see that she fully intends to make use of your willingness to, perhaps, force her attentions on you?” He shook his head and pointed to the door. “That is the only place you ought to go at present. Do not allow your kind heart to be misled.”
Jeffery nodded slowly, fully aware that perhaps his heart was a little too sympathetic given the circumstances. He made to follow Lord Swinton through into the adjoining room, only to hesitate. Lady Kensington would not be able to follow him and certainly could have no intention of ‘forcing’ her attentions upon him given that she would be caught up with the responsibilities of ensuring her guests were comfortable and contented. Was he being much too harsh in his judgment of her?
“And I have not yet even greeted Lord Kensington,” Jeffery muttered, still feeling a nudge of guilt over the fact that he had been so very late in the first place. Seeing how Lord Swinton hurried to catch the lady he had been walking with and knowing full well that his friend would be all the more distracted by her, Jeffery took in a deep breath and made his decision.
“Lord Kensington?”
Rapping on the door lightly, Jeffery looked up and down the hallway but saw no staff. Was Lord Kensington within? Or had he gone elsewhere? A flurry of doubt ran through him as he knocked again, telling himself that he needed to return quickly to the drawing-room rather than remain here. Perhaps Lady Kensington had been mistaken. Her husband clearly was not where she believed him to be, and now he felt very foolish indeed for even attempting to do what she had suggested. Lord Swinton had been correct, it seemed. Jeffery’s heart was much too compassionate.
Sighing, he turned away and began to retrace his steps back to the drawing-room. He would have to slip back inside quietly so as not to draw attention to himself, but, given that most of the guests would be listening to whichever young lady was either singing or playing the pianoforte, that would not be too difficult.
“Lord Richmond, I knew you would come!”
A breathless voice ripped through the quiet of the hallway, only for a figure to throw itself into Jeffery’s arms, startling him completely. In the dim candlelight, he looked down to see none other than Lady Kensington gazing up at him with evident ardor smoldering in her eyes, her hands already around his neck.
“Lady Kensington,” Jeffery spluttered, trying to remove himself from her but finding that she was very determined in her attempts to remain close to him. “Whatever are you doing?”
A laugh escaped from the lady’s parted lips as Jeffery stumbled back against the wall, taking Lady Kensington with him.
“You surely cannot pretend that you are unaware of my intentions, Lord Richmond,” she said, pressing herself against him as he struggled to remove her hands from around his neck, panic beginning to rise in his chest. “And now, here you are, waiting for me!”
Jeffery shook his head, managing, finally, to unclasp the lady’s arms from his neck. Without wanting to overpower her, he pushed her back a few steps, his hands still holding her arms so that she could not force herself back against him again.
“I went to see if Lord Kensington was in his study, as you suggested,” he said, as firmly as he could. “I had no other intention!”
“I suggested no such thing!” Lady Kensington protested, a teasing note in her voice that sent a shudder down Jeffery’s spine. “But what does such a confusion matter now? You have stepped away from the other guests, and I have found myself here with you. This is an opportune moment, Lord Richmond. Can you not see that?”
Jeffery shook his head. “No, Lady Kensington,” he replied firmly, releasing her arms carefully and watching her with a keen eye, beginning to edge away from her as though she were a trap that had just been set. “I have no desire to do such a thing. You are very lovely indeed, and I cannot pretend that you are not a diamond of the first water, but—”
“Your words speak to my heart!” Lady Kensington made to throw herself at him again and, having no other course but to catch her for fear that she would then fall to the floor if he did not, Jeffery once more found himself in the same situation he had only just escaped from. Her hands were about his neck, her lips close to