Page 16 of The Truth about the Marquess (Whispers of the Ton #3)

Chapter Fifteen

“ L ady Henrietta, thank you for walking with me again.” Oliver smiled as he lifted his head from his bow, offering the lady his arm. “It seems to me that you are very fond of Hyde Park. Is this not the second time that you have requested that we take a walk here?”

Lady Henrietta glanced at him.

“Yes, it is.”

Her lips did not curve into a smile, however, and her eyes were a little watchful, as though she expected him to berate her because of such a request, and Oliver was quick to encourage her.

“I do like Hyde Park very much,” he continued, wondering why she was not smiling. Was it, mayhap, because her mother insisted on remaining close to them? “I think that there will be many fine acquaintances whom we may meet this afternoon.”

Again, Lady Henrietta glanced at him, only to look away.

“Yes, I am sure that there will be.”

“I – I wonder if…” Recalling the advice given to him by the writer of The London Chronicle, Oliver cleared his throat. “I did wonder if we might speak of my supposed lack of fortune, Lady Henrietta?” This brought her eyes snapping back to his. “I know that there are many rumors about me and my present standing,” Oliver continued with a small smile, though inwardly, he felt his stomach knotting. “I should like to speak to you about that, if you would permit me?”

“Of course.”

Oliver frowned. There did not appear to be any real interest in the lady’s voice but, then again, he considered, it was not right for a young lady such as herself to show real interest in that way. They were not meant to show any concern over matters such as inheritance and fortune and therefore, no doubt, she wanted him to think her quite proper.

“My father, when he passed away, did not leave the estates in a good state,” he said clearly, choosing to be entirely honest rather than hide the truth. “The estate was in need of repair in some parts, and there had been some truly dreadful investments, all of which I had then to deal with.”

Lady Henrietta barely glanced at him, her head lowering just a little as her eyes darted to his for a moment.

“I see. That must have been a very difficult time for you.”

Touched by her sympathy, Oliver nodded.

“It was. Very difficult indeed, I would say. That being said, it also gave me the determination to do all that I could to make certain that my fortune was soon restored to me.”

“That is good.”

Lady Henrietta threw him another look, but then turned her gaze away again. Was she embarrassed by what he was saying? For a moment, Oliver thought to stop, to change the subject entirely, but after a moment, he chose to continue.

“My father was not the very best of gentlemen when it came to his coin,” he said, taking a deep breath as a flash of pain struck him as he remembered his shock at seeing the state of the estate finances, as well as trying to cope with the grief which had almost entirely overwhelmed him. “Therefore, what the ton said of me was, for some time, quite true. I was without a good deal of coin, I was impoverished.” He threw out his chest, a sense of happiness filling him as he smiled at her. “Though that is no longer true.” Lady Henrietta sniffed. Oliver blinked, his smile cracking. “That is to say, I have no longer any concern as regards my fortune nor my estates,” he said, a little confused by her reaction, wondering why she appeared to be so disinclined to what he was trying to explain. “There is no concern any longer. My investments have done well, the estate will soon have all of the repairs that it required completed, and all shall be well.”

“I am glad to hear it.”

To Oliver’s mind, Lady Henrietta could not have sounded more disinterested if she had tried. His words dried up, his tongue felt a little too big for his mouth and he swallowed thickly, looking away from her. What else was he to say? He had thought that this conversation would be a little more difficult than it had been, though now he was left wondering why she did not seem to have anything to say on all that he had revealed. He had been open with her, vulnerable in speaking as he had done, and yet, Lady Henrietta had only sniffed and murmured a few words. There were no questions, no real relief that things were now as he had said, and that confused him utterly.

“Lady Henrietta?”

She looked up at him again, a vague smile on her face.

“Yes?”

“You seem… distracted.” Choosing again to be honest with her, Oliver watched her face, seeing the way that her eyes rounded and her mouth opened just a fraction. “I have spoken to you of a serious matter and yet, you do not appear to have the least bit of interest in it. Surely you must know that I have particular intentions, should all go well between us! I must wonder at your lack of remark over what I have shared.”

Lady Henrietta opened and then closed her mouth again, swallowing hard as she gazed up at him.

