Page 20 of The Earl's Demure Spinster
“I see,” Sylvia replied as she bit down on her bottom lip, trying her absolute hardest not to burst into tears. She did not want to cry, but the harshness of the previous night was almost too much for her.
Harriet reached across and took Sylvia’s hand in hers. “I also wanted to offer you my friendship. The ton can be a harsh place, but you do not have to face it alone. I believe you deserve kindness and respect, just as much as anyone else. From whatmy brother has already said about you, I am sure that we can be great friends.”
Lord Wesley had been talking about her? Sylvia was not sure how to feel about that. But a wave of gratitude washed over her with regards to Lady Harriet, so she decided to focus on that instead. “Thank you very much. You do not know how much this means to me.”
“You are most welcome, Sylvia,” Lady Harriet responded, her smile warm and genuine. “I understand how isolating it can feel when the world seems to be against you. But I assure you, not everyone believes the rumours or judges you unfairly. You have allies, and I am one of them. I shall be your friend at all social gatherings henceforth.”
Sylvia had just told her aunt that she wanted to withdraw from the Season, but if she was going to have a friend by her side, then perhaps she would be able to handle it after all. She sat happily with Lady Harriet for a little while, talking about everything that they had in common. Luckily, Lady Harriet was right. They really were similar and could be great friends. The tight knot of anxiety that she had been feeling before dissipated, and continued to do so as they chatted.
By the time Lady Harriet had to leave, Sylvia was feeling a little more positive about everything. She might not have been looking forward to the next society event, because she would still have to face everyone else, but at least it would not feel quite so heavy. She would have someone that she could talk to, someone on her side, and someone in Lord Wesley’s family at that. That was incredibly exciting.
Maybe she would never be good enough for an earl, but it was nice to know that perhaps they could continue their friendship.
After all that drama, Sylvia was about to excuse herself for a walk around the gardens when the butler entered the drawingroom with a formal bow. “Lady Sylvia, Lord Marcus Langford has arrived to call upon you.”
Startled, Sylvia glanced up, her thoughts momentarily scattered. She had not anticipated any more visitors, let alone Lord Marcus. The name alone sparked a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Despite the rumors and the morning’s earlier turmoil, she knew she had to maintain her composure for a visit with a lord. Especially one who had been kind to her at the ball.
“Show him in, please,” she replied, her voice as steady as she could manage.
Moments later, Lord Marcus entered the room with an air of confident ease. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his suit impeccable, reflecting his status and obvious attention to detail. As he approached, Sylvia found herself unexpectedly charmed by his disposition. There was a warmth in his smile and a twinkle of mischief in his eyes that made him seem both approachable and intriguing. She recalled that same feeling the previous night. He might not have been the man that she had been thinking about all morning, but he was kind just the same, and he had come to see her despite the scandal sheets.
“Lady Sylvia,” Lord Marcus greeted with a slight bow, his tone courteous yet infused with a friendly familiarity. “It is lovely to see you on this fine morning.”
“It is lovely to see you too, Lord Marcus,” Sylvia replied, rising to her feet. “Your visit is a pleasant surprise.”
As they settled into their seats, Sylvia could not help but feel an intense nervousness because she was not used to any of this. It was all brand new for her and she was not quite sure how she could handle herself properly.
“I trust you are well?” Lord Marcus inquired, his eyes searching hers with genuine interest.
“I am, thank you,” Sylvia replied, maintaining her poised exterior. “And you, Lord Marcus?”
“Quite well, thank you,” he answered. “I had the utmost pleasure in your company at the ball, and I thought it only fitting to pay you a visit. I trust that you are acclimating well to the intricacies of London society.”
Had he read the scandal sheets? If so, he did not say a thing about it, which was nice. His tactfulness was a welcome relief, a reprieve from the relentless scrutiny she had faced.
“Thank you, Lord Marcus,” Sylvia said, her smile widening and becoming more genuine. “I appreciate your visit. Settling in has been a bit of a challenge, I must admit. But I do hope that I will get there eventually.”
Lord Marcus nodded, his expression understanding. “The social scene here can be quite daunting, especially for someone as unique as yourself.”
Sylvia raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his choice of words. “Unique?”
He chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. “Yes, unique. You bring a fresh perspective, a certain grace that is not often seen. It is refreshing and I very much enjoy it. Furthermore, I am ever at your service, should you wish to inquire about anyone. I am prepared to provide you with all the necessary information.”
“Everyone,” Sylvia giggled. “I think I need to catch up on everyone.”
Lord Marcus nodded and immediately started to fill Sylvia in on people she could vaguely recall from the night before, and people she was not even sure that she had met yet. Sylvia knew that she was not going to recall any of this, but it was still nice to have some information. Knowledge was power after all, and she needed as much power as she could get here.
When Lord Marcus eventually took his leave, Sylvia watched him go, her thoughts a swirl of emotions. Despite the earlier events casting a shadow over her mind, Lord Marcus’s charm and easy conversation had brought a lighter tone to her day.Again, he had given her an unexpected glimmer of hope in what had felt like a hopeless situation before.
