Page 18 of The Truth about the Marquess
Looking away, Oliver gave a somewhat terse nod.
“It was Lady Harsham who suggested it,” he said, a trifle heavily. “No doubt she may also have been speaking of my foolishness to her friends and yet more rumors will have followed after her words! But yes, I do confess that I spoke a little more openly to her than might have been wise, but I could not seem to help it. She was very willing to listen, and her gentle manner was encouraging to me. Though now, I think, I will need to be a good deal more careful in what I say to Lady Harsham, for fear that she will take what I have said and speak of it to others.”
“I can assure you, I will not.”
Oliver’s whole body went cold as he slowly turned around to see none other than the very lady whom he had been speaking of, sitting in a chair just behind him. Her blue eyes were cold, pushing sharp needles of guilt into his chest as she gazed up at him, her hands clasped together in her lap.
“Lady Harsham, good evening.” It was Lord Dunstable who spoke first, bowing low and then offering the lady a small smile. “Forgive us both, we did not see you there.”
“I am well aware of that, otherwise I do not think you would have spoken of me in such a way,” came the answer, making Oliver’s face grow hot. “Though I should like to reassure you, Lord Edenbridge, that I will not ever speak a word of what you shared with me to anyone. I am not in the habit of gossiping, despite what you might think, and I have no interest in sharing what was a private conversation.”
Oliver put one hand to his heart and inclined his head, the embarrassment still burning through him.
“I am terribly sorry, Lady Harsham. Our acquaintance has been brief and, I confess, I assumed that you were very much like every other young lady of my acquaintance.”
Something changed in Lady Harsham’s expression, and she rose to her feet.
“I think I can understand that and, on this occasion, offer you some mercy instead.”
A tiny smile touched the corners of her lips, and her sharp gaze softened, making Oliver feel as though he could breathe a little more easily again.
“I thank you. You are most kind.”
“Indeed, you are,” Lord Dunstable agreed, smiling at the lady. “It is good to see you again, Lady Harsham, though I confess that it has been some time since we were first acquainted. Mayhap you have forgotten – I am the Earl of Dunstable.”
A streak of what felt like red hot heat rushed up Oliver’s spine, though he could not explain why.
“Lord Dunstable is my closest friend,” he said, as his friend bowed.
“Though I was just now being berated for some foolishness on my part,” Lord Dunstable added, making Lady Harsham smile brightly. “Foolishness which I have admitted to and now regret.” He tilted his head before Oliver could say a word. “Might I ask if you have read The London Chronicle today? All of thetonare speaking of the letter written, and the advice which has been given.”
A flicker came into Lady Harsham’s eyes, though her expression did not change. Was it curiosity? An awareness of what Lord Dunstable was speaking of? Butterflies began to flit around his stomach, though he told himself that Lord Dunstable would never inform the lady herself that Oliver had been the letter-writer.
“What did you think of the advice?” Lady Harsham’s eyes searched Oliver’s face before returning to Lord Dunstable. “It was brief, was it not?”
“Brief, yes but succinct,” Oliver spoke quickly, not daring to look at Lord Dunstable for fear that something in that would give him away to Lady Harsham. “The encouragement to be the very best gentleman he could be is excellent advice, for it is indeed the character of the gentleman – or the lady, of course – which matters the most, is it not?”
Lady Harsham’s smile crept upwards.
“Yes, I quite agree.”
“Though the practical instruction was certainly interesting,” Lord Dunstable added, making Lady Harsham’s eyebrows lift. “The suggestion to only consider three young ladies at any one time was not something which I would have said.”
“No?”
The question lingered in the air between them all as Lord Dunstable considered.
“No,” Lord Dunstable confirmed, after a moment. “I might have suggested to a gentleman that he considers a good many more than that, only to thennarrowthe selection if you understand me.”
“Though I think it a good suggestion,” Oliver interrupted, seeing how Lady Harsham’s eyebrows leaped up just a little. “To consider only three means that the gentleman, whoever he is, will not become distracted by the many names and faces that surround him. It is clear to me that he is a gentleman who is looking for a young lady with specific qualities and to throw the net wide, as you might say, could lead to a great struggle and no clear path. He could find himself exasperated rather than contented!”
“I am glad to hear you say so.” Lady Harsham flushed, then dropped her head for just a moment. “Forgive me, I mean to say that my opinion aligns with yours, Lord Edenbridge, and thus I do now feel a little relieved that I am not alone in my thoughts.”
“But of course.” Smiling at her, Oliver paused, then held out one hand, hearing the next dance being called. “Lady Harsham, might I ask if you would like to dance?” Realizing that he had not yet asked to be introduced to Lord Harsham, Oliver cleared his throat. “Only if your husband is contented with you stepping out with another gentleman, of course.”
Lady Harsham’s eyebrows shot up, her eyes fixing to his.
“Oh, Lord Edenbridge, I thought I had already told you, so you must forgive me if I have not. My husband passed away nearly two years ago now.”
