Page 18 of The Truth about the Marquess (Whispers of the Ton #3)

Chapter Seventeen

W here is she?

The lady with the peacock feathers adorning both her hair and her mask had caught Oliver’s attention from the very moment that she had smiled at him. There had been something very familiar about her, though he had not recognized her voice. It was when she had spoken to him, however, when she had whispered those words about sharing letters that he had finally realized who she was – the writer for The London Chronicle! He had wanted to capture her hand and her attention, to tell her of his gratitude, of his overwhelming appreciation for all that she had done to help guide him but, yet, due to his responsibilities as host, he had been forced to let her go. Now, however, he was determined to find her.

“Edenbridge.”

Oliver glanced to his left, just as a hand caught his elbow.

“Yes?”

“It is I.” The gentleman spread out his hands, sounding a little exasperated when Oliver did not immediately recognize him. “Dunstable.”

“Good evening, Dunstable.” Oliver chuckled, though his eyes continued to rove around the room. “I did not recognize you with such an… ornate mask on.” He glanced at his friend again, taking in the silver mask which covered half of one side of his face as well as both eyes. “It is as though you do not wish to be seen!”

Lord Dunstable did not smile.

“I must speak with you.”

The smile fixed itself to Oliver’s face as he heard the seriousness in his friend’s voice.

“We are speaking, are we not?”

“In private.” Oliver blinked. “Now, if you please.”

“Now?” Oliver gestured to the room. “My friend, I am hosting this evening! I have many people present and all of them–”

Lord Dunstable grasped Oliver’s arm, hard.

“ Please. I would not ask if it was not of the greatest importance.”

Considering this, Oliver set aside his desire to find the lady with the peacock feathers in her hair and instead, relented so that he might go to speak with his friend.

“Very well.”

Lord Dunstable relaxed outwardly, his hand no longer gripping so hard, his shoulders dropping and a long breath escaping him.

“I thank you. This way, if you please.”

Oliver followed after his friend as Lord Dunstable made his way through the crowd and then, much to Oliver’s surprise, out into the hallway. Thereafter, he stepped into Oliver’s parlor with a familiarity that came with them having been such good friends for so many years.

The moment that Oliver stepped into the room, however, shock hit him with such force that he stumbled back. There, waiting for them with her hands clasped directly in front of her, was none other than Lady Henrietta. She did not wear a mask, holding it instead by its ribbons, and her eyes were already sparkling with tears – though what had caused them, Oliver did not know.

His shock quickly turned to anger.

“Whatever are you doing?” he hissed, coming close to Lord Dunstable, his hand grasping his arm, tightly. “You cannot have Lady Henrietta waiting here alone! Where is her mother? Or any sort of chaperone? I know that her family is in some sort of difficulty but that does not mean that you can force my arm!”

“Force your arm?” Lord Dunstable repeated, puzzlement on his face, only for it to clear in an instant as he shook off Oliver’s hand. “That is not what I brought you here for, my friend! Surely you know me better than that?”

Oliver’s confusion and anger began to fade as he searched his friend’s face. After a moment, he released Lord Dunstable’s arm and then closed his eyes as he let out a small sigh.

“You are a worthy gentleman,” he muttered, reaching around to take off his mask. “You would never force my hand, I know. I should not have suggested that.” He opened his eyes. “My sincere apologies.”

“I thank you.” Lord Dunstable let out a slow breath. “My friend, I asked you here so that we might speak together – all of us.”

Looking at Lady Henrietta and seeing how she pulled her handkerchief from her sleeve to dab at her eyes, Oliver frowned.

“What is this about?”

“It is to do with Lady Henrietta and her family,” Lord Dunstable answered. “You know that I have long been acquainted with them all and I must say, to hear what her father has done makes me greatly concerned for Lady Henrietta’s future.”

“I am sorry to hear that.” Keeping his voice quiet, Oliver looked back at Lady Henrietta, just as she brought her gaze to his. “It is as you feared, then.”

