There came silence for a few minutes, only for Lord Dorset to lean forward, looking keenly at George. “And you are quite certain, without a doubt, that there is nothing wrong with these documents? There can be no question about the authenticity of them? There is no record of a marriage?”
George swallowed the rest of his brandy and shook his head. “It is all just as it should be.”
“Then might I ask to see them?” Lord Dorset sat back in his chair as George, confused, frowned. “I want you to be happy, my friend. Let me look over the documents, let me assess them.”
“But my solicitor –”
“Please.”
There was no good reason for George to refuse, and so, with a shrug, he nodded. “Very well.”
Lord Dorset smiled briefly. “I thank you. We must make certain that you truly are bound to this lady, must we not?”
George did not have any hope whatsoever that Lord Dorset would be able to find some error in the documents when he had not been able to do so. “I fear that, no matter how hard you look, you will find that I am well and truly tied to Miss Burnley,” he said, dejected as the footman brought him another brandy. “There is no way out of this, Lord Dorset. I am to marry the lady and set aside all that I have shared with Miss Williams… including the love that lingers in my heart for her. It must go, it must be banished forever.” He hung his head. “I just do not know quite how to do it.”
8
The tears that had come after her dance with Lord Surrey had not been permitted to escape until Beatrice had returned home and was alone in her bedchamber. Now, as she sat in her room the following afternoon and gazed at her reflection in the mirror, Beatrice saw the evidence of her tears and lack of sleep in the paleness of her skin and the shadows under her eyes. Her maid had done very well in preparing her for the day, but there was nothing she could do about the confusion and upset that tore through Beatrice’s soul.
Why did he insist upon dancing with me when he is courting another?
Having had no desire to eat, Beatrice had remained abed until duty had demanded she rise. With a weight still in her soul and her heart struggling to piece itself back together, Beatrice forced herself to her feet and made her way downstairs, waiting for Lady Norah’s carriage to arrive.
“An excellent evening last night, I thought.”
Beatrice tried to smile as her brother greeted her in the hallway.
“You must have been very tired indeed, given how long you remained in your rooms!” Lord Warwickshire put a hand on Beatrice’s shoulder, looked into her face, and then frowned, his smile disappearing in an instant. “You are unwell, sister?”
She shook her head, not trusting her voice. If her brother knew of all the turmoil within her, then she was sure he would either be displeased with her for having such lingering emotions or irritated with Lord Surrey – and she did not want that! Her brother had a strong mind and often spoke or acted without giving it too much thought, and she certainly did not want him to go and speak with Lord Surrey without considering it first!
“What is it, then?” Lord Warwickshire’s voice had softened. “Are you weary after the many days of dancing and the like? We do not have to attend any occasion this evening, if you do not wish it.”
“But I must find a suitable match, must I not?” Beatrice replied, hearing the wobble in her voice but praying her brother did not. “The only way I will be able to find a suitable gentleman is if I attend such things.”
A frown tugged at his forehead. “You have had many dutiful admirers thus far, Beatrice.”
She looked down at her hands. Her brother was quite right to say so, for she had not only had many callers, some had come to call on more than one occasion these last two weeks – but she had not found herself with any real interest in any of them.
“I would never push you towards someone that you did not think suited you well, Beatrice.” Lord Warwickshire lifted her chin gently, looking down at her with a brotherly affection that settled Beatrice’s heart a little. “It is not something that I would demand of you.”
“Thank you, brother.” Beatrice closed her eyes and then smiled as best she could. “I am grateful to know that.”
“And if you are still thinking of another, then might I suggest that you give yourself time to get over the disappointment that you must be feeling at present?”
Beatrice’s throat grew tight as she looked away from her brother, her fingers twisting together in front of her. Clearly, he knew very well that she still had an interest in Lord Surrey although she had done all she could to set him out of her heart and mind. Until last evening, they had not spoken nor even been in company together, which was why she simply could not understand why he had asked her to dance!
“You can speak to me about anything you need to, Beatrice. I want you to know that I shall never judge you nor criticize you. Matters of the heart are difficult indeed.”
“They seem to be, yes,” Beatrice admitted, softly. “Lord Surrey was very attentive to me so many months ago, and I will confess that I was drawn to him.”
“And now, he courts another but still stands up with you – and you, being a lady, cannot refuse to dance with him,” Lord Warwickshire said, as Beatrice’s lips tugged to one side in frustration. “A difficulty indeed. If you wish, I can speak with him? I can – ”
“No, please do not.” Beatrice put one hand on her brother’s arm, beseechingly. “I do not think it would do any good.”
It took a long moment for her brother to reply, but when he did, it was with agreement. “Very well. Now, where are you off to this fine afternoon?”
“I am going to the bookshop with Lady Norah.” Relieved that her brother had chosen not to press her on the subject, she offered him a small smile, a trifle surprised at the way his eyebrows lifted and a smile spread across his face. “You are not thinking of joining us, I hope?”
