quickly, albeit rather too late. “Yes, you are quite correct, Miss Jamieson. Do forgive me for my foolishness.”
She said nothing but studied him carefully, then shrugged one shoulder as though it did not matter what he had done. “You are forgiven,” she said as a lady hovered nearby, clearly eager for Miss Jamieson to attend with her. “Do excuse me, Lord Coventry. My mother is eager for me to attend my sister so that she can be introduced to as many gentlemen as possible.” With a twinkle in her eye, she curtsied and then excused herself, leaving Timothy to stand alone for a moment or two. Again, he glanced over his shoulder but knew that it was entirely fruitless for him even to be trying to find whoever had pushed him so hard.
It may well have been a mistake, he told himself, setting his shoulders and making his way through the guests to a quieter spot. Almost everyone in this ballroom is jostling each other.
And yet still, his nerves were taut, feeling himself very wary indeed. After what had occurred at the evening assembly, Timothy was worried that someone, somewhere, was attempting to make use of the fact that he was seen as a danger and a threat.
Finding a quiet space, Timothy plucked a glass of champagne from a tray held by a footman and turned back around so that he could look across the ballroom. He had told Miss Mullins everything, half expecting her to laugh or to mock him for his foolish behavior, but instead, she had listened carefully and looked up at him with those green eyes of hers, her expression one of consideration and understanding. He had told her only of what had occurred at the evening assembly but had not spoken of Lord Chesterton, for he did not feel the need to do so.
“Lord Coventry, it appears you are hiding away this evening.”
He turned quickly, his eyes taking in a vision that stood before him. For a moment, he lost his ability to speak given just how much beauty was now presented before him.
“Lady Rachelle,” he finally managed to say, bowing stiffly. “Good evening.” It felt like an age since he had last seen her, felt as though he had been gone for a long time to only now return to her company. “I am a little surprised that you thought to greet me this evening.”
Lady Rachelle had always been a stunning young lady and had set the ton alight when she had first arrived in London for the Season. With black hair that gleamed and glistened with health, vibrant hazel eyes that swirled with all manner of greens and browns, an oval face, and a curvaceous figure, Lady Rachelle knew that she caught the attention of many. Including, of course, Timothy himself at one time.
“I was, perhaps, a little foolish in my decision to ignore you completely,” Lady Rachelle commented, reaching out one light, delicate hand to press upon his arm. “I will not pretend that it has not been difficult to come to speak to you for fear of what damage it might do to my reputation, but I hope you can see that I have just enough courage to push myself to do so, regardless.”
Timothy cleared his throat, putting his hands behind his back. “Yes, of course, Lady Rachelle,” he replied, trying his best to remain entirely collected. “I can well understand your reasons for doing so.”
She dropped her hand and smiled at him. “You are very forgiving, Lord Coventry.”
He shrugged. “I have nothing else to do but forgive,” he answered her honestly. “I have very few friends here in London already, and I certainly cannot imagine losing even more simply due to my stubbornness. Although—” He broke off for a moment, looking at Lady Rachelle’s smiling face. “Although, I should warn you, Lady Rachelle, that you will not gain thanks nor appreciation from Lady Parrington if you continue with me.”
Lady Rachelle tilted her head. “You are good to consider me,” she answered him calmly. “But Lady Parrington is making herself something of a pariah with her loud, inappropriate remarks and her lack of proper conduct.” Her lips tightened, and she looked back at him with an openness to her expression that he had not seen before. “I have found myself rather upset by some of her remarks of late, Lord Coventry. I am sure that I am not the only one.”
Timothy did not know what to say, for he certainly did