Lady Henrietta’s voice wobbled.

“It is. Though it is even worse than I was first told.”

Oliver waited to see if the urge to offer to court the lady rose up within him but instead, what came to him was a vision of Lady Harsham. It was most unexpected and took Oliver quite by surprise, making him shake his head to himself – though Lady Henrietta clearly took it to be his reaction to what she had said to him.

“It is quite dreadful,” she said, her voice breaking now. “I did not know what I was to do, quite certain that my future was bleak.” Her gaze drifted towards Lord Dunstable. “But then Lord Dunstable and I spoke and… well…”

“That is when I determined that we had to speak with you.” Lord Dunstable cleared his throat, his gaze dropping, a sudden tension seeming to flood through his frame. “I hope that you will understand. I do not want to make you angry or upset you in any way.”

Thoroughly confused, Oliver looked from one to the other.

“Why should I be angry?”

“Because I know that you were thinking of courting me,” Lady Henrietta answered, still looking to Lord Dunstable. “I was sure that you would turn from me once you had heard about my father, but Lord Dunstable reassured me.”

A small, wry smile touched Lord Dunstable’s lips.

“I reassured her, to the point that I realized that I would not be very pleased if you were to court her, Edenbridge.”

A knot forming at his brows, Oliver’s jaw set tight.

“Why ever not?”

“Because,” Lord Dunstable answered, reaching out one hand to the lady, “because I have realized that I wish to do so.”

“You… you wish to court Lady Henrietta?” Oliver blinked furiously as Lord Dunstable nodded, glancing at the lady in question and then looking back to Oliver. “ You , who have known her for such a long time but never once thought to do so before?”

Lord Dunstable nodded, closing his eyes.

“Perhaps it is because I have known her for so long that I did not realize what was truly within my heart.”

“I… we do not want you to be angry with us,” Lady Henrietta whispered, though she drew closer to Lord Dunstable. “We wanted you to know of our hopes before we made any approach to my father or mother.”

“I intend to obtain a Special License,” Lord Dunstable added, quickly. “It is not just courtship that I am considering, my friend. It is much, much more than that.”

“I can see that.” Oliver considered this for a few moments, a little surprised that he felt nothing but delight at this news. “My dear friend, though I am astonished, I confess that I am quite delighted to know that you want to court the lady… forgive me, to marry the lady.”

Lord Dunstable blinked rapidly, clearly surprised at the easy way in which Oliver had taken this news.

“You – you are?”

“I am.” Oliver moved closer and then took Lady Henrietta’s hand. “I am delighted to know that you have found a gentleman who will do nothing other than care for you just as you deserve. I know that you have been acquainted with Lord Dunstable for a long while and if it is that you have both truly found a new sense of happiness in your connection, then I certainly will not stand in the way of that. Instead, I will encourage it!”

Lady Henrietta’s eyes filled with tears all over again, though she smiled more brightly than Oliver had ever seen before.

“Thank you, Lord Edenbridge. You are truly a considerate, kind, and caring gentleman and I have been grateful for your company.”

“You are most welcome.” Oliver looked to Lord Dunstable and then shook his hand, firmly. “And to you, my friend, might I offer my most sincere congratulations?”

Lord Dunstable smiled, though he appeared a little dazed, almost as though he could not quite take in all that Oliver had said.

“I – I thank you, my friend.”

“If there is to be opportunity to join you on your wedding day, I hope you know that I would find it a privilege to be present.”

“I thank you.” Lord Dunstable glanced at his bride. “It will depend on just how quickly we need to marry. I do not want Lady Henrietta to suffer any more than she has already done, and news of her father’s foolishness has not yet spread through the ton … though it will not be long.”

“I quite understand.” Putting one hand to his heart, Oliver bowed to them both. “And thank you for your consideration in speaking to me so openly about these things. I am truly grateful.”

“I am only glad that your heart was not injured,” Lord Dunstable answered, sounding more relieved now. “Your understanding has made this matter a good deal easier.”

