Page 9 of The Truth about the Earl
Her stomach twisted and she made to step forward, only for Lady Gillingham to catch her hand and shake her head. A little confused as to why they would not intervene immediately, Norah forcibly held herself back, trusting Lady Gillingham’s judgment.
“I wish you to release my hand, Lord Jennings.” Miss Longford’s voice was wobbling. “I should not have allowed you to lead me out of doors.”
Lord Jennings laughed and Norah’s hand curled up tightly. “But now that you are outside with me, Miss Longford, why do we not take advantage of the solitude?”
“Because I do not wish to!” Miss Longford exclaimed aloud and Norah stepped forward, just as Lady Gillingham grabbed her wrist, tugging her back toward herself a little more. Anger piled into Norah’s veins but Lady Gillingham shook her head firmly, looped one arm through Norah’s, and then spoke in a loud voice.
“I am sure the roses were over here somewhere. I believe I can smell them!”
Norah blinked, confused by Lady Gillingham’s actions.
“Can you not smell them? They must be nearby. Oh, if only we had a lantern, then I am certain we would enjoy the sight of them as well as the smell.” Tugging Norah closer for a moment, Lady Gillingham whispered into her ear, helping her to understand.
“We cannot simply make ourselves known. It is a little too risky, for then Miss Longford would be afraid that we would ruin her, and Lord Jennings would know of our faces. It is best he does not know he has been overheard.”
“But Miss Longford –”
“Will have returned to the ballroom, I am sure. Lord Jennings will have been startled and allowed her free. We can go to make certain very soon.”
A little more satisfied, Norah, nodded. Walking a little more quickly alongside Lady Gillingham, she let out a quiet exclamation of satisfaction.
“Ah, here we are.”
“Of course. How lovely they must be in the daylight.”
They continued in this vein for a few more moments before Lady Gillingham suggested that they walk back to the ball. Norah tried not to hurry her steps as they returned, letting out a breath of relief as she saw Miss Longford now standing by her mother – although her mother was speaking rapidly and with fierce anger in her eyes that could not be mistaken for anything else. Evidently, she had been upset with her daughter’s absence.
“Well done, Norah. You have done very well.”
“I am only sorry that we did not say anything to Lord Jennings. I am sure he would have been most embarrassed.”
Lady Gillingham laughed softly and shook her head. “You are mistaken in that, I am afraid. He would have merely laughed and then continued with whichever young lady he considered to be of interest to him next! However, with our article, thetonwill know of his actions and will be very wary when it comes to permitting him conversation and company with their daughters or sisters.”
This sent a warm wave of satisfaction over Norah’s heart and she smiled. “I find myself a good deal of contentment with that, Lady Gillingham.”
“And we do not need to inform anyone of the young lady’s name nor her part in all of this.”
Norah nodded. “I quite agree. Miss Longford was a little foolish to depart with him as she did but I do not think she thought he would lead her out of doors.”
“And once one is out-of-doors, it can be very difficult to return. Without a chaperone or companion, eyebrows could be raised or even a lady walking alone could be easily noticed. This is the best way for us to make certain that Lord Jennings does not continue to behave in such a manner again.”
With a newfound sense of resolve, Norah drew in a long breath, set her shoulders, and spread her hands. “Then I must ask when we are to write this piece, Lady Gillingham, for I find myself very eager indeed!”
Lady Gillingham laughed, although her eyes were bright with both happiness and hope. “Tomorrow?” she asked, as Norah smiled her agreement. “I shall call upon you as early as is convenient.”
“As early as you wish, Lady Gillingham,” Norah replied, firmly. “I find myself very eager to write of this just as soon as we are able.”
Lady Gillingham smiled. “I am very glad to hear it,” she answered warmly. “Then I shall come tomorrow to write with you, as early as I can manage.”
Looking down at the paper,Norah smiled, sighed, and set her quill down. “There. It is done.”
She tried to ignore the four other scrunched-up pieces of paper that she had thrown across her writing desk as Lady Gillingham laughed and shook her head at Norah’sdetermination to write both distinctly and with as much clarity as she could manage.
“You have done very well, Norah. I think this is an excellent piece.”
Norah wrinkled her nose as she read over it again one final time. “I am certain I shall become a little more adept with every piece I write.”
“This is quite perfect, just as it is, I assure you.” Lady Gillingham’s hand settled on Norah’s arm. “For whatever reason, I could tell that you were the right person to take over this from me. I think this has proven to me that I was quite correct!”
