Wed in Disgrace (Convenient Arrangements #3) - Rose Pearson Page 0,52

speak to her given that he was present. “I appreciate your kindness, Lord Robertson.”

Lord Robertson looked pleased at this remark but said nothing, allowing them to walk in silence the rest of the way. However, when they arrived back to where Delilah had been sitting, there was no sign of Lady Newfield.

“How very strange,” Lord Robertson murmured, looking all around him as though Lady Newfield was hiding somewhere. “I did think that she—”

“Miss Mullins?”

Delilah turned her head to see Miss Jamieson approaching, her eyes a little concerned as she hurried forward, reaching to take both of Delilah’s hands in her own.

“Good evening, Miss Jamieson,” Delilah replied quickly. “Is something wrong?”

Miss Jamieson shook her head. “No, indeed not. I merely wanted to ascertain how you fared, given the situation that you find yourself in at present.”

Delilah smiled at her friend but let go of her hands. “I see,” she replied, appreciating Miss Jamieson’s thoughtfulness. “I am quite all right, I assure you.”

“If you ladies will excuse me.” Lord Robertson bowed and turned away, a smile still playing about his lips and his duty, evidently, now completed since he had returned Delilah to someone, even if it was not Lady Newfield. Delilah watched him go without expression, her heart sinking heavily as she closed her eyes, knowing that Lord Robertson would soon be back to dance the waltz with her.

“He comes to seek your attention so that he might garner the attention of the ton for himself,” Miss Jamieson said with a grim smile. “A foolish gentleman, that one.”

“One that is easily manipulated, certainly,” Delilah agreed. “However, he did mention that Lord Coventry is here, and as yet, I have not seen him.” She worried her lip but Miss Jamieson merely shrugged.

“I am sure he will find you when he is able,” she said. “No doubt he is caught up with much conversation and the like over his engagement to you.” She smiled and Delilah tried to nod her agreement but felt her heart drop all the lower. “Perhaps he hopes for the whispers to die down a little before he comes to join you.”

“That may be so,” Delilah agreed, her voice a little dulled. “But now it seems I cannot find Lady Newfield either.”

Miss Jamieson’s expression became one of concern. “Lady Newfield is gone?”

“I—I left her here,” Delilah replied, gesturing to the chairs to her left. “Lady Newfield was most insistent that Lord Robertson return me to her, so I cannot imagine why she would have simply departed, knowing that I would return at any moment.”

“Then mayhap we should look for her,” Miss Jamieson replied, offering Delilah her arm. “She must be within the ballroom someplace.”

To step away, to wander back through the guests, and to know that they were all watching her again made Delilah’s heart tremble, but she nodded and took Miss Jamieson’s arm. Miss Jamieson smiled and began to walk slowly but with purpose, looking from left to right as she did so, whilst Delilah did all she could to push aside her fears and to hold her head high.

There was, thankfully, another dance now beginning, and so couples came to step onto the floor as Delilah and Miss Jamieson made their way forward. When the music began, they hurried to move from the dance floor, not wanting to be in the way—and as they did so, someone caught Delilah’s eye.

“Lord Coventry!”

He was standing with his feet planted firmly apart, his head held high and his arms crossed across his chest. His jaw was set, and his eyes dark, and it only took Delilah a moment to realize why.

Lady Parrington.

“Look,” she murmured, slowing Miss Jamieson’s steps. “Lord Coventry.”

Miss Jamieson stopped and looked to where Delilah now gestured. “Indeed,” she commented, sounding a little surprised. “And Lady Parrington.”

“I do not think it is a happy conversation,” Delilah remarked as Miss Jamieson nodded. “Should I go to him?”

Miss Jamieson shook her head. “I do not think it would do you much good, Miss Mullins. Will she not then begin to pierce you with her words also?”

Delilah hesitated, then sighed and nodded her head. “Yes, I believe she would.”

“Then there is no need for you to do so,” Miss Jamieson answered with a small shrug. “But as for myself...” She lifted one eyebrow and smiled at Delilah. “If you will wait, I will go and speak to him and try to draw him away from Lady Parrington.”

Awash with relief, Delilah let go of her friend’s arm. “I would be very glad