“But of course.” Gesturing to the door, Oliver smiled as Lady Henrietta quickly put her mask back on again, only to then take the arm of Lord Dunstable. “I am truly delighted for you both.”

Watching them walk from the room, Oliver closed the door but then leaned back against it, choosing not to go into the ballroom immediately thereafter. Though he was not upset by the news, it had been something of a shock to hear that Lord Dunstable now considered himself practically in love with Lady Henrietta and intended to marry her! Trying to let the news sink in a little more, Oliver closed his eyes and let out a long, slow breath.

I do not feel any sorrow nor sadness about this, he reminded himself, astonished as a slight relief began to flood his chest. I did not even think of Lady Henrietta in all of this. The only person I thought of was Lady Harsham.

Oliver closed his eyes and rested his head back against the door, breathing deeply. There was something strong in his connection with Lady Harsham, he had to admit it. But was there something more there than just mere friendship?

His eyes popped open as a sudden thought struck him.

Have I been so caught up in my pursuit of two other young ladies that I missed what was directly in front of my eyes?

Letting out a slow breath, Oliver pushed himself away from the door, realizing that, as yet, he had not greeted Lady Harsham – or mayhap he had without realizing it. Had he been so busy thinking about the lady with the peacock feathers that he had not recognized her when she had first arrived? A trifle irritated with himself, Oliver strode back to the ballroom and pulled open the door, determined now to go in search of Lady Harsham – though quite how he was to find her at a masquerade ball, he did not know!

“Lord Edenbridge?”

Turning his head, Oliver’s heart clattered in his chest.

“My Lady.” He went to hurry forward, only for the lady, her peacock feathers bobbing in her hair as she moved, to reach for his arm to hold him in place.

“Might we speak?” she asked, catching his hand very briefly, but in a way that spoke of familiarity. “It is important, Lord Edenbridge.”

Oliver frowned, struggling to hear her over the sound of the ballroom which was growing loud and raucous.

“You wish to speak with me?”

“Now.”

It was said with the same urgency as Lord Dunstable had spoken and, all the more confused, Oliver permitted the lady to lead him out into the hallway, aware of the knot which tied itself in his stomach.

“Lord Edenbridge.” The lady released his arm, then spread out her hands. “I have come to tell you of some rumors which I have heard. I believe that they are true rather than rumor, however, though I am sorry to have to tell you of it.”

“Rumors?” The word sent a buzzing into Oliver’s ears, memories of all he had already endured throwing themselves at him. “What have you heard?”

The lady hesitated for a moment, then took a breath.

“I have been told that Miss Leverton has eloped with a gentleman by the name of Lord Whittington.” Oliver gaped at her, shock ricocheting through him. “I know that it must be a great shock to you, but I did not want you to hear of it from another, who might then look to spread news of your reaction to others. It is known to some in the ton , at least, that you have been showing an interest in the lady.”

For some minutes, Oliver could say nothing. It was not that he had become overly interested in Miss Leverton and was eager to have more of her company, nor that he found himself upset that she had turned away from him so quickly. It was simply the astonishment of hearing that she had done such a thing, for the lady he had come to know was quiet, reserved, and under the severe gaze of her mother at all times. Never would he have imagined that she had such boldness!

“I am sorry.”

It was the softness of her hand on his that made Oliver start in surprise, tugging him out of his thoughts. He looked down into the lady’s eyes, trying to sort out his many, complicated thoughts.

“You are very considerate, my Lady.” A broken, jerking laugh issued from his lips. “It seems that I have lost two young ladies on the same evening! No doubt you have also heard that I was considering Lady Henrietta, yes?” He looked away from her as the lady nodded, feeling a sense of foolishness wash over him. “My closest friend is now to marry her, though I cannot say that I am in any way upset or angry about that. To see them together, to see the hope that they now had, did make my heart glad.” He closed his eyes briefly. “For myself, however, it now seems that I shall, yet again, garner the attention of the ton , though they will most likely do nothing but laugh at me this time.”

