A Love Unbroken - Rose Pearson Page 0,14
he began, slowly, “you chose to step away from both myself and mama, in order to pursue conversation with a gentleman who, I am sure you are fully aware now, is entirely unsuitable.” Amelia said nothing, although she did hold his gaze rather than drop it to her plate or to her lap. Charles was not certain whether or not he ought to be irritated by this, wondering silently if his sister was about to defend herself to him yet again. “Lord Telford, I believe, came to speak to you for the sole purpose of settling himself into your affections,” he continued, one hand curling into a fist as he spoke. “Whilst I had no choice but to introduce you at last week’s ball – for he approached, if you recall, and expressed a keen desire to know you – that does not mean that he is a gentleman whom you should further an acquaintance with.”
His mother shook her head.
“Your sister did not know such a thing, Barrington,” she said, reproachfully. “How can she understand such an important matter if you do not take the time to explain it?”
Charles looked to his sister and saw a faint touch of color come into her cheeks.
“That is where you are mistaken, mama,” he said, quietly. “I did explain this to Amelia. I informed her of it, last week at the ball, the moment Lord Telford departed, as well as once more, when we returned home.” He smiled grimly as he saw his mother’s eyes flare and a small exclamation leave her lips. Whatever Amelia had said to her was now being proven to be quite incorrect. “Is that not so, Amelia?”
His sister let out a heavy sigh and shrugged.
“I do not know,” she stated, with a glance towards her mother. “There have been so many gentlemen that it is difficult for me to recall them all.”
“That is not the truth and you well know it,” Charles replied, grimly. “You deliberately left my side last evening to go with your friend in the hope of speaking to Lord Telford. Is that not so?”
“Amelia!” their mother exclaimed, turning in her chair to look at her daughter, her upset now all the more evident. “You told me that you were entirely unaware of Lord Telford’s unsuitability and that it was quite by chance that you were in his company once more. In fact,” she continued, her voice rising higher and higher, “you stated that it was your friend, Miss Newington, who drew you towards him.”
At this, Amelia dropped her head, no longer any trace of defiance about her.
“I have already warned you, Amelia, about your conduct,” Charles continued, a little more gently. “First of all, you purchase items without even asking me whether or not such a thing is permitted, and now you throw aside my company and mama’s companionship in order to escape to another part of the room, so that you might be in the company of a gentleman who wants nothing more from you than the dowry you would bring to the wedding.”
Lady Amelia lifted her head sharply.
“That is not true,” she stated, angrily. “Lord Telford was most attentive. He –”
“He is practically insolvent!” Lady Barrington interrupted, before Charles could speak. “Do you not understand, you foolish girl?” She slammed one fist down on the table, making the crockery tremble and her daughter stare at her, wide-eyed. “I believed you when you stated your meeting was entirely accidental - and now, I discover that you have told me untruths!”
“I – I just wanted to speak to him!” Lady Amelia stammered, looking from her mother to Charles and back again. “There is nothing wrong with that desire, surely?”
“There is when you are forced to practically run away from your brother!” Lady Barrington exclaimed, her anger and upset still clearly visible in her words and her expression. “I trusted your words, Amelia, only to now realize just how foolish I have been!”
Charles found his heart filling with relief as he saw the way that his mother now spoke to his sister. He had believed that Lady Barrington would present herself before him with the intention of defending Lady Amelia’s actions, only to now see that his mother was very upset indeed. He was not glad for her upset, of course, but he was certainly relieved that she was not attempting to defend Amelia’s actions. Evidently, she was fully aware of the sort of gentleman Lord Telford was, and could see the danger that had