Chapter Fifteen #4
“I hope you will do me the honor of a dance, Lady Marianne?” Oliver asked.
Marianne giggled and gave her curtsey. He took up her dance card and scrawled his name in the appropriate place.
She smiled then and Lisbeth knew that yes, stunning was exactly what she would be when she had grown a little more in confidence.
Lady Marianne was her not so long ago. She too had been young, eager, and hopeful of a good match. All the while she had been overwhelmed by all the men who had fought for her attention.
Nathaniel had seemed like a god to her then.
Tall, dark, and handsome with an air of power about him that Lisbeth had found intoxicating.
She had been blind to his faults, if he had shown them at all, in those few short weeks he had courted her.
He had been nothing but the utmost gentleman.
He did not even kiss her until she had accepted his proposal.
After that his attentions had waned dramatically.
He had what he wanted, her dowry. Why put in any more effort than was necessary?
She had told herself it was because he was a busy man and she had much to do anyway planning the wedding.
She should have seen the signs, but in her innocence she had not known what to look for.
She hoped for a very different result for Lady Marianne.
*
The ball was progressing well and soon Lord Anthony was bowing over Lisbeth’s hand. She caught Oliver giving his friend a narrowed look of warning. She tried to put them both at ease.
“Do stop frowning, Bellamy. I assure you, I shall bring Lord Anthony back to you without any broken toes.”
“It is not his toes I am worried about.”
“Do not listen to him, Lord Anthony,” she said, as she took his arm.
“I rarely do, Lady Blackhurst,” he replied with a smile.
They had just completed the first set when Lord Anthony spoke. “Lady Blackhurst, I must admit that anybody who can put up with Bellamy for more than an hour has my undying admiration.”
“Thank you, Lord Anthony. I agree that he can be most vexing at times, but he has charmed his way into my affection.”
“Yes, it is most annoying how he does that.” They parted as they turned and skipped to the other end of the line.
“I know you have questions for me,” she said when they were again opposite each other.
“I do. Some you may think ungentlemanly of me to ask.”
He was watching her reaction, perhaps expecting her to swoon from guilt or blurt out a confession. “Will you ask them anyway, Lord Anthony?”
He smiled. “With so many ears about it would be indelicate of me to do so. However, I am concerned.”
“About whether or not I killed my husband or whether or not I would repeat such an act with your friend?”
If he was shocked by her boldness, he did not react. They moved through a few more sets before he spoke again. “I do not care about your dead husband and Bellamy can look after himself. He is no easy mark. Are you aware that Bellamy’s brother invested with your husband?”
“I am aware.”
“Have you told him this?”
“He has asked me what he wanted to know about his brother and the speculation. I have answered his questions.”
“Have you told him about your involvement in the speculation?”
“I am afraid you will find the answer very dull indeed, for I had nothing to do with the speculation, nor do I know why my husband left the majority of his fortune to me.”
His light eyes seemed to scan over her features. “You must admit it looks unfavorable.”
“I have not touched a sovereign of the money from that speculation. We can make an appointment with my banker tomorrow if you wish to see proof.”
He let his eyebrow raise a little. “Why not?”
“Why not? Because it is not mine. Legally it is of course but morally I am stuck in a dilemma. Any businessman would say that the investors were foolish to trust my husband and demand no paperwork and therefore do not deserve compensation. This is also what my solicitors told me at the time. My husband’s solicitors have spent many months looking for documents, anything really that would help us find out the particulars of the speculation, but it appears no one has any. ”
“I know. I asked them.”
It was her turn to raise her brow in surprise. “Then why would you ask me?”
He smiled then with a slightly sheepish look in his eye. “You can tell much from asking the same question to many.”
“So you can,” she replied. You can also form a picture of someone from how they answer those questions. I wonder what picture you have formed of me, Lord Anthony?
The smile left his face then. “I do not want to appear rude, but Bellamy is my friend,” he began.
“He is mine also,” she responded.
“I do not like my friends used and ill-treated, Lady Blackhurst, so please tread carefully on his heart.”
“Then we are in accord, Lord Anthony.”
The dance ended and Ashton kissed her hand before escorting her back to Bellamy’s side.
“Thank you, Lady Blackhurst, for a very… enlightening dance. Bellamy, I have returned her to you, all toes intact,” Ashton said before taking his leave of them.
She smiled for Bellamy’s benefit but wondered if she had just made a friend or an enemy of Lord Anthony Ashton.
*
Oliver had stunned her earlier by putting his name against the waltz. Did this mean he was going to accept the wager?
He had done his duty by Lady Marianne and had even danced with the dowager. It felt strange without him by her side. She was so used to his eternal presence.
“Lady Blackhurst, come sit by us,” called Tony’s sister-in-law, Anna, Lady Epping. Lisbeth could hardly decline so she sat in a chair by the two women.
“Gabrielle is finding this evening very tiring and is anxious, but she will not leave Lady Marianne’s big night,” Anna explained.
“Lady Marianne is doing well, don’t you think?” Gabrielle asked, patting her belly and looking towards the dance floor where Lady Marianne was dancing with a young man. Lisbeth glanced away quickly from her babe-swollen abdomen and looked towards the dance floor.
“She is doing exceptionally well,” Lisbeth agreed. “She has been a great success. It will be a great relief to her mother.”
“Yes, although she would be more relieved to have Ashton and Warrington married off too,” said Gabrielle.
“Oh, I had not realized that Lord Warrington was not married.” Her gaze went to the tall duke standing beside his mother and looking completely bored.
“Widowed,” said Anna. “A long time ago now.”
“Poor Harlow is starting to get worried that he may stay the heir and actually inherit,” added Gabrielle.
“He does not wish to inherit?” Lisbeth asked.
“Goodness, no. Harlow is an outdoorsman. He sees how many hours Warrington puts in, sees how it consumes him, and wants to run for the hills.”
Anna frowned a little. “Warrington does not seem inclined to marry again, even though his mother is very persistent in her persuasion.”
Lisbeth sensed that Anna did not approve of the dowager’s methods of… persuasion.
“I am sure when the right woman comes along he will fall. I hazard to say that it would take a great and consuming love to change him.” Gabrielle caressed her belly and looked towards her husband who was in a group of men talking.
He glanced over, as if sensing her gaze, concern etched on his face.
Gabrielle shook her head when he went to leave the group and return to her.
“I take it yours was a great and consuming love match?” Lisbeth asked.
“Yes, although it did not start off that way.”
“She hated him,” Anna put in.
“I did not hate him. I merely disliked him with a passion,” Gabrielle qualified.
“Ah, here is Bellamy come to claim his dance,” Anna announced with a smile for Lisbeth. “I see something special between you two as well. Oh, it’s no use trying to say otherwise. I’m very good at these sorts of things.”
Lisbeth didn’t get to answer and really she was relieved. For, what to say? She wasn’t sure what she and Bellamy shared right now, only that she was enjoying it for what it was. She didn’t want to think about tomorrow. Not yet.