Chapter 6
Nathaniel took off his hat as he stepped into the bookshop, giving a nod to the proprietor who welcomed him with a word and a gesture towards the new books he had placed near the entrance to his shop.
With a silent reminder to himself to purchase one of them before he took his leave, Nathaniel began to meander slowly around the bookshop, making it appear as if he were looking idly at the books on offer whilst, in reality, he was searching for a far more interesting quarry.
His note to Miss Fairleigh the previous day had suggested that, whilst he was still eager to do all he could to assist her in her search for the truth, they ought not to be seen together in public for fear of what society would say.
She, in turn, had suggested that they meet here in Stroudwater Bookshop, perhaps aware that the vast space it offered would be well able to hide them from prying eyes.
Nathaniel had thought it an excellent notion but had not considered how he would feel in coming to search for her.
"Foolishness," he muttered to himself, walking to another part of the bookshop.
To have such anticipation in his heart in looking for the lady in question was ridiculous, for this was not some game he was playing.
There was no hint of a liaison between them and yet the way his attention moved toward her before he had decided to go — his feet already carrying him — suggested an anticipation that he could not explain.
Frowning hard, as if that would drive his thoughts away, he moved slowly, hearing the soft tick of a clock near him.
The scent of old paper and polished wood filled his nostrils, bringing a sense of calm that he knew he would not find anywhere else.
Glancing out of the window to his left, Nathaniel took in the busy London street and then turned his steps in the opposite direction.
She would not have been waiting for him near a large window for fear of being seen, he was sure of that.
He clasped his hands behind his back, his right thumb pressing into his palm, and kept walking.
There.
Relief crowded him as he saw a young lady with fair hair standing with a book in her hands, her head bowed over it.
Her brow was gently furrowed as if something she was reading was perplexing her, and Nathaniel, rather than interrupt her, paused.
He allowed his gaze to linger for a few moments, studying the lady.
She was small in stature but, he had come to realize, not small in character.
Despite all she had endured thus far — and that with a father who was already impoverished and insensible — she had been willing to share more with him about her inheritance, offering him a trust that he certainly did not feel he had earned.
That had been a moment when things had altered between them, when he had felt a shift in their connection.
It had been tentative, uncertain and confusing until the moment she had shared the truth with him about her inheritance and the conditions attached — until the moment he had realized she was genuinely just as confused, hurt and upset as he.
They were together in their purpose now, having only one ambition in mind, one aim for them to achieve.
And that is why I am here, he told himself, stepping forward and pulling his gaze away from her. Standing here watching her is only wasting time.
"Miss Fairleigh."
Her head lifted in an instant, her eyes rounding only for a small smile to touch the edges of her lips. "Lord Ashcombe. Good afternoon."
He bowed, then looked about him. "Your aunt?"
"Is above us." Turning, Miss Fairleigh gestured to the balcony on the other side of the shop, where yet more books were stored, ready for patrons to peruse.
"She will keep watch that way but wanted to grant us the privacy you requested.
" Her smile faded, her blue eyes searching his. "Have you learned something?"
Nathaniel shook his head, catching how her shoulders slumped lightly at the news.
"No, I am afraid not — though that, I suppose, is beneficial in its own way.
I spoke to a few relations late last evening, at Lord Newbank's ball.
You were not present, I think?" Eyeing her, he noted a flush touching the lady's cheeks, saw how her gaze pulled away and berated himself for his own lack of consideration.
"That invitation was rescinded," she said, her gaze dropping to the floor, her hands clasped in front of her. "I had every intention of attending but — "
"Most unfair," Nathaniel interrupted firmly. "You have done nothing wrong, and there should be no dismissal from the ton. I am sorry you are being forced to endure such trials, Miss Fairleigh."
When she smiled — albeit briefly — it sent such a warmth cascading over Nathaniel, it was as if he had stepped out from a dark and dingy house into the vivid, bright sunshine that brought life back to his bones.
