him. Some weeks ago, they had been in this very same park and, when he had seen her, Hyacinth had seen him turn away directly. That had sent a wave of pain through her, something she had never expected. Now, however, he had come towards her without hesitation, and that made Hyacinth’s heart lift with a fresh sense of delight. The riddles, his lies, and her confusion all disappeared as though it was a cloud blown away by a strong wind and all she could see was him.

“We are just taking a short walk about the park, though I must make sure to stay near to my mother,” Lady Eve told Lord Thorne, as Hyacinth forced her gaze away from him in an attempt to quieten her frantically beating heart. “Are you here to enjoy the fashionable hour? It is not yet time but I am sure it will be very busy indeed.”

Lord Thorne smiled, his eyes on Hyacinth as he spoke and she, in turn, looked back at him again. “I am here solely for good company, Lady Eve. That is all.”

Hyacinth felt herself warm, the edges of her lips curving as she looked towards him. Was he speaking of her? To her? She did not know but yet, the strength of her feelings suddenly redoubled itself, leaving her feeling utterly breathless.

“Might you wish to walk with Lady Hyacinth for a short while, so that I might walk with my betrothed?” Lord Wiltshire winced as Lady Eve frowned up at him. “I am sorry, my dear, and I mean no offense to you, Lady Hyacinth, but I do desire to have as much time alone with my betrothed as I can, even if it is in the middle of the park!”

Hyacinth laughed softly, fully understanding and eager to show that she took no offense in the least. “I quite understand. I do not wish to pull you away from any conversations, Lord Thorne, and am more than contented to return to your mother, Eve so you can – ”

“I would be glad to walk with you, Lady Hyacinth, if you would wish for my company?” Lord Thorne smiled, then glanced away as if he were a little uncertain that she would want to accept him. Hyacinth could not help but smile back at him, her heart racing in her chest as she accepted his arm… though a sharp look from Lady Eve pulled her back. She was meant to be speaking to him about the riddles, was she not? Meant to be asking him all about what they might mean, pushing him this way and prodding him gently to have him make a mistake in his answers or, indeed, simply to tell her the truth! Or, if that was met with nothing but failure, she might then consider asking him outright for the truth.

Could she do it?

I do not want to lose the connection we have. I do not want to break it apart.

“You are quiet all of a sudden, Lady Hyacinth.” Lord Thorne looked towards her, a slight lift to his eyebrows. “Are you quite all right? You did not have to accept me, you know. I would not have taken in the least bit of offence if you had refused me.”

“I think that you would have done,” Hyacinth answered, teasingly. “You would have been most upset that I refused you.”

This made a twinkle appear in Lord Thorne’s eyes as he grinned back at her. “Yes, I suppose that is so. Though I have made you smile again and speak with me, so that can be no bad thing.”

“Indeed you have.” Hyacinth leaned into him a little more, only for another glance from Lady Eve to remind her, again, of her true purpose. Her smile faded just a little as she took in a deep breath, trying to think of a way to speak to him about the riddles that would force his hand. “I must ask, Lord Thorne, whether your riddles are ever going to alter from their present state! They are singularly depressing at the moment, though I mean no offense by that.”

Lord Thorne’s expression darkened in an instant, his eyes darting to hers and then pulling away. “I do not know what you mean.”

“I mean that there is no answer that brings joy,” she said, trying to keep her voice light. “They have all been either answers of deceit and trickery, or of traits that one ought not to have in oneself! I believe the last one spoke of disguise and shadows, did it not?”

The tightening of Lord Thorne’s jaw did not give her the answer that she had hoped.

“I do hope you do not take offense,” she said, a little more gently. “All I mean is that it would be different to see an answer to a riddle that spoke of something good.”

Lord Thorne lifted his chin. “The riddles are not something that I wish to speak of, Lady Hyacinth.”

The coldness in his tone made her eyebrows lift, though a distinctly uncomfortable sensation flooded her at the very same time.

“I am tired of speaking of them,” he continued, keeping his eyes away from her, a tension in his frame which she could feel as they walked arm in arm. “It is all that the ton ever seems to speak of, all that anyone seems to ask me and I do not want to have any further discussion on the matter, least of all from you.”

Hyacinth blinked, feeling as though a hand was squeezing her heart. She did not know in what tone Lord Thorne had meant that last remark but the way in which he had altered after only a brief comment about the riddles had taken her completely by surprise. He had been nothing but smiles and happiness and then, in the very next moment, turned cold and withdrawn.

She did not know what to make of it. Could it be that he had begun to think that she was the riddle writer? That her nearness to him was solely to torment him? No, Hyacinth considered, as they walked now in strict silence, that could not be so. Something about the riddles had now so upset him, he did not even want her to mention it! How different that was from the gentleman he had been, the one who had seemed to boast in all that he had supposedly done!

Lord Thorne heaved a sigh and then, after another few moments, paused and shook his head. “Lady Hyacinth, I am sorry. I spoke harshly to you just now and I ought not to have done.” His other hand reached across to press her fingers as they walked, sending a fleeting flame of fire up her arm. “I do hope that you can forgive me.”

“Of course.” Hyacinth heard her voice, a little hoarse and uncertain. “You are upset by the riddles, it seems. I confess, I am surprised.”

“As you might well be.” There was no other explanation given to her from him other than that. There was nothing more said, nothing more expressed to give her any sort of understanding as to why he was so troubled. Instead, he offered her a wan smile and then, after a moment, turned to bring her back to Lady Eve and Lord Wiltshire.

“I think I must take my leave of you all, alas.” Dropping his arm, Hyacinth was released from him, that coolness she had felt from him still lingering. “I can see Lord Sunderland near to me and I confess, I feel it my duty to make certain he does not trouble anyone!”

Hyacinth nodded in understanding, well aware that Lord Thorne did truly feel such a way. He had mentioned in passing, on more than one occasion, how little he thought of Lord Sunderland’s behavior and how concerned he had been at times for what might occur, had he not intervened. All the same, the way he would not look into her eyes, the way he did not so much as smile at her made Hyacinth’s heart twist in her chest. There was something so very altered about him now, and all because she had mentioned the riddles.

Just what could it be?