“Yes, could you see that a footman is sent to inform Lord and Lady Cheltenham that Lord Charles has been hurt? He fares well enough, but if they might end their engagement early, that would be best.”
The maid nodded, curtsied, and left. After alternating between pacing and staring out the darkening window for another ten to fifteen minutes, Lydia decided to give cleaning the stains a try. She went in search of the housekeeper and some more rags and supplies, but as she passed the front door, a knock sounded.
The butler was not nearby, but a footman went straight for the door, pulling it open. Lydia was about to continue in her search when she heard her own name.
“I am here to see Miss Faraday. Is she available?”
The footman gave no indication that she was behind him even then, only responding with a cool, proper voice. “Might I ask who is calling?”
“Mr. Frank Colbert.”
Lydia’s brows rose. What was Mr. Frank Colbert doing here? She’d seen him occasionally over the last few weeks, but never for longer than a dance or a passing conversation.
The footman nodded. “I will see if she is at home.”
Lydia stepped back, hiding in the dining room just as the footman allowed Mr. Frank Colbert into the hall. Then, not showing any amount of emotion—perhaps he’d learned from Lord Berkeley—the footman stepped into the dining room.
“A Mr. Frank Colbert to see you, miss,” he said in an undertone. “Are you at home to his call?”
Lydia glanced down at herself, her dress fairly ruined, and her hair certainly a mess. She nearly said no, but her curiosity won out. What if—somehow—he had news regarding the mess they’d found themselves in tonight? Why else would he arrive this late to the home?
“Yes, please,” she said but then she paused. “Is there someplace he could wait besides the drawing room?”
“The back sitting room should suffice.”
“Very good. Have him wait there. I will return... momentarily.” She looked down on herself again, wondering how quickly she could change. “And could you have my maid sent to my room?”
“Certainly, miss.” The footman bowed. “Is there anything else?” Lydia liked this man and how he was treating her with respect and kindness, despite her station being far lower than that of her hosts.
“No, thank you.”
He bowed again, leaving the room. Lydia left through another door to make her way up the stairs. She hurried into her room, happy to find Jones already there.
“Jones, help me into a new dress, will you?”
Jones’s eyes swept down her currently ruined dress, but for once, she did not bat an eye. Perhaps she had given up on Lydia acting as a normal lady ought to. Thank the heavens. The maid turned and readied a dress while Lydia shimmied from her ruined one.
It took longer than she’d anticipated, but she was soon put back together and able to enter the sitting room in which Mr. Frank Colbert waited.
He immediately jumped to his feet. “Miss Faraday, I do apologize for my rather unusually timed visit, but you are radiant as always.” He swept into a bow.
“Thank you, Mr. Frank Colbert. Please, sit. Would you like some tea?”
“No, thank you.”
She had been prepared to leave the room to call for tea but turned back to Mr. Frank Colbert instead. They sat, him smiling broadly and unabashedly at her.
“What prompts this visit? And at such a late time?” she asked when he did not say anything.
“I was saddened to see you did not attend Lord and Lady Cheltenham tonight.”
“Oh? Were you attending the same party?”
He nodded. “Indeed. I found the company rather dull and thought to see after your health.” He smiled again.
“I am sure Lord or Lady Cheltenham could have told you that it was not poor health that kept me from attending.” The way he continued to smile at her, as if she were a prize horse he was certain would win, was making her wish to remove to a seat farther away.
“Yes, yes, of course, but I could not believe it until I saw you for myself.”
