Page 41 of The Truth about the Earl
Norah shook her head. “I have no promise, no hope even, that he will consider our connection in the way that he did onlyearlier today, but at least my conscience will be entirely clear. If he decides he cannot trust me, then I have merely to accept his decision. But I must hope that in revealing this to him, he will be able to guide me from this strange, dark path. I do not want to hurt him again. I do not want anyone to be injured because of my lack of action but I cannot remain silent as I did before.” Reaching for the letter, she held it in front of her eyes and read the harsh, biting words once more. “With Lord Yardley’s help, I will discover the person responsible for such dark demands.” Folding up the letter, she put it into her pocket and looked back at her friend. “I must. There is no other way forward.”
“Do you see him?”
Norah shook her head. “I do not.”
“He must be present somewhere!”
“Unless he, too, has decided he does not wish for company this evening and has chosen to remain at home.”
Lady Adlay grimaced, her lips curving down slightly. “I shall pray he has more courage than that.”
As do I.Walking arm in arm with Lady Adlay through the ballroom, Norah kept her chin lifted and let her gaze rove from one side to the other. Her heart was picking up speed with every step she took, afraid he would not be present. If she could not find him, then what was she to do? The article would be expected within a day or so and if she did not write it and did not send it, then there would be a potential danger for Lord Yardley himself, if not one of her other acquaintances or friends.
“There, I see him!”
Norah’s breath hitched as Lady Adlay clutched at her arm, her fingers tight. “Where?”
“He is speaking to Lady Maude. Do you see?”
Norah’s heart plummeted to the floor but she did not look away. She prayed silently that he had not returned to Lady Maude simply because of their circumstances, releasing her arm from Lady Adlay’s as she took in another deep breath.
“I shall speak to him immediately.”
“You have the letter?”
She nodded. “I do.” Swallowing against the growing ache in her throat and aware that her emotions were bubbling at the very surface, Norah told herself silently to keep herself composed regardless of what occurred. She did not want to embarrass herself, particularly in front of Lady Maude.
Clearing her throat gently and setting her shoulders, Norah made her way from Lady Adlay toward Lord Yardley, keeping her eyes trained on him. He did not look toward her immediately, for his attention seemed to be fixed on Lady Maude. Norah’s heart twisted as he smiled broadly at something the lady said. Her heart twisted. The last time she had been in his company, he had not smiled. Instead, he had been angry, frustrated, and upset. She did not know if he would ever smile at her like that again.
I shall not interrupt the conversation, as Lady Maude herself did.Standing quietly, Norah chose a spot a little to Lady Maude’s left, given that her right side was occupied by Miss Patterson. The latter stood with her head lowered just a little, as though she did not want to be seen by anyone and did not want Lord Yardley to consider that she was worthy of conversation. Norah thought to give her a small smile, to make her aware that, in her eyes at least, she was acknowledged but Miss Patterson did not turn her head even a little.
Sighing inwardly, Norah kept her head up and waited for Lord Yardley to notice her. It took some moments and with every second that passed, Norah felt the weight of their previousinteraction sink heavily upon her shoulders as if she were being pushed slowly into the floor. Her skin prickled as his eyes finally caught hers, pulled away again the very next moment by something Lady Maude said. Norah closed her eyes briefly, fighting against the worry that she would be entirely ignored by Lord Yardley and would be left to stand here quite alone, for as long as he wished her to be. Perhaps, she considered, that would be a fitting punishment for what she had done.
“Lady Essington – Norah.”
Her eyes flew open as Lord Yardley’s deep voice caught her ears. In allowing her thoughts to capture her, she had not seen him step forward, had not seen him come closer to her, ending his conversation with Lady Maude.
“Lord Yardley.” Her voice was hoarse but her eyes were wide with astonishment as Lord Yardley smiled at her. “I – I have to speak to you.”
“And I to you, also.” He took a step closer, his blue eyes suddenly grave. “You asked for me to listen to you. I did not do so. I was angry.”
“You have every right to be –”
“But I ought to have more faith in you, should I not?” His hand touched hers and Norah found herself clinging to it, her heart finally warming, rather than being pulled low by fear and worry. “You are not the sort of lady who is manipulative, dark, and cruel. There must be a reason for what you wrote. A reason that I hope you will give to me now.”
Norah swallowed, closing her eyes to take in more air. She felt a little dizzy, absolutely overwhelmed by his response to her. “I had not expected this.”
“There is a lot to explain, I presume?”
Opening her eyes, she nodded. “Perhaps we should find somewhere a little….” Her eyes flew to where Lady Maude and Miss Patterson now stood, their heads low together as LadyMaude spoke rapidly, although Norah did not hear a word of what she said. “A little more discreet?”
“Indeed.” He released her hand. “Come. There is a quieter corner over here.”
Norah followed after him, pausing only to nod and smile at Lady Adlay, who had been waiting a short distance away, her hands clasped tightly together. The brilliant smile on her friend’s face caused her lips to curve and she turned back, ready to explain everything to Lord Yardley.
“I do hope you will accept my very sincere apology for leaving you as I did in the park.” Lord Yardley’s expression was a little harder to see now that they stood in the quieter corner of the ballroom where the shadows clung a little more tightly. “It was wrong of me to do so.”
She smiled, their hands finding one another in the gloom. “I quite understand. I am only relieved you thought to return, Lord Yardley. I cannot tell you how much joy this conversation in itself is bringing to me! Although I fear the happiness we share at present will not last for long.” Seeing the confusion on his face, she pulled the letter from her pocket and handed it to him.
