courage and strength. “I will do what must be done. And Lady Amelia will be free from them for good.”
Chapter Twelve
“You are going to marry the lady?” Charles looked up, astonished, as Banfield’s brow lifted slightly. His heart thumped wildly in his chest as his friend remained silent, clearly waiting for a response to his question and yet it was an answer that Charles found himself almost reluctant to give. “Come now!” Banfield exclaimed, as Charles cleared his throat, feeling a little awkward. “You must know that there is a clear and sincere affection for the lady which is seen in practically everything you do!”
“I do not know….” Charles broke off, closed his eyes and shrugged. “Yes, very well. Lady Selina, for that is whom you are speaking of, has become of significant importance to me of late.”
Banfield chuckled and lifted his glass of whisky to take a small sip.
“Great importance?” he repeated, sardonically. “That does not speak of affection, Barrington! Only of practicality.”
“Then what do you wish me to say?” Charles asked, finding it rather difficult to begin to express what he truly felt for the lady. “There is – that is to say, I have an awareness that there is something new within my heart, and as yet, I have not fully determined what such a feeling is.”
“It is either affection or it is love,” Banfield replied, practically. “It can only be one of those two things, I am sure, for there is such an obvious awareness of her presence whenever she is nearby that even I have noted it!”
Charles frowned and ran one hand over his eyes, relieved that they were speaking quietly together within his own townhouse rather than out at White’s or in some other public place.
“I can do nothing as yet,” he said, slowly. “I must deal with this situation first.”
“But of course,” Banfield said, waving a hand. “But thereafter, what will you do? Even assuming that we manage this, the fact of the bet will have cast some doubt on her reputation amongst some of the ton – you cannot mean to allow her to suffer for it? Neither do I presume that you will simply let Lady Selina return to that quiet acquaintance which she was at first? What if some other gentleman wishes to court her? Then what would you do?”
“I would not allow that!”
The words shot from Charles’ mouth with such force that Banfield’s eyes flared with astonishment for a moment before he began to laugh, wiggling one finger in Charles’ direction.
“If that is not evidence of your feelings towards the lady, then I do not know what is,” he said, as a flush of embarrassment crept into Charles’ face. “You cannot abide the idea of another gentleman courting her. Not when you hope to do so yourself.”
Charles considered this carefully, examining his heart and discovering that everything Banfield said was quite correct. He did want to court Lady Selina. In fact, he wished for more than that, were he being entirely honest. Even the suggestion that she might be courted by another gentleman sent a bitter taste into his mouth, a hard anger beginning to form within him as he considered it. That was not something he could permit. He would speak to Lady Selina and beg for her consideration before he would allow such a thing to occur!
“She needs to know how you feel and what your intentions are,” Banfield said, quietly. “Even if you do not wish to do any more at present – which is quite understandable given what is at hand – she will be glad to know the thoughts and considerations within your heart and mind, Barrington. It will give her hope.”
A frown flickered across Charles’ brow.
“Hope?”
Again, Banfield grinned, although he shook his head in evident frustration that Charles was seemingly unaware of what he was about to say.
“The lady cares for you also, I am quite sure of it,” he said, firmly. “But she does not know the truth of how you feel! Therefore, she considers you and wonders about you and silently prays that something will be said, something will be done which will prove to her that her affections and loyalty are not misplaced.”
The way Lady Selina had looked into his eyes some two nights ago, when he had taken her hand, the sparkle in her eyes and the joy in her expression, slammed back hard into Charles’ mind. He had found himself reaching to take her fingers in his on