Page 36 of A Lady's Beloved Novelist
“Ah, I have actually decided to return back to my parents’ for a little whilst,” Cecil stepped in to correct her.“I have to see them at the moment, but I am more than happy to ride back and forth.”
“If you are sure,” Andrea said with a slight smile gracing her features.
“I would not want anything else,”Cecil responded.
Andrea stared at him as he took her hand and placed a gentle kiss to the top of it, his eyes never breaking contact with hers. Her breath hitched in her throat as she stared down at him, Andrea felt as though she were floating for a moment.
Andrea watched him leave. Feeling as though she were in a stunned stupour, the effect he had on her was one that she just could not believe, nor could she put her finger on it.
Chapter 16
“He is not a good man!” Lily exclaimed.
Andrea, with one hand resting against her head, could not believe what she was listening to.
“You do not know that,” Andrea fired back.
“All I have heard of him have been bad things. He apparently spends all of his time in the local bars and public houses and gets drunk.”
“Apart from when he spends time with me. And I could smell no alcohol on him when he has been around me,” Andrea said quickly. It was true, he had not come across as a drunkard at all to her. Lily let out a groan of frustration. Andrea knew she was being stubborn in the way that she argued, but she was of the opinion that nobody could tell her she was wrong.
“I wish you would just listen to me and then you would see what I am talking about.” Lily sighed.
“He was very charming with me.”
“Of course he was!” Lily said.“You are beautiful and have a title that is better than his, now he is going to say whatever he can to make sure that he can have you all to himself. I bet you were not thinking about James today when you were talking with Cecil?”
“I was thinking that James has not bothered to call or write since our last meeting,” Andrea said.“I am tired of this timid game because it is just another example of how he sees me as someone who cannot handle straightforward conversations.”
Lily shook her head and paced around. They were sitting out on the shaded terrace at the rear of Sudeley’s main building. Andrea had not anticipated that she would be walking into a lecture from her cousin, and if she had known this was coming, she would have retreated to her room to hide.
“I am just saying that it will save a lot of heartbreak if you do not speak to Sir Blakewell again,” Lily explained.“I do not trust him, and I bet he has a wandering eye.”
“You cannot condemn a man when the only facts you have are hearsay and your own opinions. Show me evidence of how he has acted, and then I will consider it,” Andrea said in a much more cutting tone than she had meant to.
“I am just trying to protect you. I do not think it is a good idea to see him again,” Lily said.“But yes, you are right, that is just my opinion so I will keep quiet.”
Andrea hated when her friend was like that, though she knew it was only because she was not listening to her.
“I was just opening up my options, I thought you and Mother would have been revelling in such a feat from me,” Andrea said, trying to throw it back onto her.“I have never taken an interest in any man that has been sent my way, and now all of a sudden I have two men who are both interested and you are not pleased?”
“I am pleased for you, at least I was with Lord Churchill, but I just do not see any reason to pursue anything more with Sir Blakewell,” Lily said in response.
“Then I think we should agree to disagree.”
Lily was rolling her eyes at her as she rose from her chair and crossed the patio towards the door.
“I feel as though I am talking to a blank wall,” Lily said whilst shaking her head before leaving Andrea on her own outside.
Andrea stuck out her tongue; she knew it was childish and that it would amount to nothing, especially since Lily was already inside and did not even see her.
*
The next day, Andrea was not surprised to hear that she had a call from one Sir Cecil Blakewell and that he was waiting for her in the drawing room. It was Sunday, and Andrea was slightly confused since it was almost time for church. She had not arranged anything with him about sitting next to him in church, and so the nature of his visit was not clear.
She stepped into the room to find two of her maids were waiting in confusion. Cecil, however, was eyeing up the youngest maid with a look in his eyes that Andrea had seen before.
She was almost sure that she was seeing things, but he continued to do it, even as she cleared her throat to announce her presence.
