Page 37 of More than a Companion

“You have just been speaking to Lady Charlotte after you have been reintroduced to the Duke and Duchess of Strathaven!” his friend exclaimed, a broad grin on his face which Robert did not return. “Why do you appear so displeased?” His smile flickered. “Did you not receive the praise you had been expecting from the Duke?”

“No, that is not my reason for displeasure,” Robert shot back quickly, feeling a sense of embarrassment mingled with shame beginning to flood him. Was that truly how his friend saw him still? Was that what he expected from him? “You may very well be surprised, but I am disappointed with my own behavior.”

“Oh.” Lord Venables fell into step beside Robert as he began to make his way through the crowd once more. He did not sound surprised. “What did you do?”

Again, Robert found himself with a choice. Should he tell Lord Venables the truth or hide it from him? After all, his friend did not need to know the particulars but, if he chose to remain silent, Robert knew that it was solely due to his desire to protect himself… to protect his pride.

“I treated Miss Gregory with disdain – albeit unintentionally,” he said, heavily, not able to lift his gaze to his friend. “Lady Charlotte appeared at my elbow, and I simply forgot about my conversation with Miss Gregory. I abandoned her and went to speak to the Duke and Duchess – all whilst holding her dance card in my hand. I have made her a promise that this evening, I am to make certain she has at last three dances for then…” He trailed off, shaking his head, realizing that he did not need to go into details about Miss Gregory’s wager with her aunt. “Imustfind her.”

Lord Venables’ brows rose but he said nothing, considering what Robert had revealed. Robert too remained silent, looking out across the ballroom and, much to his relief, finally catching sight of Miss Gregory. She was dancing with another gentleman and Robert found his stomach dropping to the floor.

I should be dancing with her.

“I am surprised to hear you say such a thing, but I will not pretend that it is not refreshing,” Lord Venables told him, as Robert shot him a quick glance. “I do not think I have ever heard you say anything critical about yourself before.”

“My skills in self-reflection are sorely lacking,” Robert muttered, as Lord Venables grinned a little wryly. “Both yourself, and Miss Gregory, have assisted me in improving them.”

“And you seek to make amends now?” Lord Venables asked as Robert shook his head. “No?”

“I seek only to apologize,” Robert replied, taking in a deep breath, and setting his shoulders as the music came to a close. “She deserves that, at the very least. Good gracious, Venables, I continually fail in my attempts to improve myself and have now injured Miss Gregory yet again.” Burning coals piled on his head. “Whatever am I to do? I will have driven her away, I am certain!”

Lord Venables put one hand on Robert’s shoulder, drawing his full attention. When he turned his head to look back, he saw the questioning look in his friend’s eyes.

“I am to dance with Miss Gregory also, but I do not have any of the fervor nor eagerness that you exude at the present moment, Crampton,” Lord Venables said, quietly. “Has she become important to you? Perhaps in a way that you do not yet want to express?”

Robert’s shame increased all the more until it felt as though he were being pushed down into the floor with the weight of it all. Miss Gregoryhadbecome important to him and yet he had treated her as though she was nothing more than an afterthought.

“Yes,” he said, a little hoarsely. “Yes, it is as you say. Which is why I am all the more ashamed of myself.”

“Then tell her that,” Lord Venables advised. “Look, here she comes.”

Robert looked up at once. Miss Gregory was being led from the floor by Lord Guildhall, an acquaintance of both himself and Lord Venables. His gaze was fixed to her, seeing the way her eyes darted towards him and then back again, color growing in her cheeks as the gentleman glanced towards her questioningly, before turning his steps towards Robert.

As soon as Lord Guildhall and Miss Gregory stopped in front of them, he spoke.

“Miss Gregory, I shall only be a few moments,” Robert said, hurriedly before the lady could protest. “I come only to express my great regret in stepping away from you without even a word of farewell. I come to apologize for taking your dance card with me on what is the most important of evenings. And I come to beg your forgiveness for my heedless and disrespectful conduct.”

Miss Gregory turned her head slightly so that she would not have to look into his eyes.

“Lady Charlotte can take the attention of any gentleman, I am sure,” she replied, her voice a little higher pitched than before, her words tight. “Do excuse me, Lord Crampton, I must return to Lady Langdon.”

“Please, wait.”

He reached out, catching her hand in his just as the gentleman began to lead her away, and Robert caught the look of frustration that crossed the lady’s face. Her lips compressed a little, her jaw clenched, and her eyebrows lifted in seemingly irritated inquiry.

“Yes, Lord Crampton?” she asked, showing that same tenacity in her manner and speech which he had seen in her from the very beginning of their acquaintance. “Is there something more you wished to say?”

The challenge in her eyes caused Robert to splutter his answer, his words coming out in a rush and making his speech indistinct.

“No, Miss Gregory. I mean, that is to say that, of course, I should be glad to talk to you again and indeed, I should – that is, Ishouldlike to be able to talk to you again and once more express my regret over what I have done. It was not meant to injure, I assure you.”

“And yet, you did cause me distress,” she replied, although the sharp glint of steel slowly began to leave her gaze as she spoke, only to be replaced with a light sheen of tears which tore great, gaping holes in Robert’s heart. “Thankfully, Lord Venables has been my savior. He did for me that which you had promised to do but did not. I have now three different gentlemen on my dance card and my situation, going forward, is now fixed.” Her chin lifted, her eyes sparkling – but not with delight. “Whether anything shall come of it, I do not know, but my aunt can no longer call me her companion.”

“I – I am to dance the waltz with you.”

She closed her eyes and shook her head.

“No, Lord Crampton, you are not.”

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