“Miss Williams and her brother are nearby, but they suggested that we might meet elsewhere to share this news in greater detail,” Lady Norah said quietly, as George nodded, feeling as if his mind were scurrying from one thought to the next. “I am sure you will want to hear more.”
“I do, I – ”
“Mydearnephew, I was not in the least bit hopeful that we would find you present here this afternoon, but here you are!”
Another voice broke into the conversation and, turning around bodily, George was greeted by his aunt and uncle, with whom he had stayed during the Christmas Season when he had first met Miss Williams. “Aunt!” he exclaimed, before reaching out to shake his uncle’s hand. “Whatever are you doing here?”
His uncle chuckled. “Your dear aunt wanted very much to come to London for a little entertainment, and given that I would do anything I could to make her happy, I was more than willing to attend with her.”
“I did think to write, but then I was not certain if you would still be present in London or if you would have returned home by now,” his aunt continued, her eyes bright. “Howgoodit is to see you.”
George smiled as best he could. “Let me introduce you to my dear friend, the Earl of Dorset and his sister, Lady Norah,” he said, turning back to his friends. “My friends, this is my aunt and uncle, Lord and Lady Welton. I resided with them almost eighteen months ago, intending to remain with them over the festive Season… although that time was shortened.” Pain struck him, but he ignored it, keeping a smile on his face.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Lady Norah curtsied quickly. “Might I ask, then if you are already known to Lord Warwickshire and his sister, Miss Williams?”
“Yes, yes, we are!” Lady Welton beamed at Lady Norah. “Are you acquainted with the family yourself?”
“We are very good friends, Miss Williams and I,” Lady Norah replied. “They are present here this afternoon also.”
“Then I shall have to make certain that I greet them both,” Lady Welton said, as George darted a glance towards Lord Dorset, a little worried that they would be seen by Lord Neath and Lord Turnhill. “I am sure that – ”
“Goodness, is that fellow…?” Lord Welton put one hand out and caught his wife’s arm. “There, look.”
George followed his aunt’s eyes as she looked in the direction her husband was pointing in. Much to his surprise, they both appeared to be looking at Lord Turnhill who was, at present, laughing at something before gesturing to his daughter. She, in turn, flashed a warm smile but then sent a cold look towardsGeorge, clearly aware that he was nearby but that, as yet, he had not come to speak with her.
His stomach twisted.
“It is.” Lady Welton grimaced and turned herself bodily away from Lord Turnhill. “We should step away.”
“Might I be rude and ask if it is Lord Turnhill that you look at?”
With a nod, his aunt wrinkled her nose. “We are not to associate with that family, as I am sure your father told you.”
George’s mouth fell agape.
“Not to associate?” It was Miss Williams who spoke, sounding just as astonished as George felt. “Are you – are you quite sure?”
Lady Welton looked to Miss Williams, then frowned. “I beg your pardon, but – ”
“We must all return to my house at once.” George put one hand out towards his aunt. “I will explain all once we are there, but I am afraid I must insist upon it.” He looked to Lord Warwickshire, who nodded. “All of us. It seems this mystery is not nearing its end at all, but instead, adding more difficulty and confusion to it.”
“But this may bring the clarity we need,” Miss Williams said, as her brother took her arm to lead her away. “Let us pray it finally gives us the answers you require, Surrey.”
“The answers webothrequire,” George replied, garnering himself a confused look from his uncle and aunt. “I pray it may be so.”
16
Beatrice looked from one face to the next, fully understanding why Lady Welton had appeared so affronted when she had asked about the distance placed between the Surrey line and the Turnhill line. As far as Lady Welton was concerned, it was none of Beatrice’s business, given that the families were not connected. She was unaware – as yet, at least – that there was hope of an engagement between herself and Lord Surrey. A hope that continued to grow with an ever increasing strength.
“Thank you for bringing the documents,” Lord Surrey said, pacing up and down the drawing room as the rest of them sat with a cup of tea or a glass of whisky to hand. “Aunt, Uncle. You recall that when I resided with you that Christmas, eighteen months ago now, that I was unexpectedly called away?”
Lord and Lady Welton both nodded in unison.
“I received a letter from father,” he continued, never once stopping in his walk. “It told me that some documents had been discovered and that I had to return to London at once.”
“And upon your arrival, you found that he was gone from this world and that you were then the new Earl of Surrey,” LordWelton said quietly. “I was always sorry that none of us were there with him.”
Pain sliced through Beatrice’s heart as Lord Surrey stopped pacing, dropped his head, and ran one hand down his face. There was a clear regret there, a sadness and a weight that she did not think he would ever be able to free himself from, just as she had never lost the sorrow from her own father’s passing. Instead, it had become a part of her, a part that still held weight but somehow had settled into place.
