Wed in Disgrace (Convenient Arrangements #3) - Rose Pearson Page 0,8
a gesture of goodwill, not to encourage the match between himself and the lady in question.” Sighing, Lady Newfield continued with a heaviness in her voice. “It happened at the very end of the evening, when all but he had taken their leave. Lord Chesterton described how Lord Coventry refused to leave and began to demand to know why he had not allowed his sister to continue to court him. When Lord Chesterton refused to acquiesce, it seems that Lord Coventry attacked him quite viciously.”
Her heart began to beat in a panicked rhythm. “Are you speaking the truth?”
“This is all that I know,” Lady Newfield reminded her, holding up both hands as though she wanted to defend herself in some way. “I cannot state that it is the truth, for Lord Coventry denies that it occurred as Lord Chesterton said.”
“But Lord Chesterton must have had the injuries to prove it,” Delilah said slowly as Lady Newfield nodded. “And I presume that his attachment to the lady came to naught.”
“Indeed,” Lady Newfield said, sighing. “It could not come to anything, not when he had injured her brother so badly. She is wed to a marquess now, I believe. He should never have behaved that way, of course, although I should state that he protests his innocence entirely.”
Delilah tried to take in long, steadying breaths so that she would not begin to panic. She had asked Lady Newfield to tell her the truth, and thus, she had done so. It was best for her to know everything now rather than be told it the following evening when she met him at the ball.”
“Some in society believe him, but on the whole, he is disgraced amongst the ton,” Lady Newfield finished, now attempting to prepare Delilah for what her life might easily become when she married Lord Coventry. “His presence in London will surely be only to find a suitable wife, for he is required to continue his family line, of course.”
“And my uncle saw a convenient opportunity to remove me from his concern and, at the same time, furnish Lord Coventry with what he desires,” Delilah said dully, her spirits low. “And if Lord Coventry was desperate enough to perhaps purchase a wife, then I am certain that he would have furnished my uncle with whatever my uncle required.”
Lady Newfield nodded, her expression one of sympathy. “I do not mean to upset you further, my dear,” she said quietly. “But it is best, perhaps, that you know all. Although it will be entirely up to you as to whether or not you believe him to be guilty of such a crime.”
“I do not think it matters what I believe,” Delilah replied miserably. “I am to marry him whether he is guilty of such a thing or not.”
Tilting her head, Lady Newfield regarded Delilah carefully. “You may think it will not matter,” she said slowly, as though considering every word that she spoke, “but in time, you may discover that it matters a great deal to your husband.”
Delilah shook her head, unable to speak such was the heavy weight on her chest. Her uncle never gave even a moment of consideration to what Delilah herself thought, so why should her husband-to-be behave any differently?
“Have some more tea,” Lady Newfield said gently, rising from her chair and pouring tea into both of their cups. “And let us try not to dwell on such fears. All you need to concentrate on at present is tomorrow evening.”
“The ball,” Delilah reminded herself aloud. “The ball where I am to meet my future husband.”
Lady Newfield smiled, although her eyes were filled with sympathy. “The ball where you shall meet your betrothed,” she agreed softly. “But where you will certainly not be alone.”
Chapter Two
Timothy did not particularly want to be there this evening and, from the looks on the faces of those who surrounded him, his presence was not desired either. Steeling himself, he kept his head high and looked all around him, not shrinking away nor back. He would not allow them to think poorly of him, not when he knew for certain that he had done nothing to Lord Chesterton, no matter what the gentleman himself said.
“You look as though a thundercloud is sitting directly above your head.”
Timothy grimaced and shot his friend a dark look, which Lord Holland accepted without so much as a flicker of a frown. Instead, he grinned, his countenance bright as he glanced about the room.
“They do not seem very friendly this