to himself, finding himself smiling at the lady who, after a moment, gave him a smile of her own, although a hint of color infused her cheeks as she did so. Without intending to, Charles discovered that he now held one hand out to the lady and, when she gave it to him, he bowed low over it, hoping that it spoke of his consideration and admiration for her.
“I am more grateful to you than you can know, Lady Selina,” he informed her, seeing the way that her cheeks flared with color as he held her hand in his, ignoring those about them, those who might be watching what he was doing. “My sister also. And my mother.”
She pressed her lips together and then returned his gaze, her hazel eyes glinting with specks of gold. A curl of her fair hair escaped from her bonnet and brushed at her temples, and with the color in her cheeks fading to a delicate pink, Charles found himself suddenly overwhelmed with the beauty of the lady.
“You are all more than welcome, Lord Barrington,” she said, graciously. “Although I fear that I do not deserve such gratitude. It was only fate which permitted me to overhear the truth of Lord Havers and Lord Telford’s plans.”
“But you did not have to share it,” he answered her. “You did not have to speak of it to me. You might have chosen to allow things to progress as they were meant to and, instead, focused on seeking out your own happiness.”
She frowned.
“I hope that I should never have such a selfish heart,” she responded, making Charles smile.
“Your heart is to be greatly admired, given its kindness, consideration and sweetness,” he found himself saying, seeing how Lady Selina’s blush increased again as she looked away. “You will find my gratitude and my thankfulness only increasing, Lady Selina. I pray that we will be able to find a solution to this dreadful circumstance.”
“As do I, Lord Barrington,” Lady Selina replied, sincerity ringing through her voice. “As do I.”
Making his way into the drawing room, Charles bowed to greet their host for the evening, feeling his sister tense as her hand rested on his arm. She curtsied quickly and then rose once more, with both Lord and Lady Irving greeting her warmly. There was no hint of mockery in their voice or their words which, he hoped, would be an encouragement to Amelia. She had been afraid that, somehow, the knowledge of what had occurred between Lord Havers and herself would be well known, even though Charles had promised her that he had already replied to Lord Havers and promised to pay what had been asked for.
“Please, enjoy this evening!” Lady Irving exclaimed. “The card games are in the next room, but you are also welcome to linger here.”
“Thank you,” Charles replied, making his way into the room a little more and looking around him.
He, as well as his sister, had to make it plain to the entirety of the ton that there was nothing to concern him this evening, that he had no anxiety or concern over this particular situation – that, in fact, there was no situation at all. The truth was, of course, that he was greatly anxious over his sister and worried about her reaction should she see Lord Telford or Lord Havers, but he had to hide all of that from his expression and manner.
“There, you see?” he heard his mother say, as she walked beside Amelia. “They have nothing to say about you. Everything is just as it was.”
“Indeed it is,” Charles agreed, smiling warmly at Amelia, even though he knew his own heart was swirling with tension. “Look, there is Lady Selina with Lady Hayward, talking to Lord Banfield. She has seen you, Amelia. Go and join her.”
His mother shot him a quick look.
“Will you join us?”
Charles shook his head.
“In a few minutes,” he said, quietly. “I want to see who else might be present this evening.”
Seeing the knowing look on his mother’s face, Charles gave her a quick smile and then stepped away, relieved that his sister would be in good company. Clearing his throat and collecting a drink from a passing footman, he made his way slowly through the room and then through the door into the room where the card games were to be held.
The instant he stepped inside, his heart slammed hard against his chest. There stood not only Lord Havers but Lord Telford, talking quietly together in the