it now,” he said, looking around for a footman so that he might find himself something to drink. “Besides which, I am sure that she will not return to converse again with me any time soon. Her chaperone and her father will not permit it!”
“We will see,” Lord Swinton replied with a gleam in his eye, but Jeffery merely shrugged and took a glass of brandy from the footman’s tray. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing further to explore between himself and Lady Rebecca, and in that, he was quite determined.
Chapter Six
Rebecca bobbed a quick curtsy and watched Lord Bellingham as he stepped away. The conversation had been very strained and, whilst Lord Bellingham was very eligible, indeed, there was not even a flicker of interest within her. Nor did she think Lord Bellingham had any desire to continue their acquaintance, given he had appeared to want to end their conversation as quickly as possible.
She sighed inwardly. It had been a sennight since she had last spoken to Lord Richmond, and yet, for whatever reason, she could not remove him from her thoughts. The book she had purchased, the novel that she knew he had been interested in, was still sitting quietly by her bed, whispering to her about him. She had heard some of the gossips herself by now, of course, and had also heard quite a bit about Lady Kensington’s reputation and behavior as well. Still, there had been that strong memory of how Lord Richmond had defended himself to Lady Hayward that day in the bookshop.
She wanted to believe him.
“Well?” Lady Hayward’s eyes were bright with curiosity, her voice filled with hope. “Did all go well?”
Rebecca let out a quiet sigh and shook her head. “Not as well as you might have expected, Lady Hayward,” she said honestly. “Lord Bellingham was difficult to converse with. Unfortunately, he had very little to say.”
Lady Hayward’s smile dropped from her face in an instant, her brows furrowing a little as she studied Rebecca carefully. “You are saying there was nothing at all of interest?”
“None whatsoever, I’m afraid,” Rebecca said, spreading her hands as a slight wave of guilt washed over her. “I wish I could be a little more optimistic, but I fear I cannot.”
“It is not your fault,” Lady Hayward replied with a sigh. “I thought Lord Bellingham might be all that you required, but if there is no interest there, then I should be loath to encourage you.” She smiled briefly, and Rebecca smiled back, relieved that Lady Hayward was not about to force her back into another conversation with Lord Bellingham. “After all, was I not the one to state that there should be, at the very least, a small affection between you and your future husband?” One shoulder lifted in a half shrug. “However, if there is not even a modicum of curiosity in continuing an acquaintance with Lord Bellingham, then we shall not consider him anymore.”
“I thank you,” Rebecca replied with an inner sigh of relief. “I think, however, you will have to excuse me for a moment. I must seek the retiring room.”
Lady Hayward nodded. “But of course.” Her eyes began to twinkle in the familiar way that Rebecca had come to know so well. “Mayhap when you return, I will have another gentleman for you to consider!”
Rebecca laughed and made her way from the large drawing-room, both relieved and a little nervous about which gentleman Lady Hayward would have next.
“Excuse me,” Rebecca murmured, walking past a young lady and making her way slowly back towards the drawing-room. The soiree had, thus far, been quite pleasant, but, as yet, Rebecca had found nothing of particular interest.
“Lord Richmond, please!”
Rebecca froze, her heart beginning to pound immediately as she heard a voice echoing from a little further down the hallway.
“I should not have come.”
Knowing that she should not continue to eavesdrop, Rebecca found it entirely impossible to return to the drawing-room. Evidently, Lord Richmond was present and, for whatever reason, was now conversing with another.
“There is no need to behave so. Not with someone such as me.”
Rebecca looked over her shoulder, checking that no one else was present in the hallway and watching her. Seeing no one, she quietly made her way forward, nearing the front of Lord and Lady Messick’s townhouse.
And Lord Richmond suddenly came into view. He was pushing one hand through his hair, staring hard at the floor whilst a lady stood before him, looking up at him with great