“You told me that Lord Neath was not to be trusted,” Miss Burnley continued, as her father closed his eyes and ran one hand over his eyes. “I do not understand why you would let him in your company, nor why you would allow him to be aware of the marriage required for our family. What business is it of his?”
“That is a very good question, Miss Burnley,” George could not help but say as Lord Turnhill’s eyes swiveled towards his. “It seems to me, Lord Turnhill, that there is more to this than you have made clear. You say that my father wrote to me the moment after he read the documents, but that cannot have been true, if he was here with you and Lord Neath. Lord Neath would not have been permitted entry into my father’s townhouse, giventhat he was not known to my father, so the meeting must have been held at your own house… and no letter could have been written from my father that was sealed withhisseal unless he was at home. So you can see my confusion, can you not?”
Lord Turnhill swallowed hard. “You must understand, your father – ”
“Good evening, Lord Turnhill, Lord Surrey, Miss Burnley.”
A hand went to George’s arm, and he looked down, only for his heart to warm as Miss Williams, smiling, stood beside him. Relief poured into his heart as her eyes, filled with hope, sparkled up at him.
She has found it.
He did not need to ask her, did not need to demand any answers. From her expression alone, he could tell that all was just as it ought to have been.
“Why are you standing like that?” Miss Burnley gestured wildly towards Miss Williams. “You are being overly familiar, and I do not think it at all appropriate!”
George took in a deep breath, lifted his chin, set his shoulders back, and cleared his throat. “Miss Burnley, I am afraid that there will be no engagement between us,” he said, as her eyes rounded, her hand going to her heart. “There cannot be an engagement when I am quite in love with another young lady.” Looking down at Miss Williams, his heart swelled. “Miss Williams and I will soon announce our engagement, and we will be married just as soon as is possible.”
“But…but you cannot!” Miss Burnley exclaimed, looking to her father, who was now frowning heavily. “The documents state that – ”
“Alas, Miss Burnley, I believe that your father has held some things back from you,” George interrupted, as Lord Turnhill groaned, seemingly now aware that there was nothing he could say or do that would prevent the truth from coming to light. Hisruse, regardless of its purpose, was over. “We might all discuss it this evening, mayhap? Once the ball is at an end?”
Miss Burnley looked at her father, a tear splashing down onto her cheek. “Father?”
Lord Turnhill’s shoulders rounded, but he said nothing, looking down at the floor instead of back at his daughter.
“The drawing room, once the guests have begun to be dismissed,” George finished, his heart softening at the pain in Miss Burnley’s expression. “I am sorry that there is injury here, Miss Burnley. It was not my intention to hurt you, but I cannot marry someone out of requirement, not when my heart belongs to another. It would not be right or fair for both of us.”
“You will have your own choice now,” Miss Williams said, gently, perhaps seeing the same hurt that George understood. “You will be able to dance and laugh and converse with as many gentlemen as you wish and, in the end, will be able to decide on your own match. Is that not a good deal more preferable than being told what to do and whom you shall marry?”
Miss Burnley blinked, her eyes sparkling with tears and her chin wobbling. This prospect of making her own match did not offer her any sort of freedom or delight, George realized, for she looked almost morose with it all. Had the prospect of engagement and matrimony meant so much to her, even when she had done nothing but complain to him about his many failings?
“I am sorry,” he said, as Lord Turnhill blew out a long breath between his teeth, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. “As I have said, it was never my intention to injure you.”
“I know that.” Miss Turnhill’s sorrowful gaze returned to her father. “It appears that my father has used me in some way, and I cannot understand that.”
Silence grew between father and daughter as George, Miss Williams, and Miss Burnley all stood waiting for Lord Turnhill’s response.
He did not give one. Instead, he kept his gaze low, a hunched figure that spoke of shame and brokenness.
“We can discuss all at the end of the ball,” George said, patting Miss Williams’ hand and then slowly moving back from them both. “Now, if you will excuse me, I intend to dance with my betrothed.”
Stepping away, George had to fight against the overwhelming desire to catch Miss Williams up in his arms and hold her tightly. The joy and relief in his heart was overwhelming, burning in his veins and pressing into his heart.
“We found the document,” Miss Williams told him, as he looked down into her beautiful, kind face. “It was not difficult in the least, I confess. We did not even have to search for more than a few minutes to find it!”
“Clearly, Lord Turnhill did not expect that anyone would ever come looking for it,” George answered, as Miss Williams nodded. “He had to keep it to hand so that once the marriage between me and Miss Burnley had taken place, he could use it to take whatever he wanted from me.” He looked askance at Miss Williams. “I presume that is what the document says? That I am to lose something once I marry the lady?”
Miss Williams stopped walking, gazing straight back at him. “It is far worse than that, my love,” she said, as George’s eyebrows lifted. “Had you married Miss Burnley, the majority of your wealth and land would have gone to a specific relation of Lord Turnhill.”
George’s stomach tightened. “You mean to say that – ”
“Yes,” Miss Williams said quietly. “It would have gone directly to Lord Neath.”
18
Beatrice watched as the room slowly filled with people. The ball was over, the guests beginning to make their departure, and now, the time had come for them all to gather and, she hoped, conclude this mystery.
Her brother gave her a quick wink and a smile, perhaps aware of her nervousness and hoping to lift it a little. Beatrice returned it with a smile, but it quickly fell away as she clasped her hands in her lap, watching and waiting for all that would transpire.
