It was not a thought that David had ever had. He had accepted his uncle’s word without pause.
But what if he had been wrong?
“I had never thought to question it,” he admitted, as the colour returned to her face. “My uncle was so furious in his convictions, I believed it all to be just as he had said.” With a sense of hope beginning to press into his senses, David drew in a deep breath. “I will go to speak with my solicitors. I will have them look at the will and at the codicils with the intention of having it read very soon indeed.” For a moment, he wondered what Frederica might say to this and, imagining the shock in her expression, felt a heavy weight sinking into his heart.
“I would still be responsible for Frederica, however.”
“But that does not mean you will have to wed her,” Lady Nora whispered, fresh tears in her eyes but a light smile on her face. “There may be a flickering hope here yet.”
“A small hope,” he said, as gently as he could. “But yes, I suppose that there is.”
10
“Must you be so agitated, Nora?”
Nora glanced back at her mother as the carriage made its way to Hyde Park for the fashionable hour. “Forgive me, Mama. I did not realize that I was fidgeting.”
Her mother sighed but then smiled, waving a vague hand in Nora’s direction. “It is quite all right. I am sure you are anticipating all the delights this afternoon will bring. Hyde Park can be too much of a crush for someone such as I, but you and your sister will be able to step out and enjoy the company of whomever you wish!”
Nora glanced towards Louisa, who had her head turned towards the window. “I might wonder if Lord Hawkley will be present,” she said, as Louisa’s head shot towards her, making Nora chuckle.
“You are interested in his company, yes?”
“He is a kind and generous fellow,” Louisa replied, her voice steady but her eyes slightly narrowed as if she was fully aware of what Nora was suggesting. “I think well of him, yes.”
“And you must think him very handsome also,” Nora replied, as Louisa’s cheeks began to flush red. “I have noticed him paying you some particular attentions of late, Louisa. He has come to call at least three times this last fortnight and – ”
“It means nothing unless he asks to court me,” Louisa interrupted, waving her hand as if Nora were discussing a disagreeable subject. “I might hope that such a thing will occur, but as yet, it has not.”
Lady Somerset smiled gently. “Do not rush him, Louisa. It will come, I am sure. He is, as Nora has suggested, very interested in your company, and perhaps he is considering what is to come next. You might even find yourself engaged within a month, for once a gentleman decides to wed, he is very rarely turned from it.”
This made Louisa beam, her eyes shining whilst Nora’s heart crumpled. Her engagement had ended before it had even begun, for Lord Hampshire had been one of the rare few who had turned away from it.
Although that was not his doing, she reminded herself, her heart slowly began to pull away from the pain that had been so quickly inflicted upon it. He loves me still, as I love him.
“Are you going to step out?” Lady Somerset reached to tap Nora on the knee, startling her out of her thoughts. “Are you already imagining who it is you will speak with this afternoon?”
Nora smiled back at her mother, a trifle embarrassed at having been found so distracted. “Forgive me, Mama, I was quite lost in thought. You say that you do not want to join us?”
Lady Somerset shook her head. “I am quite content to sit in the carriage and have my acquaintances come to speak with me here. If you and Louisa step out, I will be well able to see you both so long as you stay nearby.” Her eyes warmed. “Besides, you will be able to have all manner of private conversation without me, which I am quite sure you are eager for.”
Louisa laughed and pressed her mother’s hand. “You know us very well, it seems,” she responded, before rising to make her way out of the carriage. “Come, Nora.”
Following at once, Nora stepped out into the sunshine, glad that her bonnet hid her face from the rays. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust, only to see a familiar figure striding towards her. Lord Hampshire’s gaze was fixed on her, and Nora’s breath swept into her chest and held there, unable to take a single step forward. Was he truly coming to speak with her in such an obvious fashion? And for what purpose? Were they not meant to be staying away from one another?
“Lady Nora.” Lord Hampshire bowed quickly, then came closer as his eyes searched hers.
“I must know, did you say that the gentleman who spoke to Frederica was short in his stature?”
Her throat worked, and then she nodded. “Yes, that is so. He was stocky, with brown hair. That is all that I remember.”
Lord Hampshire pressed out a breath between his teeth, his hands going to his waist for a moment as he looked away, his brow furrowing. “It is most improper to ask you such a thing, Lady Nora, especially when you have no apparent chaperone, but might you be able to walk with me for a few minutes?”
Nora’s eyes flared, a rush of heat rising to her throat as longing swept through her like a wave crashing onto the shore. “Walk with you, Lord Hampshire?”
“I believe that the man in question is present, and I must know for certain if it is the same man,” he said, urgently. “Frederica will say nothing to me. She has refused to speak of it, telling me that there is nothing for me to be uneasy over.”
“But you are, all the same,” Nora replied, as he nodded, fervour burning hot in his eyes. “You fear that because she will not speak to you of it, there is, in fact, something of concern there?”
