Page 38 of The Truth about the Earl
“Yes, instructed. Demanded. Forced upon me.” A long, heavy breath escaped her and James felt her tremble as his hand ran from her chin to her shoulder and down her arm until he caughther fingers with his own. He did not care if anyone else should see such a display, there was something gravely wrong and clearly, Lady Essington was most upset by it.
“Pray speak openly.”
Her eyes opened and she looked back into his face. “I am afraid to do so.”
“Why?”
“For fear you will step back from me, step away from me and return to your house without ever permitting me further explanation.” Her hand pressed his, her eyes darting all around his face as though she sought to find some hope in his expression. “Might you promise me you will wait until I have explained all before you decide what you will do thereafter?”
James nodded fervently. “But of course.” He wanted to say more, wanted to urge her to speak with as much openness as she could but remained silent, waiting. His stomach was churning, sweat was beading on his brow and his heart continued to clatter against his chest as he looked into her eyes.
She was close to tears.
“I – I am Mrs. Fullerton.”
For a moment, the name did not mean anything to him. Blinking, James sought to find the name somewhere in his memory, only for the truth to strike hard at him.
Mrs. Fullerton.
His eyes closed.
“It is not as you think, however.” Her words were hurried now, hasty as though she were in great pains to speak them. “You need not think that I –”
“The reason you trusted that the article was naught but a lie was becauseyouwrote it.” Opening his eyes, he saw the pale-faced Lady Essington looking back at him. Her eyes were glistening, her mouth was opening and closing but she did not say anything in response.
“You wrote lies about me. Lies that would injure me severely.”
“I will not deny it, but it is not as it seems.”
A harsh laugh broke from his lips and Lady Essington closed her eyes. A single tear dripped onto her cheek.
“And here I was, believing you cared for me!”
“I do!” Her eyes flew open and her hand tightened on his, her other hand suddenly flat against his chest. “I do care for you, Lord Yardley. I have such a strong and growing affection that –”
“An affection that was so strong, it did not stand in your way when it came to writing such an untruth.” James knew his words held a great deal of irony and the harshness of them might very well injure Lady Essington in return, but he did not care. The shock was too great, overwhelming him with emotion that he simply could not keep in check. “Good gracious, I was only recently considering just how foolish I was when it came to Lady Maude, realizing I did not know her character – whereas now, it seems, I do not know your character very well either!”
“That is not so.” Her jaw worked but James stepped back, pulling his hand from hers. “Youdoknow me. I am exactly as I appear, save for this one secret. A secret I have been forced to tell you because of the difficulties that have now been thrown at me.”
James did not care what such difficulties were. He wanted nothing more to do with the lady, not when he knew now thatshewas the one who had written those scandalous lies about him. “I think our walk together is at an end.”
“Please, Lord Yardley!” Tears began to drip from her eyelashes but James was unmoved. “You promised me you would remain until I finished my explanation. There is so much more that you do not yet know and –”
“I believe I have heard all the explanations that I require.” He did not smile, did not even look at her but instead turned away, wanting to remove himself from her company just as quickly ashe could. Without even bidding her farewell, James strode away down the path and further into the park, his breathing hard and fast, his body tense with anger.
How could she do such a thing? How could she pretend to be so eager for my company, so contented to converse with me, whilst having such an intention as that?He shook his head to himself, glowering down at the path by his feet.I have been a fool. I ought to have considered her a little more carefully.
“Do be careful, Yardley!”
A loud exclamation forced James to a stop. Lifting his gaze, he saw Lord Huntsford looking back at him with one lifted eyebrow, his arms folded across his chest.
“Is there a reason you are striding so forthrightly through the park whilst I am wandering carefully and slowly, waiting for Lady Josephine to arrive?” His mild tone clattered hard against James’ anger and he looked away.
“I am returning to my townhouse.”
“And where is Lady Essington?”
Scowling, James threw up his hands. “I care not! I do not care where the lady is nor what she is doing. Our acquaintance is at an end.”
