what Lady Kensington had threatened. “As much as I might wish to, Lady Rebecca,” he said honestly, “to give in to all that I might seek will only cause you trouble.”
“Trouble that I might be willing to accept,” she said, but Jeffery reached out and grasped her hand, squeezing it tightly. Lady Rebecca caught her breath, her eyes widening, and Jeffery found he could not speak for a moment, his own heart thundering furiously at the touch of her hand in his.
“Trouble I will refuse to place upon you, Lady Rebecca,” he said, hoarsely. “Leave me. Do not come to seek me out again, I beg you. For your own sake, you must do this.”
She did not immediately respond, her fingers shifting slightly, her thumb running over the back of his hand. Jeffery swallowed hard, aware of the way his heart was exploding in his chest, wanting desperately to pursue her, to be able to seek her out as he might do with any other lady of his acquaintance, but knowing full well he could not.
“What if I cannot, Lord Richmond?” she asked as he dropped his head. “What then?”
“You must,” he replied, reluctantly letting go of her hand. “There is no other choice for you, Lady Rebecca. Save yourself before you become all the more entangled in the web that surrounds me.”
There was a faint glow in her eyes as she looked back at him, her lips pressed hard together and a determination seeming to emanate from her. Jeffery could feel his resolve slipping away and knew that if she did not leave his presence soon, he would, most likely, tell her to forget all that he had said in favor of her remaining in his company.
“Lady Rebecca, let us take our leave.”
Jeffery turned to Lady Hayward with a start, having quite forgotten her presence. To hide his reaction, he bowed quickly towards her but did not miss the knowing gleam in her eye.
“Good evening, Lady Hayward, and I thank you for coming to speak to me,” he said honestly as Lord Swinton frowned hard behind her. “I hope you both enjoy what is left of the assembly.”
“I am sure we will,” Lady Hayward replied as Lady Rebecca bobbed a quick curtsy in farewell. “May whatever is troubling you soon be resolved, Lord Richmond.”
He gave her a brief smile before turning his gaze back towards Lady Rebecca, who was still watching him, a troubled look in her eyes. “Good evening, Lady Rebecca,” he rumbled, feeling as though he was saying a pronounced farewell. “May the remaining months of the Season be a great success.”
She said nothing, frowned hard, and then turned her head away, moving past him so that she might rejoin her sisters, who had been waiting patiently for them to finish their conversation. Jeffery sighed and ran one hand over his face before looking back to his friend.
“To Whites, Swinton?” he asked, praying that he would quickly agree. “I do not think I can linger here any longer.”
Lord Swinton nodded without hesitation. “But of course,” he replied, curiosity clear in his eyes. “At once, if you wish.”
“At once,” Jeffery repeated before turning on his heel and making his way through the crowd, suddenly desperate to remove himself from the evening assembly and find the fresh air that would allow him freedom from the trouble that had thrown itself at him, clinging to him now with such a weight that Jeffery felt as though he were being pulled down into the ground, his steps heavy and his spirits low. It seemed that he would have no other choice but to obey Lady Kensington, no matter what it cost him. To refuse would be unthinkable.
Chapter Eight
“Good afternoon, Lord Clayton.”
Rebecca smiled back at the handsome gentleman as he bent over her hand, relieved beyond expression that this was to be the final visit for this afternoon. Behind her, she could hear one of her sisters giggle—although she could guess which one it was.
“I do hope I might be permitted to call upon you again, Lady Rebecca,” Lord Clayton said, one eyebrow lifting towards the duke who sat quietly in his chair, seemingly bored with the conversation. Rebecca glanced at her father, who quickly rose to his feet and cleared his throat in a harsh manner.
“Yes, yes, of course,” he said quickly as Rebecca kept her smile fixed in place. “You would be very welcome indeed, Lord Clayton. Good afternoon.”
The two gentlemen exchanged farewells and Rebecca waited until Lord Clayton had