Her diligent efforts to somehow make him court her were not lost on him.
But Edward had never been more uninterested. He was simply hoping for Lady Alice to finally get the hint and leave him alone. Standing at the little shop of ribbons, he tried to appear gentlemanly when every fibre in his body wished to do nothing but walk away.
“Lord Cavendish, do tell if I should choose the pink or the red,” she asked for the hundredth time, forcing Edward to make a decision.
She had already spent thirty minutes standing here, looking around as if she was planning to shop a plethora of ribbons but hadn’t even chosen one. Before that, she had wasted his time trying to post a letter when she clearly did not know what she was doing. Edward was certain even the letter was fake.
“I am sure Lord Cowley is a better judge of ribbons than I am,” Edward said, pointing to his friend.
The moment they had left in her carriage, Edward had promptly found Lord Cowley walking just nearby and had forced him to join them. Being alone with Lady Alice was the last thing he had wished for and Lord Cowley, being a dear friend, had understood his predicament. He had immediately understood what Edward needed and had joined him.
Thank God. Edward had breathed a sigh of relief.
“He is right, Lady Alice,” Lord Cowley said enthusiastically, standing right between Edward and Lady Alice. At this point, Edward was certain that Lord Cowley was enjoying himself, considering he, too, disliked Lady Alice for her lack of manners and rudeness.
She had offended quite a lot of people in the ton.
Moreover, every time he came between Edward and Alice, Lady Alice would only become increasingly annoyed.
“So what do you suggest, Lord Cowley?” Edward controlled his smile as he watched Lady Alice trying to behave kindly, continuing to put on an act in front of Edward.
“I believe the red will suit your colouring and bold manner.”
“Thank you for your valuable suggestion,” she replied, putting both the ribbons away, “but I think I will just not buy anything today. Can we leave now, Lord Cavendish?”
Edward opened the shop door for her as they all stepped outside, and he and Cowley breathed a sigh of relief. Lady Alice was both overbearing and completely superficial. Spending a single minute in her company was nothing short of torture.
“I believe I must take your leave now, Lady Alice,” Lord Cowley said, “I have some work to attend to.”
“As do I,” Edward quickly said, not missing the golden chance to escape, “your carriage is waiting for you. I am sure you are already done with all your errands and are looking to return home. Please have a good day, Lady Alice.”
Before she could say anything, Edward bowed, as did Lord Cowley.
“You too, My Lord,” she finally replied, running out of excuses.
Lord Cowley excused himself while Edward quickly escorted Lady Alice towards her carriage and almost dashedaway in case she remembered something else she needed assistance with. Once he was out of her clutches, he remembered the address he still had of Ophelia’s home and decided to pay a visit to his solicitor.
He was already nearby, and it would hardly take much time.
He knew exactly what he needed to do.
As he returned back home, Edward realized he had never felt lighter. Sending out the instructions with the solicitor pertaining to Ophelia’s family and address, he certainly felt like he had done a good thing. Something he needed to do and should have done a long time ago. Especially with the way Ophelia treated Amy like her own little girl, she deserved everything Edward could give her.
Amy.
“I need to see her smile,” he whispered to himself, walking into the empty hall. He did not know what it was about today, but he wished to do everything right.
And right now, he only wanted to see his niece. Her smile reminded him of Margaret, and for the first time in months, Edward knew that seeing that familiar smile on her face would only bring him immeasurable happiness. He quickly marchedup towards the nursery, but to his surprise, the room was completely empty, neither Amy nor Ophelia in sight.
“Mrs Connor?” Edward called out to the housekeeper, watching her passing by through the corridor.
She immediately stopped.
“Yes, My Lord?”
“Where is Amy?”
“Miss Jennings took Miss Amy in the gardens. The two of them must be there still.”
