Page 21 of Rescued from Betrayal
Melior scowled in return, which only made his smile grow wider.
Picking up the silver bracelet set with sapphires, she lapsed into thought. The piece had been a gift from Uncle Percy’s wife, the late duchess, for her eighteenth birthday.
Memories of Aunt Lucinda’s kind eyes and gentle embraces filled her with a sense of loss. Her Grace had shown more maternal love than her own mother ever had. She missed the sweet woman greatly.
“How is Lady Stanford faring?” she asked.
“I’m not certain. Nate does not talk about her much. Last I heard, she was still able to get around, but spends more time in her bed than out of it.”
His words confirmed her fear. Even with Lady Stanford in residence, she might not see her often. What was she to do with her time? She knew few people in Kent, and none from the town of Maidstone. Miss Harris resided in a small borough in that county, Mr. Roberts as well. But they would both still be in Town.
A footman filled the open doorway. “You have a visitor, Miss Kendall.”
“Who is it?”
“Sir Nathaniel Stanford.”
She frowned. Frustration prickled her skin at the knowledge that he’d shared her secret with her brother. Why did he want to meet with her? It was not as if he’d cared to speak with her before now. Could he not wait until tomorrow? They would be stuck together for the rest of their lives. There would be plenty of time to discuss whatever he’d come to say then. Why not give her one last day of freedom?
After they had left the library on Saturday, he’d said very little other than to ask a footman for her things. He’d helped her into the carriage to await her parents and then disappeared.
With his declaration of intent to her uncle she’d assumed he would at least approach the subject of matrimony with her, perhaps even court her, but he’d taken her uncle’s acceptance as her own and left.
It was upsetting how, with so little of her own input, she’d found herself engaged. Even Uncle Percy had not asked after her opinion. Not that she could really have one, what with the circumstances, but she would at least like to be acknowledged as a person. It washerwedding after all.
“I will be down shortly.”
The footman bowed and left.
“Eddie, go down and see what your friend wants. I need to finish putting these things away.”
“You are not even going to speak to him?”
“That is not what I said,” she snapped.
Her brother took a step back. She’d not meant to take out her frustration on him. Or maybe she had. She hardly knew anymore. There were just so many changes happening so quickly.
“You know, you still have not told me how you came to be in the cloakroom with Mr. Fairchild.”
“And Iwill not.”
“Why?”
“Because it is none of your affair to be meddling in, and I still cannot believe Sir Nathaniel told you. He would not even tell Uncle Percy.”
“Uncle Percy does not know.”
“He knows.”
“But you said Nate did not divulge the truth?”
“Uncle Percy saw Mr. Fairchild rushing down the hall with a bloody nose.”
“Nate landed him a facer?” Eddie grinned. “I have more to thank him for than I thought.”
“No, you should not thank him. He broke my confidence. I should refuse to see him just for that.”
Eddie folded well-defined arms over his chest. “You will meet with him. You owe him at least that much. I will give you ten minutes, Mel. And if you do not appear in that time, I shall send him up to get you.”
