“I was,” Jonathan admitted, “but I was informed that their father was absent from London and I have always presumed that a gentleman does not speak of his financial affairs to his children – especially to his daughters. Besides that, it was a great shame to him, so why would he then go on to share his shame with his family?”
“It is a reasonable consideration,” Lady Ellen agreed. “But given the circumstances, might we now think that someone there could be involved in this whole affair, particularly given their connection to Lord Blackwood?”
Again, silence came over them all as they each thought, hard. The difficulty was, Jonathan considered, that there was no clear path ahead. They might very well suspect that Lady Evelina was involved in some way, but there was no evidence to prove it – and he could not simply tell her all of his suspicions and then expect her to admit to it all, if it were true!
“Look.” Lord Kettering nudged him, and Jonathan lifted his gaze to where his friend gestured. “Is that not Lady Evelina, standing with her sister and her cousin?”
Jonathan nodded.
“And is she not in company with Lord Blackwood?” Lord Kettering pressed, as Jonathan’s eyebrows lifted. “Why do you not take Lady Susanna with you and go to introduce her to Lord Blackwood. I will take Lady Ellen and stand a short distance away, but we can keep our attention fixed on Lady Evelina. If you can bring the conversationaround to the letter and Lord Blackwood’s warnings, then it might prove to us one way or another whether she was involved.”
Looking to Lady Susanna, Jonathan was about to ask her if she agreed with this, only for her to nod fervently. With a smile, he took her hand for a moment, pressed it, and then set it again on his arm before meandering over in the direction of Lord Blackwood. The time had come for him to set about uncovering the truth.
“Lord Blackwood!” he cried, drawing the attention of the ladies present to their uncle. “Good evening to you! I hope you have heard my news?”
Lord Blackwood’s thick eyebrows lifted. “I have not, Lord Lancashire, but given the broad smile on your face and the beauty of the young lady on your arm, I must presume that you have found some happiness together?”
Jonathan grinned. “Indeed, I have. The Duke of Somerset has only today accepted my request to court his daughter.” When he looked at Lady Susanna, the blush in her cheeks was genuine enough, adding to her beautiful, gentle smile that pressed to her lips. “I am a gentleman overwhelmed with happiness, I confess it.”
“I see.” Lord Blackwood’s moustache twitched, but Jonathan could not tell if the gentleman was smiling, given the weight of it. “I did hear another rumor about you, Lord Lancashire, but –”
“Oh, no, uncle!” Lady Theresa spoke quickly, her face paling as she waved one hand in his direction as if she wanted to push his words away through the wind. “That was nothing of significance, and indeed, I do not know where such things came from!”
Lady Evelina sniffed but said nothing, turning her face away from Jonathan, although whether that was of significance, Jonathan did not know.
“I am delighted to see you so happy, Lady Susanna.” Lady Honora spoke warmly and, to Jonathan’s mind, with sincerity. “I hope that this courtship leads you to a joyous future.”
“I am hopeful of the very same,” Jonathan said, seeing his way into the conversation about the letters. “It has been some time in coming, I confess, for last Season my intention was to pursue Lady Susanna, but I was prevented from doing so.”
Lady Honora’s eyes widened a little. “Oh?”
Hesitating, Jonathan considered whether he should be entirely honest or not, choosing, in the end, to speak just as he wished. Lady Theresa was known for her bold manner, and mayhap now, it was time for him to do the same. “I have already spoken to your uncle of this matter, Lady Honora, so it will not come as a surprise to him to hear this, but I received a letter which I believed was penned by his hand. It cautioned me, made me hold back from Lady Susanna, and because it was written by someone I believed to be of such high standing in society – and indeed, because I believed it a kindness – I chose to heed the expressed concerns and stay back from the lady.”
“Goodness.” Lady Honora put one hand to her heart, and Jonathan noticed how Lady Theresa’s eyes were now fixed on his own, her expression one of surprise. Lady Evelina, on the other hand, was still looking away, her hands clasped lightly in front of her.
“I was only informed of this letter a few weeks ago,” Lord Blackwood interjected. “I was able to reassure Lord Lancashire that I had never penned any such letter to him, and I must admit to being somewhat perturbed that he had received this falsehood!” His shoulderslifted and then dropped. “It was last Season the letter was received, however, so I could do nothing about it.”
“I am only grateful to know that there was no truth in it all,” Jonathan said, fervently. “Whoever wrote that letter clearly did not want me to consider Lady Susanna and, for their own dark purposes, sought to break apart our happiness.” His chin lifted, his shoulders going back. “How glad I am that they have failed and failed so well.”
Was it just his mind, or did Lady Evelina flinch? It was barely perceptible — no more than a tightening around the eyes, a slight drawing-in of her shoulders — but Jonathan had been watching her closely, and he was almost certain he had seen it. She recovered in an instant, her expression smoothing back to its customary cool composure, but the momentary crack had been enough.
“Not only has their ruse been uncovered, but they have been unable to prevent me and Lady Susanna from coming back together again,” he finished, as Lord Blackwood nodded. “I do not think that anything could steal my happiness away now.”
“Might I ask you something, Lord Lancashire?”
Jonathan, looking in Lady Theresa’s direction, nodded. “But of course.”
“What made you believe that the letters were from my uncle?”
“Why, they had his seal.” It was not Jonathan who spoke but Lady Susanna, though she said these words with a great heaviness in her voice and accompanying it with a shake of her head. “Whoever it was that wrote that letter, they found a way to use your uncle’s seal so that Lord Lancashire would believe it was written by him. Is that not truly dreadful?”
Lady Theresa put one hand to her heart as Lady Evelina nodded, mutely. “It is quite dreadful.” Her hand fell back toher side as she smiled. “But it is good now that you are so happy. I am glad that this scheme, this dark and deceitful scheme, has been uncovered.”
Lady Evelina smiled tightly. “As am I. I must beg your pardon, however, for I must go to Lord Devonshire, since we are to dance.”
“Ah, and I am to dance as well!” Jonathan exclaimed, using this as an excellent excuse to step away from the conversation. “It is very good to see you again, Lord Blackwood. As I have said, I am delighted that this unhappiness and confusion are now behind us.”
“As am I.” The gentleman bowed his head. “Thank you, Lord Lancashire.”
