Page 10 of The Truth about the Earl
Norah smiled, pulling her eyes away from the paper for if she read it again, she was quite sure she would find something to be displeased about and would attempt to write it out for what would be the fifth time! “I thank you.”
“Now, you are to fold it up and seal it just as you usually would, although I would not press your seal into the wax.”
“Oh?”
“It is to make certain that no one can identify your letter,” Lady Gillingham explained. “If it is known that you are sending special letters to the newspaper, then thetonwould be most intrigued and then greatly displeased, I should think. I would also advise sending a different boy with your letter each time or paying one of the ragamuffins on the street to take it for you. They are easily trusted so long as you withhold the coin untilafterthey have returned from their errand.”
Norah took careful note of each of these suggestions in her mind so that she would not forget them. The severity of what it would mean should she be discovered suddenly thrust itself upon her shoulders and she caught her breath, looking down at the letter as though for the first time.
“Are you quite all right?”
The memory of Lord Jennings coercing the young lady to stay with him rather than returning her to the ballroom as she had requested burned in Norah’s mind.
“Yes, I am quite all right.” Setting her jaw, she folded up the letter and then dripped a little hot wax onto the fold. “Thank you for all of your advice, Lady Gillingham. I do hope I can do just as well as you have done.”
“I am sure you will do even better,” came the reply. “Come, let us have your letter sent, and come the morrow, you will find your first article written in theLondon Chronicle Societypages – and all of London will know that Lord Jennings isnota gentleman to be trusted.”
Norah set her shoulders and rose to her feet, making her way across the room so that she might ring the bell. “Indeed,” she replied, emphatically. “This is for a good purpose and I am very glad indeed to have been given the opportunity to do so.”
Walking through the park,Norah took in a deep breath and smiled to herself. After her confusion over whether or not she ought to take on the task of writing as Mrs. Fullerton, she was now much more at peace. Her first article had been printed in the newspaper only yesterday, and she was very pleased with it. Whether or not thetonwould find it so enjoyable was quite another thing, however, but as yet, Norah had not had an opportunity to speak to anyone.
Keeping her face tilted away from the sun, Norah smiled and nodded at two older ladies who walked past her, arm in arm. They did not stop to converse given that they were already deep in conversation but Norah did not mind. She was quite contented to walk alone.
There is such freedom in walking so.The thought made her smile all the more. When she had been in London as a debutante, there had barely been a moment when she was allowed to be alone – and she certainly never would have been permitted to walk in the park without a chaperone! Her mother had been the very best of ladies, making certain that Norah was always presented properly and that there was never anything to be questioned about her. That had been just as Norah had expected but there had come with it a sense of restriction that she had sometimes struggled against. Her whole life had been set out for her. Her father had decided she was to wed his old friend, Lord Essington, and despite Norah’s protests – and her mother’s upset – the marriage had gone ahead. She had never really had an opportunity to build friendships with other young ladies, to be courted by the various gentlemen of thetonnor found any real enjoyment from the Season. It had all been outside of her control.
But now, there was nothing to prevent her from doing what she wished whenever she wished to do it! The smile on her face broadened as she tipped her head back toward the sunshine, heedless as to the effect it might have on her skin or the dangers of freckles appearing. No longer did she have to worry about keeping her skin pale and without blemish! Now all that concerned her was whether or not she would have enough coin to keep her in comfort for the remainder of the year – but with her writings for the newspaper, Norah had very little to concern herself in that regard any longer.
“Good afternoon, Lady Essington! You look to be in fine spirits this morning.”
Norah stopped abruptly, having been so lost in thought that she had not noticed a lady and her two daughters approaching. Quickly trying to recall their names having only been introducedto them last evening, Norah smiled brightly whilst her mind flung itself around in an attempt to remember who they were.
“Good afternoon. Yes, you find me in excellent spirits this morning, Lady Woodley.” A flood of relief coursed through her veins, letting her smile grow all the more.Now all I need to do is recall the names of her daughters!
“I am very glad. My two girls are a little fatigued after last evening but I have warned them that a thing is to be expected!”
“Indeed it is.” Norah gave them both a warm smile and the two young ladies smiled back at her, although she did note the light blue smudges under their eyes. “I always think that if one can look back on an evening with delight then it is worth the weariness that comes the following morning!”
The two girls exchanged a glance and then let out a giggle which made their mother smile.
“You are very good to say so, Lady Essington. Although did you hear the news about Lord Jennings?” Her smile faded and her eyes rounded as she leaned closer to Norah, as if she were to impart a very great secret. “It was in the society pages this morning.”
Norah, who obviously knew everything that had been said of Lord Jennings given that she had been the only one to witness it, kept her face impassive. “Is there something wrong?”
“Oh yes, indeed, Lady Essington! I have told both my girls that they are to stay far from him and I would beg for you to do the same. There is no saying which sort of young lady he might pursue next – and a widowed lady of thetonsuch as yourself might well be a consideration!”
Reminding herself that she was to pretend she did not know anything to do with Lord Jennings, Norah widened her eyes slightly. “Is Lord Jennings not a respectable gentleman, then?”
“He attempted to ruin the reputation of…some young lady. I do not know her name but the writer was very clear in what she stated about the gentleman.”
“Goodness!” Norah pressed one hand to her heart and Lady Woodley shook her head in the most solemn fashion. “And can such a writer be trusted?” This was her opportunity to make certain that ‘Mrs. Fullerton’ had a trustworthy reputation and from the way Lady Woodley was nodding fervently, it seemed that it was so.
“Mrs. Fullerton – whoever she may be, for there is no such lady in society – has written time and again about such things and has always been proven correct. I said to both my girls that they are not to speak to Lord Jennings and certainly shouldneveraccept a dance from him. I am horrified to hear he would not let that young lady free so she might return to her chaperone, just as she ought! What sort of despicable gentleman must he be?”
Norah nodded fervently, seeing the two young ladies now glancing at each other. There was a slight paleness to their cheeks which she had not noticed before, but now Norah wondered if it came from the fierceness of their mother’s determination for them not to go near to Lord Jennings.
“I am sure you will both stay far from Lord Jennings.” Smiling as warmly as she could, Norah almost dropped with relief when their title flew into her mind. “Miss Steepleton and Miss Steepleton,” she looked at them each in turn, “you must be on your guard. It is a little disheartening to hear, certainly, but there are more gentlemen of Lord Jennings’s ilk within London. You must be always very careful indeed.”
They both promised they would do so as they nodded, their eyes a little wider than before. Norah did not regret speaking so bluntly. It would be good for them to think about what she had said and take it to heart.
