Page 17 of The Truth about the Marquess
“I – I do not know.” A little helpless, Jane spread out her hands. “What am I to write to a gentleman like him? Agentleman who has nothing wrong about him, aside from the fact that there are those who are uncertain over his fortune.”
“And those who will, no doubt, soon be whispering about his connection to Miss Dutton which will, unfortunately, damage his reputation somewhat.” With a slight shake of her head, Lady Guilford sighed. “I shall not say anything, of course, but his interest in the lady will have captured the attention of some.”
“Then I shall try to be as encouraging as I can,” Jane decided, a sudden determination sweeping through her. “I shall inform him that the right young lady will not care about his fortune, that he must continue simply to be the very best sort of gentleman he can and prove his character that way.”
Lady Guilford smiled.
“I think that an excellent idea though, however, I would suggest that you also give him a practical action, if you might. Something that will spur him on, something that he can take a hold of and enact.”
Biting her lip, Jane tried to think of what that could be.
“It has been so long since I have been in society that I cannot think of what to suggest.”
“I am sure that you will,” came the reply, as her friend rose from her chair. “No, I shall not tell you what it is that you should write, for I can see that hope in your eyes, but I cannot fulfill it. You have the ability, I know. You must only believe that you do.”
Jane rose to her feet quickly, desperation and a sprinkling of fear in her chest.
“I do not have the same confidence in my ability as you do, Louisa. What if you are wrong? What if I cannot find the right thing to say?”
Lady Guilford smiled, reached out, and squeezed Jane’s hand.
“Write from your heart, my dear friend, and I can assure you, every word will be quite perfect. I know it.”
Chapter Seven
Oliver scowled at his friend.
“You did not need to ask me such a thing so loudly!”
Lord Dunstable had the grace to look embarrassed.
“Forgive me. I did not think. Besides, this ballroom is so noisy, I was quite sure that no one would overhear and though that is not an excuse, I do not think that you are in any sort of danger of being discovered.”
The scowl on Oliver’s face dug in a little more deeply.
“All the same, there is the chance.”
When Lord Dunstable had asked him – in a very loud voice – whether he had read the letter in The London Chronicle, or if he had no need to because he had been the one to write it – Oliver had not known what to do or what to say. He had been standing alone at the time, but there had been others near him, and he had been sure that the occasional glances sent in his direction had been because of Lord Dunstable’s question.
“I am truly sorry, I did not think.” Lord Dunstable offered Oliver a small smile but, even then, Oliver’s spirits did not lift. “Though you did not answer my question, I notice.”
“That is because I was attempting to remove myself from the situation without being required to answer,” Oliver replied, grimly. “Goodness, the last thing I need is to have thetonspeak of me even more than they already are!”
Lord Dunstable set one hand on Oliver’s shoulder, stopping him.
“My deepest apologies, my friend.”
Closing his eyes, Oliver nodded a little stiffly.
“I thank you.”
“And I do not believe that you are in any sort of danger… at least, not about that,” his friend continued, wincing when Oliver frowned. “Yes, thetonhave been speaking about your connection to Miss Dutton, though given that there are also whispers about Lord Kettering, I am sure it will pass through society very quickly.”
“Lord Kettering?”
Lord Dunstable nodded.
“It appears that he has become quite the scoundrel! Though,” he continued, a glint in his eye. “Might you now be willing to answer my question? Did you write that letter to The London Chronicle?”
