Frederica’s smile was wry. “I believe that might have been his intention. However, by the time he had me secured – or so he believed – in that little cottage, he had become convinced that he did not need to make me his wife. All he had to do was use my presence with him to manipulate Lord Hampshire into giving him what he desired – namely, money, land, and standing.”
Nora let her lips curve. “You convinced him to push away the idea of him taking you as a wife. That was very well done, Frederica.”
The lady let out a broken laugh, her eyes still glistening with tears. “Strangely, my tears turned to a steadiness that I did not know I possessed. My fear turned to determination, telling myself that I had to find a way to escape him. My father had done so much to protect me; I did not want to have all of his endeavours fail. Thus, I used as many harsh words as I could, telling him all that I would be to him as his wife, which, it seemed, did all that I had anticipated.”
“And then you escaped and returned to the safety of London,” Lord Hampshire said, his voice filled with pride. “You are safe now, Frederica. I am sure that – ”
“But I am not.” Frederica clasped her hands tightly in her lap, her gaze darting from one face to the next. “Rathbone is still in London, I am sure of it. He will try all the harder to garner what he believes he is owed. What then? What are we to do?”
Nora pressed her lips together, looking from Frederica to Lord Hampshire. Thus far, Frederica had not spoken of ending her engagement to Hampshire so that Nora might take herplace. Now, seeing the lady’s dread concern, she feared that she might still cling to him.
19
“Iwill throw an engagement ball.” Lord Hampshire stated, a smile spreading across his face that seemed quite incongruous given the conversation. “I will announce it this very evening and will hold it within a few days. I am quite sure that Rathbone will be unable to stay away and will make some ill-fated attempt to force my hand in some way.”
Nora’s throat constricted, her pulse loud in her ears as she looked to Lord Hampshire, not understanding his smile nor his talk of throwing an engagement ball. Frederica was still in half mourning and surely would not be expected to attend a ball! Besides that, an engagement ball would declare to the ton that the marriage was certain to take place, that there would be nothing to hold it back any longer. What did that mean for their happiness? Was he setting it all aside?
“It is certainly an idea, but it does carry danger with it,” Lord Broadford said, slowly, his brow furrowing. “Are you quite certain it will keep Frederica safe?”
Lord Hampshire sat forward in his chair and looked directly back at Frederica. “I would not endanger Frederica again, for she is my responsibility. But nor do I intend to have her at theball.” His gaze shifted towards Nora, and the breath left her body. “Frederica, I want to marry Nora. You know that very well indeed, and whilst I can understand that fear still threatens you, I beg of you not to allow it to steal away happiness from all of us.”
Tears began to burn in the back of Nora’s eyes, her fingers pressing to her lips as all eyes turned to Frederica.
“I – I am too afraid to be without you,” she whispered, her cheeks damp, her handkerchief seeming to lie forgotten on her lap. “What if Rathbone succeeds? What if all that my father fought for comes to naught?”
“It will not,” Hampshire said firmly. “You can trust me, Frederica. You will be kept safe.”
“And you will have your own chance at happiness, will you not?” Nora said, as Frederica looked towards her, a faint hint of colour in her cheeks. “I know that Lord Dumfries is interested in your company.”
Frederica immediately looked down at her hands.
“There is no shame in it,” Nora continued, gently. “Can you not see the future you might have, Frederica? Do not give in to fear. Do not let it steal what might be a wonderful, joyous, contented future from you. Rathbone has already taken so much. Do not give him any more.”
There was a long, painful silence. Frederica continued to gaze down at her hands. Nora could only gaze at her, unable to look at Lord Hampshire for fear that her heart would explode with both longing and worry. She swallowed hard and let out a long, slow breath as the silence grew heavier still.
“Very well.”
The words came out so faintly, Nora wondered if she had imagined them. Her breath came out in one huge breath, seeing how Frederica had finally lifted her head, her eyes turning first to Hampshire.
“I release you from our bond, Hampshire.” The words were a roar to Nora’s ears, joy and relief crashing through her in a single, dizzying wave.
“I will pursue my own happiness,” Frederica continued, her voice wobbling but her chin tilted with a fragile resolve. “I thank you, Nora, for all of your encouragements. You have spoken honestly to me about your love for Hampshire and have pressed me to think upon what I, too, might experience, if I had the courage.”
“And you do have the courage,” Nora breathed, as Frederica let out a quiet laugh, her fingers twisting the handkerchief again.
“If I were truly brave, then I would not still fear what is to come.”
Nora shook her head, still hardly daring to believe she had been granted her heart’s desire. “Courage does not mean that fear fades entirely,” she said, softly. “Courage is the determination to stand against it, no matter what it might threaten.” Tears burned in her eyes as she smiled at Frederica. “I thank you, Frederica, for what you have given us. I do not know how else to express the depths of gratitude within my heart, but know that all of my being is filled with gratitude.”
“As is mine.” Lord Hampshire finally caught Nora’s gaze, and it was all she could do not to rise from her seat and rush towards him, wanting to throw her arms about him and let him hold her tightly in his embrace, free now from all fear and doubt.
“We will act together to make certain you are safe, Frederica.” Lord Broadford spoke into the quiet, forcing Nora’s attention away from Lord Hampshire.
“Nothing more will be taken from you; you can be assured of that.”
“Indeed,” Nora agreed, softly. “The darkness has wrapped about you for too long, Frederica – has wrapped around us all. But now, finally, it is beginning to dissipate.”
Lord Hampshire nodded, his smile warm. “And soon, it will be nothing more than a distant memory.”