And then, she closed her eyes.

“Forgive me, Lord Edenbridge,” she whispered, hoarsely. “I am not meant to speak of this, but it is my father.”

“Your father?”

She nodded and when her eyes opened, there were tears there.

“I have heard that he has gambled a great deal of our fortune away,” she whispered, leaning closer to him as sympathy poured into Oliver’s heart, leaving him a little embarrassed that he had spoken so bluntly when it was now clear that she was in some sort of distress. “I am sure that it will push a good many gentlemen away from me and, truth be told, Lord Edenbridge, I can understand if you do not wish to even be connected with me in any way, any longer.”

Oliver shook his head.

“I shall not step away from you, Lady Henrietta, simply because of your father’s gambling. I would not do such a thing!”

“But my family might well be just as impoverished as you once were!” she answered, blinking quickly to push the tears away. “I will bring no income in with me, I will barely have a dowry, if what has been said of my father proves to be true. What then?”

Pausing for a moment as he thought, Oliver then smiled briefly.

“Lady Henrietta, given all that I have endured myself, all that I have had to suffer as a result of my own father’s foolishness, I can well understand what you have said, and the pain that you must be enduring. Rest assured, I will not end our acquaintance because of this. And it may prove not to be as bad as you have heard! It may prove to be quite the opposite.”

Lady Henrietta closed her eyes and let out a shuddering breath, just as a tear dropped to her cheek.

“I do not think that it will be,” she answered, tremulously. “I fear that it will be worse than what we have been told!”

“Even if it is, then you are not without hope,” Oliver told her, firmly. “I am sure–”

“How can you say such a thing?” Lady Henrietta interrupted him, her voice loud now, loud with fear and upset. “You have seen how the ton turned from you because of your lack of fortune, have you not? I am sure that it will be the same for me! You cannot reassure me, Lord Edenbridge, for I am all too aware of what will happen.”

Trying to find something to say, Oliver let out a slow breath, recognizing that what she said was quite true. The ton would turn their back on the family, even on those who had done nothing to deserve their censure. Lady Henrietta would find herself without a future, without hope.

He hesitated. I could court her. I do not care about what her father has done, nor do I care about the size of her dowry.

Opening his mouth to say that very thing, Oliver’s heart squeezed tight, refusing to let those words fall. Frowning, he cleared his throat, seeing Lady Henrietta searching his face, perhaps hoping for some wonderful promise that would solve all of her difficulties.

“Lady Henrietta,” he began, still uncertain about what he ought to say now, and wondering why the thought of courting her sent his heart tumbling low. “I am sure – ah! Lord Dunstable, good afternoon! How pleasant to see you.”

His friend bowed towards Lady Henrietta though, as he lifted his head, a somewhat quizzical look was sent in Oliver’s direction, indicating that perhaps he was a little surprised at how glad Oliver seemed to be to be welcoming him into their company. Perhaps he thought that Oliver wanted nothing more than to be alone with Lady Henrietta when, much to Oliver’s surprise, it was a welcome relief to have his friend present.

“Good afternoon,” Lord Dunstable said, directing the words towards Lady Henrietta. “I do hope that I have not interrupted you?”

Lady Henrietta blinked, closed her eyes, and then broke into sobs, her gloved hands covering her face and Lord Dunstable immediately took a step back, a panicked look coming into his eyes.

“Lady Henrietta has been telling me about some difficult news regarding her father,” Oliver explained, feeling a little helpless and wondering if he ought to put his arm around the young lady’s shoulders. He glanced behind him, wondering if her mother was present and willing to come to her daughter’s aid, but the lady was herself engrossed in conversation with another lady near them. “Lord Dunstable has long been acquainted with your family, has he not?” When the lady nodded, Oliver gestured to his friend, hoping that Lord Dunstable might find the words to reassure her. “Then you know that he is an excellent fellow and will not share a word of your present difficulty to the ton, I can assure you.”

“Certainly, I will not!”

Lord Dunstable pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Lady Henrietta, making Oliver realize that he ought to have done such a thing himself. He glanced at Oliver who shrugged lightly, and spread out his hands, silently asking his friend to help him calm the lady. Lord Dunstable gave a small nod and then looked again at the lady, who was now dabbing at her eyes.

