A Love Unbroken - Rose Pearson Page 0,17
a letter of great importance.”
Charles nodded, rising from his chair and collecting up all of the other letters which he had started and then thrown aside.
“Indeed,” he said, without giving any further explanation. “I shall burn these at once. You will not mind?”
Lord Banfield chuckled and shook his head.
“Might I ask to whom you are writing?” he asked, a slight gleam coming into his eye. “A young lady, mayhap?”
Picking up the strewn pieces of paper that lay across his desk, Charles let out a bark of laughter.
“You are correct, Banfield. I am indeed writing to a young lady – but not for the reasons you yourself might believe!”
“Oh?”
Lord Banfield’s brows rose, indicating that he did not quite believe Charles.
“My sister put herself in a very foolish position last evening,” Charles replied, grimacing. “It was no-one’s fault but her own and, unfortunately, was deliberately done. However, she was rescued from this particular situation by Lady Selina Forrest and her chaperone, Lady Hayward, who came to join both her and her friend as Lord Telford spoke to them.”
Lord Banfield’s face dropped, all expression of mirth gone.
“Telford?” he repeated, as Charles nodded, grimly. “That man is nothing more than a rogue. Your sister must be informed of his –”
“I informed her of his reputation the very same evening that they were introduced, over a week ago” Charles replied, with a shake of his head. “Miss Newington, who I believe is one of my sister’s particular friends, has clearly a penchant for Lord Telford and, together, they made their way from my company and from my mother’s company also, so that they might speak with Telford. I am very grateful to Lady Selina for noting the situation, and stepping forward at once, along with Lady Hayward. Together, they made certain that the situation remained entirely proper and, at the same time, prevented Telford from perhaps saying or doing whatever he intended to, towards either my sister or Miss Newington.”
Nodding slowly, Lord Banfield gestured to the papers that Charles had yet to pick up from the floor.
“And therefore, you have been writing to Lady Selina, simply to thank her?”
“That is what I was attempting to do, yes,” Charles replied, coming around in front of his desk to pick up the last of the papers. “It has taken me a good many attempts to write an expression of thanks that I find to be suitable. It was difficult also not to make my sister out to be the most ridiculous and foolish of young ladies, even though I am fully aware that she is so!”
“And, no doubt, Lady Selina will be aware of it also, given that she saw what occurred,” Lord Banfield pointed out, as Charles threw the rest of his papers on the, as yet unlit, fire. “But you have found something to write that is satisfactory to you, I hope?”
“I have,” Charles replied, quickly setting the papers alight and standing back so that they might begin to burn. He did not want any of his staff coming into his study to see the papers sitting there, for no doubt a nosy maid or two might attempt to read one and know precisely what had happened to his sister. “I have asked if I might call upon her to express my thanks in person.” When he turned back, Lord Banfield was looking back at him with a small, knowing smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Charles frowned. “You need not think that there is any more to my wish to thank her, save for my own feeling that it is required,” he said firmly, knowing all too well what his friend was thinking. “That is all.”
“Lady Selina is a very kind young lady, it appears,” Lord Banfield replied, a trifle airily. “To not only take note of your sister’s situation, but also to step forward so that she might protect Lady Amelia says a great deal about her character. Besides which, she is the daughter of a Duke!”
Charles rolled his eyes.
“I have no intention towards matrimony, as you well know,” he said, reminding his friend of what he had said in previous discussions. “I have enough on my mind at present regardless, given my sister’s continued foolishness!”
“And your mother?” Lord Banfield asked, quietly, looking at Charles with interest. “Does she continue to side with your sister?”
“Thankfully, she does not,” Charles replied, sitting back down, but keeping one eye on the flames in the grate, wanting to make certain that everything was burned