Page 40 of More than a Companion

Honora came to a sudden stop as Lady Charlotte suddenly swung into her path. Her eyes were bright, her smile fixed, but there was no warmth in her expression.

“Good evening, Lady Charlotte,” Honora replied, as Lady Albina also murmured a greeting. “If you will excuse us, we are just going in search of -”

“I do hope that your aunt has informed you of some particular news, Miss Gregory,” Lady Charlotte interrupted as if she were entirely unaware that Honora had been speaking. “I hope you understand that whatever connection you have formed with Lord Crampton can no longer be.”

Honora lifted her chin, her anger mounting.

“I hardly think that a young lady making such a decision alone holds any real significance, no matter her standing,” she replied, allowing her blunt manner to spread out without hindrance. “You are aware that Lord Crampton has no knowledge of this?”

Lady Charlotte chuckled and the sound sent a cold pricking all down Honora’s spine.

“He will soon become aware of it, Miss Gregory,” she said, reaching out to press one hand to Honora’s arm, and Honora had to physically restrain herself from recoiling. “Have no doubt about that.”

The urge to find Lord Crampton only grew as Honora looked into Lady Charlotte’s cold eyes and, without another word, she pulled Lady Albina forward, moving around Lady Charlotte and making her way into the hallway.

“I do not understand,” Lady Albina said, her brow lined as she looked at Honora with confusion. “Lord Crampton is betrothed? And to Lady Charlotte? Is that what she was implying?”

“He is not betrothed,” Honora replied, grimly. “I cannot explain everything now, Lady Albina, but I shall say that Lady Charlotte has nothing but dark intentions for Lord Crampton.”

“But why?” Lady Albina asked, her voice a little breathless. “Why would she do such a thing?”

Honora was about to answer, when the very gentleman she wanted to see exited from the library and, turning, came to a stop as he caught her gaze. A broad smile spread across his handsome face and Honora let out a long breath of relief, hurrying forward and reaching out to grasp both of his hands in hers.

“Miss Gregory!” Lord Crampton exclaimed, “I –”

“It is Lady Charlotte,” Honora said, breathlessly. “It is Lady Charlotte, Lord Crampton! I am sure of it!”

She gazed fervently into his eyes but saw his brows pull together, a line forming between them. Clearly, he did not understand what she meant.

“The fall from the carriage, the poison in your drink!” she exclaimed, her hands tightening on his. “They were orchestrated by Lady Charlotte - I amsureof it.”

Lord Crampton’s eyes flared, and he immediately began to shake his head, but whether this came from a lack of agreement or utter disbelief, Honora could not say.

“She intends to announce that you are betrothed,” she said, lowering her voice for fear that they would be overheard by another. “My aunt states that she was informed of it only yesterday by Lady Charlotte herself!”

“Betrothed?” Lord Crampton appeared all the more stunned. “By why should she say such a thing? She has never expressed any inclination towards me, and I certainly have not considered her as my potential future bride.” His thumb brushed absently over the back of her hand, his eyes holding hers. “I had never thought of any such thing about any young lady, Miss Gregory, not until recently.”

Despite the tension raging through her, Honora could not help but smile, blushing gently at his tender remark, her heart soaring to the sky as she heard the quiet hope in his voice.

“So why would she say such a thing?” Lady Albina broke in, who had come to join them and was now looking at Honora in confusion. “That would bind them together, would it not? You are suggesting that she seeks to injure Lord Crampton, so why –”

“Because I will refute it,” Lord Crampton said suddenly, a paleness beginning to seep into his cheeks as he realized what Honora had been trying to tell him. “I will be surprised that there is talk of a betrothal and, upon my refusing to agree to it, Lady Charlotte can then begin to act with such sorrow and sadness that I will appear to be the cruel-hearted gentleman who refused to wed the Duke’s daughter.”

“I fear it will be worse than that,” Honora replied, softly. “I am sure that she will give reasons for your supposed betrothal so that when you refuse to accept the engagement as it stands, she can cry foul.”

Lord Crampton’s eyes widened, his face a little grey.

“She could accuse me of any number of things and thetonwould believe her,” he said, hoarsely. “I will be thrown from society! I will become nothing but a byword, a faded memory, and a gentleman without any respect of his own.”

“Indeed,” Honora murmured, as Lady Albina continued to frown. “Lady Charlotte has a great plan in place, Lord Crampton, and she can enact it at any time. Confident of her success, she spoke to me personally, telling me that there could be no connection between us any longer since the betrothal was soon to be announced.”

“Butwhy?” Lady Albina put in, sounding caught between frustration and confusion. “I do not understand why she would do so, given that Lord Crampton was the one who saved her from Lord Forthside.”

Honora gave her a grim smile.

“It is because of Lord Forthside that she is doing this,” she said, clearly. “Whilst thetonand Lord Crampton and even the Duke and Duchess of Strathaven believed that Lord Crampton had saved Lady Charlotte from Lord Forthside’s clutches and dark intentions, I believe it was precisely the opposite.”

Swallowing hard, Lord Crampton dropped one of Honora’s hands and ran his hand over his eyes.

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