Page 35 of The Truth about the Earl
Lord Yardley closed his eyes for a moment, letting it out slowly. The tension she saw etched in his features began to fade away, as though he had been waiting for a single word from her so that he might feel a little more at ease.
How can I tell him I am the cause of his distress?
“I know of your character, Lord Yardley. I know you are not the sort of gentleman who would do such a thing.”
Shaking his head fervently, Norah felt Lord Yardley’s hand squeeze hers gently. “I am not,” he said, with such a determination that Norah wanted to protest that she did not need to be convinced. “I have gentlemen who were with me that evening. We were at Whites. I was nowhere near the theatre.”
“I am already convinced of your innocence!” Norah glanced around, attempting to regulate her voice. “You need not say anything that will urge me to believe you. I already trust you, Lord Yardley. I am convinced you are the very best of gentlemen. I do not think I have ever found such contentment and enjoyment in any gentleman’s company before. I should hate to be separated from you and, therefore, have no intention to ever be so.”
She had not meant to speak with such vehemence nor give him such an insight into the depths of her feelings but the urge to encourage him, to give him an assurance of her commitment to their current connection was overwhelming. Lord Yardley’s eyes widened slightly but he did not say anything. Instead, he simply looked back into her eyes and Norah returned his gaze steadily, all too aware of the quickening of her heart. He was so very handsome and had such a wonderful character that Norah knew it was quite impossible for her heart not to be affected. The difficulty she had brought him by writing that particular piecewas hard to see, however, and that knowledge brought Norah herself a good deal of pain.
“Lady Essington, I must speak my heart to you.”
Her eyes flared. “Now?”
Lord Yardley smiled, his expression brightening as though someone had lit a candle near to them both. “I think it must be now, Lady Essington. I confess I have long had the intention of speaking to you about this matter but as yet, I have not found opportunity.”
Rather than feeling any delight and flare of hope over what he now sought to speak with her about, Norah’s heart dropped low to the ground, her struggling smile evidence of her inner turmoil. Whatever he was to ask her, Norah was quite certain it was to do with their present connection and, whilst she knew what her heart was beginning to yearn for, her mind would not allow her to even consider it. She could not! Not whenshewas the one who had written the article that now caused Lord Yardley so much difficulty.
“And you believe this is now the best opportunity?” she asked, trying to keep her voice light and her expression a little mirthful by lifting one eyebrow gently. “We may be interrupted at any moment!”
“Ah, but I am too much of a gentleman to ask you to step outside with me so that we might be a little more….in a private situation,” came the immediate reply. “Lady Essington, you must be aware that I have enjoyed your company of late. Indeed, I do not think there has been one single social occasion where I have not sought you out!”
Gentle happiness began to pull at Norah’s lips and she could not help but smile despite the warring in her soul. “That is true, Lord Yardley,” she agreed softly. “We have found something of a companionship with each other, I would agree.”
Something flickered in his eyes and he took a small step closer to her. Norah’s breath caught in her chest and the rest of the room began to fade. She did not hear the conversations of others any longer, did not even remember that they were there. Her eyes were fixed to Lord Yardley, caught by the depth of feeling that a simple look could invoke in her. She forgot about the article she had written, forgot completely about the threatening letter. There was nothing but Lord Yardley and the anticipation in her heart over what he was next to say.
“That companionship has become very dear to me, Lady Essington. I have been foolish not to speak to you of it sooner, I know, but I must confess the truth of my heart. There is more within it than you can possibly know and –”
“Lord Yardley!”
A high-pitched, rather loud voice came between them, forcing them back. Norah’s breathing was ragged, her anticipation so very high that it took her some moments to realize they were being interrupted. Lord Yardley’s eyes widened and he cleared his throat abruptly, the harsh sound bringing Norah back to herself. The heat in her stomach burned a fire up through her, her face warm as she turned to see who it was that had decided to interrupt them so.
“What is this I have read of you?”
Lady Maude.
Norah tried to smile, tried to appear amiable but the frustration at being interrupted by such a rude, disingenuous young lady was difficult to hide. Not that such a thing mattered, however, for Lady Maude did not so much as look at her but instead came to stand directly in front of her, facing Lord Yardley and pushing her back out of the conversation entirely. Norah found herself forced to stand next to Miss Patterson, the shy, quiet creature who seemed constantly to be in Lady Maude’s shadow.
“Good evening, Lady Maude.” Lord Yardley’s eyes caught Norah’s, silently begging her to forgive him. “If you are not aware, I was just now talking to Lady Essington and –”
“Itmustbe quite untrue, I am sure of it,” Lady Maude interrupted. “You are not the sort of gentleman to do such a thing. Besides, did I not hear the Earl of Hull state you were inhiscompany at the time of this supposed interaction? Were you not all at Whites?”
“Yes, Lady Maude, I was.” Lord Yardley put his hands behind his back, pushing out his chest just a little. “I appreciate your consideration and your willingness to come and speak to me despite the rumors. None of what you have read of me is true.”
Lady Maude nodded, throwing a glance behind her – although it was not directed toward Norah but rather to Miss Patterson.
“You see?” she said, as Miss Patterson nodded quickly, her eyes a little wide as though she were afraid of what Lady Maude might say next. “I was quite certain it was naught but falsehood. I am sure thetonwill seeIam more than willing to be in your company and that they, in turn, will readily accept you again and allow such rumors to fade quickly.”
Norah lifted one eyebrow at the lady’s statement, then caught the smile on Lord Yardley’s face. Silently scolding herself for thinking so poorly of the lady when she had clearly brought a little relief to Lord Yardley, Norah turned her attention to Miss Patterson, thinking it best she try some sort of conversation with the lady rather than waiting for Lady Maude to step back and allow her to finish her conversation with the gentleman.
“Miss Patterson, is it not?”
The lady smiled but her gaze strayed low to the ground. “Indeed. Good afternoon, Lady Essington.”
Her voice was quiet, her expression demure. She was so very unlike Lady Maude that Norah silently questioned howsuch a friendship could have sprung up! Mayhap it was that both their fathers or mothers had been dear friends and thus, the expectation of friendship between their daughters had been quickly encouraged.
“And are you enjoying London?” Norah asked, struggling to think of what else to say and no suggestion of conversation came from Miss Patterson herself. “Is this your first Season?”