“If you wish, you may tell me all of it, Lady Henrietta.”

Lord Dunstable glanced again at Oliver, who spoke quickly.

“I have no doubt that Lord Dunstable will be just as reassuring as I have been. Mayhap that might encourage you?”

Lady Henrietta sniffed, keeping the handkerchief clasped tightly in her hand, her eyes, damp with tears, looking up towards Lord Dunstable.

“All I want to know is whether or not you would step away from me also, Lord Dunstable,” she said, her voice a mournful whisper. “Lord Edenbridge says that he will not, but I am fearful that so many others will.”

Lord Dunstable frowned and then leaned closer to her.

“Whatever has happened, Lady Henrietta?”

“Lord Edenbridge?”

Oliver turned his head, just to see Lady Harsham and Lady Guilford coming towards him, a warm smile spreading across both their faces.

“We thought to come and speak to you but alas, I fear that we have broken you apart!” Lady Guilford exclaimed, making Oliver turn his head to see Lord Dunstable and Lady Henrietta walking away from them, with Lord Dunstable’s head close to Lady Henrietta’s.

“I am glad that you thought to be so kind,” he answered with a smile. “Lord Dunstable is a friend of Lady Henrietta’s family, I believe, for they have all been acquainted with each other for many a year.” His smile slipped. “Alas, Lady Henrietta has had some difficult news thrust upon her, and our pleasant walk turned into something quite sorrowful indeed.” He looked again to where his friend was walking with the lady, a sense of relief in his chest. “Lord Dunstable will know what to say. I was not able to offer anything to her, I am afraid.”

A frown began to pull at his forehead as he remembered how close he had come to asking to court her, only for his heart to pull him back. Why had it been so fierce in its determination to drag him away from her? She was someone that he was considering, was she not? She was lovely, kind, and excellent in her conversation and manner, and he was certainly fond of her, at the very least. So why, when it came to it, had he been so unwilling to offer her courtship?

“Lord Edenbridge? Are you quite all right?” Lady Harsham touched his arm. “You have gone very quiet and are scowling as though you have thought of something displeasing!”

Oliver blinked rapidly and then shook his head as though to cast the expression from his face.

“I am quite well, forgive me. It is concern only. Given what Lady Henrietta has told me, I am now very well aware of what she will face and that it is going to be a very difficult situation indeed.” Sighing, he rubbed one hand over his chin. “I only hope that she will find the strength to overcome it all.”

“With good friends such as Lord Dunstable beside her, as well as your support – and the support from others, such as myself and Lady Guilford – I am sure that, whatever has happened, she will be encouraged.”

Lady Harsham smiled, and Oliver nodded, her words of comfort touching his heart.

“I think that you are quite correct.” With a deep breath, he gestured towards Lady Henrietta and Lord Dunstable. “I had thought to offer to court her the very moment that she told me of her troubles, but Lord Dunstable interrupted me before I could do so.” Wincing, he saw Lady Guilford and Lady Harsham exchange a look. “It came from a desire to aid her, I suppose, though I am glad that I did not say anything. I have still Miss Leverton to consider, and I have not yet spoken with her about my fortune, as I have been advised to do. I can see now that it would have been an impulsive decision, had I offered courtship to Lady Henrietta.” With a quiet laugh, he ran one hand over his eyes. “I ought not to have said anything to you either, I am sure, for now I have only brought shame to myself!”

Lady Harsham smiled, but dropped her gaze and, instead, took his arm.

“There is no shame in wishing to save someone from whatever difficulty they find themselves in.”

“I quite agree,” Lady Guilford agreed, as they all fell into step together. “Though I think we should hurry to catch Lady Henrietta and Lord Dunstable before her mother notices that she is walking with another!”

Laughing, Oliver pushed aside his embarrassment and began to walk, noticing that there was no concern in his heart over the fact that Lord Dunstable was now arm in arm with Lady Henrietta.

Looking to his right and seeing Lady Harsham there made him quite contented and, with a soft smile on his face, he hurried after the others.