Wed in Disgrace (Convenient Arrangements #3) - Rose Pearson Page 0,28

he said heavily as something more began to stir in Delilah’s heart. “I did not mean to leave you for the rest of the evening. Something very strange happened, and I found myself in a precarious position from which I could not move.”

“I see,” Delilah answered, wondering suddenly if Lady Parrington had been the reason for his delay but then recalling that she had not been present at the evening assembly.

Lord Coventry stopped suddenly, and she looked up at him, astonished to see what was now a wretched expression on his face.

“Miss Mullins,” he breathed, his hand lifting from hers to pass over his eyes. “I find myself in such a state of difficulty that I do not know what it is I am to do. I fear I shall have to leave society almost immediately to ensure that I do not sink into disgrace any further, but what then of our engagement?” Dropping his hand, he shook his head, his breathing labored. “I am deeply troubled, Miss Mullins, and, truth be told, I have very few to whom I might turn. Lord Holland might well be willing to listen to me, but he does not have a seriousness of spirit and so will not be of any particular assistance.”

Delilah swallowed hard, seeing what Lord Coventry required and yet feeling so entirely inadequate that she did not know what she was to do. Could she offer to listen to him? To help him with whatever difficulty that now troubled him? It would not be a particularly arduous task, but she was not confident she could be of any use. She knew nothing of society, knew nothing of the difficulties that troubled him. Besides which, she was not quite sure whether or not she knew enough of his character to see if he was speaking the truth about Lord Chesterton and all that had gone before.

“I should not have troubled you,” Lord Coventry muttered, beginning to walk again so that they would not lose Lady Newfield. “Forgive me, Miss Mullins.”

“Wait!”

The word pulled from her mouth before she could hold it back. Lord Coventry turned to look at her, and she saw the tiny flickering light at the edge of his eyes, recognizing that it spoke of a desperate hope that must now be in his heart. She tried to consider what it was like for him at this moment, realizing the sense of loneliness that must now fill him. Taking in a long breath, she stepped closer and looked up into his face. “I will listen to whatever it is you wish to say, Lord Coventry,” she said honestly. “Without judgment or prejudice, I assure you.” Her head dropped low as she realized that he might not wish for her assistance, fearful now that he thought her foolish. “That is, of course, if you think that I can be of any use to you whatsoever.”

Lord Coventry let out a long breath and with a gentle finger, lifted her chin. A tremor ran through her at his touch, her chest tight and her stomach feeling as though a thousand butterflies now swirled all through her.

“You are a generous soul, Miss Mullins,” he said softly. “Yes, I should be glad to explain, even though I fear I might sound terribly odd in what I have to say.”

Swallowing hard, Delilah could not bring herself to look into his eyes, confused by all that she felt, all that stormed through her, capturing her heart in a firm hold.

“I shall begin,” he told her, reaching to take her hand so that he might place it on his arm. “And thereafter, I hope that you will be able to understand my absence and mayhap to forgive me for it.”

Struggling to find her voice, Delilah kept her gaze fixed on the path ahead as she walked beside Lord Coventry. “I am certain I shall be able to, Lord Coventry,” she said, aware of just how thin her voice sounded. “Please, tell me all.”

Chapter Six

Timothy saw the tentative smile on Miss Mullins’ face as she looked at him and felt his heart lift. It had been a sennight now since that strange evening assembly, a sennight since he had been forced to hide for many hours until the room had been completely empty. He could still recall the stiffness and pain in his limbs as he had tried to stand up, just how loudly his heart beat as he hurried towards the door, fearful that he would be discovered