Turning his head away, he clasped his hands behind his back, his thumb pressing hard into his palm, reminding himself of the purpose for which they had now met.
"I spoke to some relations, and they knew of no connection between your family and ours.
One of them — a Lord Harper — is a gentleman who has great interest in family lines and the like, so his word can be trusted. "
Miss Fairleigh let out a sigh but then set her shoulders. "I suppose that is something, as you have said. To be certain that there is no familial connection, however small, is a good thing. It means that it is not the connection that Lady Warrington was thinking of."
"Precisely."
"So what do you think I should do next?" Looking up at him, Miss Fairleigh bit her lip, then frowned. "I confess that I feel quite lost as to what path I ought to take next. If we are not related in any way, then what connection could there possibly be?"
Nathaniel paused, looking up to where Lady Newark stood watch over the two of them. "Your aunt knows of no connection?"
Miss Fairleigh shook her head.
"And your father?"
Miss Fairleigh's eyes flashed, and her jaw tightened perceptibly, making Nathaniel's eyebrows lift. He had not expected such a strong reaction to that particular suggestion.
"My father is not to know of this," she stated unequivocally.
"My aunt and I both agree that for him to be informed of it would bring nothing but trouble.
" A redness began to brush into her cheeks as she held her head high, as if she were trying to battle against the embarrassment that begged her to lower her head and hide herself away.
"I am well aware that whilst the ton speak poorly of me at present because of this inheritance, there is also truth in what they say of my father. "
Nathaniel, remembering how sharply his brother had spoken on the day of the will reading, nodded slowly.
"I have not heard of significance," he said honestly.
"Only that there are debts and a lack of good thinking when it comes to his coin.
" Seeing her drop her head, Nathaniel shut his eyes for a moment, berating himself for not choosing his words with any great care.
"Forgive me, Miss Fairleigh. I did not mean to injure you. "
"You did not." With a clear effort, she lifted her head and looked back at him, although her gaze did not linger.
"It is the truth, that is all. There is shame here, yes, and I cannot hide from that.
All that is said of my father is true; he has a great many debts and has no interest in doing what he can to preserve the rest of his fortune — however little of it remains.
" Her smile grew sad. "I think even my dowry is gone. "
The urge to reach out to her, to take her hand and press it, to offer her some sort of comfort — even though very little could be offered her — was so great, Nathaniel found his feet shifting towards her, closing the space between them.
It was only when her eyes rounded that he paused, keeping his hands clasped behind him rather than reaching out to her as he wanted.
He frowned, trying to center his thoughts on their present circumstances rather than on Miss Fairleigh herself. "And your memory of that first meeting with Lady Warrington?" he asked, as she nodded, her color still heightened. "Has anything more returned to you?"
Miss Fairleigh blinked. "Some of it, I think — more than I had expected, though not yet the name we spoke of."
"Do you remember when it was?"
"Some years ago," she said. "I was only a child. My mother had died not long before, and it was only my father and I remaining at home."
His heart softened with sympathy. "I am sorry to hear that."
Her smile was sorrowful, her eyes downcast. "I thank you, Lord Ashcombe.
At times, I wonder what my life would have been like, had she lived.
I do not know if my father would have fallen into debt in the way he has done, had her presence been an abiding, steady light in his life.
" Her lashes grew damp as she blinked quickly, and he found he could not look away from her face.
He clasped his hands tighter behind his back, his thumb digging into his palm, reminded of just how harsh he had been when he had first spoken to her, when he had told her outright that he did not believe what she told him.
How foolish he had been! How arrogant and prideful he must have appeared!
"I will find out who it was that introduced me to Lady Warrington.
" Miss Fairleigh sniffed but then smiled, looking up at him with eyes that were clear, holding no hint of tears.
"The name will return to me, I am sure of it, if I only continue as I have begun.
" Her smile slipped. "I confess I have been quite overwhelmed, both with the inheritance and the clause within it, but also by the change in society's view of me.
I do not much like being pushed aside, although I was never considered a favorite amongst the ton. "