“I am sure it is not so.”

“Oh, but it shall be,” Oliver replied, a little more gruffly than he had intended, heat beginning to build in his chest. “I can already hear their sharp tongues speaking of me, telling all of their friends and acquaintances that I am a gentleman who can never garner the attention of a young lady for long.” Letting out a long sigh, he closed his eyes. “I suppose it does not matter. Mayhap I ought not to have come to London this Season.”

“Do not say that.” The tenderness in her voice made Oliver’s eyes open, a slight frown flicking across his forehead as he looked back at the lady, still trying to ascertain who she was. “There is still hope.”

“Hope?” Oliver shook his head. “No, my Lady. Despite your best attempts to help me – help which I have highly valued and wanted to thank you for – it seems as though I have lost the interest of both ladies that I have been considering. There can be no hope with either of them although, I should say, I do not find myself greatly sorrowful over it.” Quite why he was telling her such things, Oliver did not know, but there was something about their connection – albeit through letter writing only – that made him feel as though he could be quite open with her. “But I do thank you for your desire to come and tell me about Miss Leverton before someone in the ton thought to do so.”

“I am relieved that I caught you before it was spoken of to you by another,” came the answer, a softness in her tone that made Oliver’s breath catch, a little unsure as to why he felt such a strength in his connection to the lady when he had never met her in person before. “Lord Edenbridge, I must ask you… that is, I must tell you–”

“Ah, Lord Edenbridge! There you are.”

The door swung open, and Oliver turned quickly, seeing a gentleman by the name of Lord Tertford hurry towards him. Inwardly, he groaned, seeing the broad grin on the gentleman’s face, quite sure he knew why the man was smiling.

“Lord Tertford,” he began, turning back so that he might introduce the lady with the peacock feathers in her hair – even though he did not know her name – only to see an empty space where she had been standing. “I – yes, well.” Clearing his throat, he forced a smile. “You have come, no doubt, to inform me that Miss Leverton has eloped, yes?”

The smile on Lord Tertford’s face immediately began to fade.

“Well, yes, that was what I had come to speak to you about. But you are already aware of it, it seems.”

Oliver kept his smile pinned in place.

“Yes, I am. Though it is no great sorrow to me.”

“No?” Lord Tertford’s expression grew into one of astonishment. “I am surprised. I would have thought that you might be brokenhearted! After all, it was clear to some of us that you were interested in pursuing the lady, but now, it seems, she is gone from you and that can no longer be!”

“I am well used to being rejected,” Oliver answered, in what he hoped was a somewhat careless tone. “This is simply another who does not think well of me, I suppose.”

“And is there any other that you might turn to?”

Oliver frowned, seeing the glint which came into the gentleman’s eye. He certainly was not about to admit anything to him!

“I have been giving a good deal of my time to Miss Leverton, as you are aware,” he said, omitting any mention of Lady Henrietta for fear that the gentleman had not heard about his interest in that lady also. “I have not had time nor desire to pursue any other and therefore, I can tell you quite truthfully that I have no one else in mind.” He let out what he hoped sounded like a small, melancholy sigh. “Indeed, I think that I shall now enjoy the rest of the Season without pursuing any young lady and, thereafter, make my way back to my estate. Mayhap next Season, I shall find myself a little more fortunate!”

“Indeed.” Lord Tertford offered a small, wry smile, but to Oliver’s eyes, clearly looked a little disappointed which, in turn, brought him a good deal of relief. With any luck, this would turn the gentleman from him entirely and there would be no more gossip spread about him. “There is always hope, Lord Edenbridge.”

With an insincere smile, Lord Tertford bowed and then stepped back towards the ballroom door, leaving Oliver to follow. He did glance over his shoulder, wondering where the lady with the peacock feathers had gone, but he could see not even the smallest glimpse of her. A little frustrated that their conversation had come to an end so quickly before it had even begun, Oliver made his way back into the ballroom, no longer as happy nor as contented as he had been at the start.