Wed in Disgrace (Convenient Arrangements #3) - Rose Pearson Page 0,57

surprised that Lady Parrington would be involved,” Miss Jamieson continued. “I was quite certain that you and she cared deeply for each other, Lord Coventry.”

Again, Timothy had nothing to do but nod. He could not understand why, if their theory were correct, the lady he had once been so close to would choose to help her brother and do such a thing to him.

“It may be that she has no other choice,” he said with a shrug. “Mayhap, there is more to Lord Chesterton than we realize.”

There came a moment or two of silence as the ladies considered this.

“I suppose that there may well be an opportunity soon to ask her about such a thing,” Miss Mullins said as she leaned against him all the more. “But first, we must find Lord Chesterton, must we not?”

Timothy nodded, praying that he would be able to keep his temper when it came to securing Lord Chesterton’s attention. The last thing he needed to do was to allow his anger loose when there were a great many answers required. “Come, Miss Mullins,” he said as gently as he could. “You need to rest.”

She shook her head as she moved a little away from him. “What I need, Lord Coventry, is to find my godmother.”

Glad, in some ways, to see her determination and courage evidencing itself more and more and yet sorrowful that she had cause for such a thing, Timothy nodded and offered her his arm. With a small, sad smile, Miss Mullins took it at once, and together, the three of them began to walk back inside to where the ball continued.

“Delilah!”

It was with complete and utter shock that Timothy saw Lady Newfield standing just inside the ballroom door, her face as white as milk. She reached out and grasped Miss Mullins’ hands, pulling her from Timothy’s side and then embracing her so tightly that Miss Mullins coughed hard as she was released.

“Lady—Lady Newfield?” Timothy queried, staring at the older lady as she, in turn, stared at Miss Mullins. “Where have you been? We have been desperate with worry.”

Lady Newfield reached out and touched Miss Mullins’ cheek. “I thought you were unwell! That you had collapsed and—”

“I am quite well, Lady Newfield,” Miss Mullins replied, looking thoroughly confused. “I was told that you had been taken ill and required me to return to the carriage so that we might return home at once.”

Timothy grimaced as Lady Newfield sucked in a breath, her eyes flaring with sudden horror.

“I was quite safe, however,” Miss Mullins said quickly as Lady Newfield closed her eyes tightly, swaying just a little. “Miss Jamieson and Lord Coventry were with me, and together, we went to the carriage.”

“Might I ask,” Timothy interrupted, leading Miss Mullins, Miss Jamieson, and Lady Newfield a little away from the door of the ballroom so that they would not be overheard. “Might I ask who spoke to you, Lady Newfield? Who told you that she had been taken ill?”

Lady Newfield’s eyes turned to his and she looked at him for some moments before she spoke. “I...I confess I do not know,” she whispered, one hand now pressed to her heart. “I was only told that Delilah had collapsed at the end of the quadrille and had been taken out of the room. The lady offered to take me to her, and of course, I went without hesitation.”

“Where did you go?” Miss Mullins asked quietly. “To another room in the townhouse?”

Lady Newfield shook her head. “It took us some minutes to remove ourselves from the ballroom. The lady I was with took a great deal of time making any progress whatsoever, and we did seem to take an inordinately long time to move through the crowd.” Closing her eyes, she bit her lip for a moment before continuing. “When we reached the hallway, a gentleman appeared. Obviously, he had been waiting for the lady, for he hurried over to her at once. Once the lady told this gentleman who I was—and I am angry now that I was not wise enough to ask for their names—he informed me that Miss Mullins had recovered significantly and that she had fainted due to the intense heat in the ballroom. She had begged to go for a short walk in the cold air and had been accompanied by a lady and a gentleman.” She gestured to Timothy. “I presumed you and perhaps Miss Jamieson had gone with her. And so, the lady and gentleman I was with walked