“I mean, Lady Natalie is a darling, of course! But she is so young! And now that you no longer have a husband?—”
“Don’t say it.” Lilly jumped to her feet. Sometimes Penelope was far too outspoken. Why, if anyone were to overhear—well, it didn’t even bear considering. “Are you ready to return? My aunt will be wondering where I’ve run off to. I am her companion and Glenda’s chaperone, after all.” Lilly took her responsibilities seriously.
Penelope narrowed her eyes. “Very well.” Resigned, she replaced her shoe and rose as well. “But in my opinion, both of you are being foolish. True love doesn’t come along very often, and to allow it to pass you both by a second time is a travesty. Just my opinion, mind you.”
Lilly shook her head but smiled. In spite of Penelope’s outspokenness, it was difficult to be angry with her. “In this case, I’d appreciate you keeping your opinion to yourself.”
Lilly had done well in not dwelling on Michael’s presence.She did not need her friend reminding her. She smoothed her gown as they re-entered the ballroom and went their separate ways. Penelope returned to her mother, and Lilly, as always, found her aunt’s side.
“Didn’t know where you had gotten off to,” Aunt Eleanor admonished her teasingly. “Wondered if you’d run away with one of these young bucks sniffing after you.” Her aunt’s laughter cut off abruptly. Lilly was surprised then to see the older woman’s eyes narrow.
“Lady Sheffield, you must present me to your delightful niece. I have been unable to take my eyes off her all evening.” A man, well past his middle years, with gray hair but thick black eyebrows, appeared as though out of thin air. Although he seemed somewhat familiar, Lilly could not place where she had seen him. Most likely at one of the seemingly endless events they’d been attending. The same people tended to appear over and over again at most of theton’s affairs. Snatching her hand and raising it to his pouting lips, he bowed formally.
Her aunt was no more impressed than she. Sniffing into the air, Aunt Eleanor obviously did not approve of the man. But to deny him an introduction would be tantamount to giving him the cut.
“Lord Hawkborn, may I present to you my niece, Lady Beauchamp. Lilly, this is the Earl of Hawkborn.” Lilly winced as her aunt’s lip curled. She’d never seen her aunt be rude to anyone.
“Hawthorne. I am the Earl ofHawthorne,” the gentleman said through clenched teeth. Then, in an effort to exert his manners in spite of the snub, he politely addressed Lilly. “Lady Beauchamp, it is my greatest pleasure to meet you. I daresay, the supper dance is next. Would you do me the honor of standing up with me?”
Lilly happened to be free for this particular dance. She’d left it, purposely so, in order to remain with her aunt for the meal.But she could not decline without good reason. Ah, well. It was only one set.
“It would be my pleasure, Lord Hawthorne.” Turning to her aunt, she nodded and said, “Will you be dining with Lady Danbury, or would you like for me to find you in the supper room?”
Her aunt gave the earl a withering look. “Yes, come find me, dear.” She paused, as though she had something else to say on the matter, but then turned away and began gossiping with another of her ubiquitousvery closefriends.
Lilly took the earl’s arm and allowed him to lead her to the floor. He was very tall and gangly and hadn’t yet begun to stoop with age. But there was something odd about him. He carried an unnatural tension. His arm felt thin and bony. She wondered if he wore padding in his shoulders. The dance was, Lilly realized too late, a waltz. As the earl placed his skeletal fingers at her waist, Lilly felt as though a spider had landed on her. She resisted the impulse to shudder. His other bony hand clasped hers firmly, and the dance began.
The last year at Beauchamp Mansion had been spent preparing Glenda to enter society. One of the lessons scheduled daily had been dance. Lilly had attended every lesson faithfully along with Glenda. If necessary, Lilly could waltz on her hands—blindfolded.
The earl was not as diligent and seemed somewhat distracted by the steps.
“I must admit, my lord,” Lilly began, “I am surprised you would seek me out. I am a mere widow, a chaperone to my stepdaughter.”
The earl looked up at her with pale and watery blue eyes. Suddenly no longer distracted by the steps of the dance, all of his attention focused upon her.
Again, she forced herself not to shudder. There was something very…off…about this man.
“You mean your…niece?” he managed to say without stepping on her toes.
Thinking there was a chance that he was simply mistaken, Lilly spoke coolly. “No, my lord, my stepdaughter.” She would change the subject. “I understand your son, Lord Castleton, is in attendance tonight. It is always such a pleasure to have family nearby, wouldn’t you agree?” she asked innocently.
The earl’s face darkened. “Ah, yes…yes…He might be. I do not keep myself informed of his whereabouts.” He glanced down at his feet for a moment before changing the subject to her once again. “No, I am not mistaken, my dear. I am referring to your niece, who also happens to be your stepdaughter.” Lilly glanced into his eyes and then away from them just as quickly.
It was Lilly who nearly missed a step this time, as she processed the fact that this man knew the truth of her marriage. “The distinction is of no importance.” Perhaps it was not. Oh, please, let it not be!
The earl waited for her to expand on her words, but when she did not he continued in a threatening tone. “Oh, my lady, I think that it is. Am I not still in England? It is illegal, is it not? To marry one’s dead sister’s husband?” The earl leaned down so his mouth was very near her face. He smelled of an awful cigar smoke. She turned her head to avoid his breath. And suddenly remembered where she had seen him. He was the man she’d nearly collided with weeks ago, while fleeing Michael at the Willoughby Ball.
And then she realized where she’d heard the name before! Lord Hawthorne. The Earl of Hawthorne was the man who’d hijacked Michael’s carriage!
This was not about her at all.
Lord Hawthorne was Michael’s political enemy. He would do anything to discredit him. He’d proven this already, earlier this spring. She’d found him familiar because he had been near the gazebo when Michael had kissed her. She’d nearly runheadlong into him when she’d fled. What did he know? What was he up to?
Lilly’s eyes darted around the ballroom. Michael was a mere ten feet away from her. But what could he do to help her? He danced with his betrothed. Unlike Lord Hawthorne he took long confident steps, steering his partner adeptly around the other couples. Lady Natalie, however, caught Lilly’s eyes. There must have been something alarming in her expression for, after a moment of quick conversation with her partner, Michael looked over at her as well. His eyes narrowed.
And then the earl spoke to Lilly again. “You are a more interesting lady than you would have people believe. A lady with a past always is.”
This was not good. No, not good at all.
