“Your solicitors, yes.” Lord Dorset wrinkled his nose. “I would have thought – and I say this without meaning to be in the least bit insulting – that with such a significant thing pressed into your hand, you would have done all you could to make certain everything was just as it ought to be. You have been very trusting so far.”
“But who am I not to trust?” George threw up his hands, his voice bouncing around the terrace and garnering the attention of one or two others. “My father? My solicitors?”
Lord Dorset tilted his head and watched George for a long moment before he said anything more. George, somewhat embarrassed that he had been so very loud and reacted so strongly, dropped his gaze and groaned softly.
“Your father might have been just as trusting as you are,” Lord Dorset said, gently. “I do not speak ill of you, my friend, believe me. I am suggesting only that it might be worth your time to look over the documents carefully yourself, to research the names within those documents… and to ensure no marriage took place.”
George’s shoulders dropped, and he sighed heavily. “You are doing your best to comfort me, to try and find a way for all of this to be taken from me, but I do not see a way out.”
“But what if therewas?” Lord Dorset took a step closer, looking straight into George’s eyes. “What if therewassomething about the documents that was of concern? What if there was a difference in the names? What if therewasa marriage and no one has discovered it as yet? Would that not be worth pursuing? It would free you from all of this, my friend. Free you fromeverything.” He put one hand on George’s shoulder. “And it would permit you to go towards the one young lady that fills your heart still, rather than pushing her away from you repeatedly in the hope your love for her will fade. I can promise you this, it will not.”
The words sent George’s heart into a spiral, and he looked away, his chest growing tight as he thought about what freedom might mean.
“Will you think about it, at least?” Lord Dorset took a step back and released George. “If you decide that I speak nonsense and that the documents are quite suitable just as they are, then so be it. But if you decide that they might merit further study, then know I would be glad to show you my concerns. Indeed, hearing that Miss Williams has overheard someone speaking about these documents only adds to my own belief that there might well be something amiss!”
George bit his lip and thought quickly. He had dismissed the notion of there being anything wrong with what Miss Williams had heard quickly enough, but what if therewassomething more going on that he did not know of? Could it be that his father had been convinced far too easily… and was he doing the very same thing?
“If there is something wrong with the documents, then does that not suggest that Lord Turnhill could be…?”
“Pursuing you for his own ends?” Lord Dorset finished, when George could not find the words. “Yes, that is my thinking. Ifhewas the one talking to another in the bookshop about the whole affair, then one must wonder who it was he was speaking with. In addition, it makes me think that he knows there is something about the documents that, thus far, he has been able to hide. I do not mean to say this carelessly, my friend, so I pray you do not take it so, but I fear that you might very well have been deceived… and easily so at that.”
“Because I am trusting?”
“Because you are far too trusting,” his friend clarified. “That could easily be taken advantage of.”
Considering all of this and feeling a sting of embarrassment, George nodded slowly. “Might you be willing to show me all that concerns you about the documents?”
Lord Dorset smiled, a look of relief coming into his expression. “Of course. I should like you to be free to make your own choice about who to marry, my friend. I do not think you will be happy with Miss Burnley.”
“No, I shall not be,” George agreed, “but it still may be my duty to fulfil. I shall just have to wait and see.”
10
Beatrice walked through St James’ Park, her brother beside her. Her thoughts were her own, and even though Lord Warwickshire was busy talking to her about something or other, she was not paying much attention. As usual, her thoughts were taken up with Lord Surrey, and she was troubled by her own response to him. There had been so much to and fro, so much back and forth between them that she felt lost, caught in between wanting to release him from her heart and to cling to him tight.
She swallowed hard, tears coming a little too easily to her eyes. Why did her heart have to feel so strongly for him? Why did she have to continually fight against her own desire to be close to him? There were so many other gentlemen present, she was sure, so many others who would be more than suitable for her, but she was still caught up with the one gentleman she could not have!
“You have asked me about Lady Norah, and I know I have been somewhat evasive.”
Her attention quickly returned to her brother. “You are going to court her, then?”
Lord Warwickshire looked away. “I am not certain as yet.” His voice was difficult to make out, given that he spoke away from her. “I want to make sure I do what is right. I do not want to begin something and then find myself displeased with the connection. That would bring pain to us both, I am sure.”
“You are very considerate, brother,” Beatrice said, looping her arm through his. “But now, I fear, you are being a littletooconsidered. You must act! Else you shall miss the opportunity.”
He grimaced. “You think that another will seek to court her before I can do so?”
“I think that could well occur,” Beatrice answered, with a smile. “You have gone to call on her once or twice, I suppose?”
With a nod, her brother glanced at her. “But it has not been more than that. I have only called on her, and I think she believed I did so out of a sense of duty, since you and she are such close friends.”
“I can speak with her, if you would like?”
Lord Warwickshire’s eyes flared. “For what purpose? What would you say?”
She smiled, glad to have been pulled out of her own thoughts for a time. “I would simply suggest that your visits might have been more than she thought. I could tell you of her response and her reaction thereafter, if that would give you clarity on what to do next?”
It took a few moments for her brother to decide; eventually, he nodded. “Just speak with care and do not tell her that I am half in love with her or any such thing,” he said, as Beatrice laughed, her heart lifting. “Even if that may be exactly how I feel.”
