Chapter 18 #2
Miss Lewis shook her head. “I did not do anything remarkable. Not really. Augusta is still the same person as before I arrived.”
“Yes, but she is making a concerted effort to restrain her wild tendencies—a revolutionary idea for her.”
She glanced at her fingernails. “Companionship can do that for a person.”
That was not the response I had expected. “How so?”
She glanced behind her into the drawing room and lowered her voice.
“Augusta has much to work on with her studies, but I believe her behavior problems stemmed from loneliness. Her kind of personality thrives on relationships with others. All she needed was a friend—someone who could see the best in her, listen to her, and rally her.”
I thought of the Lovelace sisters. They were Augusta’s closest friends, but their company was limited. How had I not seen Augusta’s loneliness? Her other struggles had been so loud that I had missed the most significant one.
“You sound like you have a great deal of experience on this subject.”
Miss Lewis clasped her hands together, her eyes trailing down the corridor and back to mine. “My own, uh, circle of friends is not large. I could not call us particularly close.”
“And beaus?” I cringed inwardly over the question that had tumbled out of my mouth, but I had wondered far too much about the source of her daydreams.
“None worth speaking of.” She folded her arms and rubbed her hands against them as if she was cold. “I have learned to be content with my own company.”
Her blush returned, but this one was not because of anything flirtatious I had said, and for that reason, I could not relish in the way it enhanced her complexion.
“You must forgive us then,” I said, taking a step toward her.
“Because now that you are at Rosemont, you aren’t likely to have much time to yourself. ”
A small smile appeared. “I don’t mind.”
I raised a brow, my thoughts going where they should not. She did not mind Augusta’s company . . . but what about mine?
My hand seemed to recognize it was holding something. The letter. My savior. The woman I had been searching for—the one I should be thinking about at this moment. “Please, don’t let me keep you,” I said, motioning to the drawing room. “I wouldn’t want you to—”
“To neglect my duties,” she finished.
I squinted at her. “No, that wasn’t what I was going to say.
” I had not been very nice to Miss Lewis, had I?
How could I have ever imagined her to be a treasure hunter?
Even a spy seemed unlikely. Still, I could not explain away a few oddities about her.
I tried to believe that she had simply suffered greatly when her family had lost their fortune, and she was forced to work for a living.
Perhaps these friends and beaus—who were of no consequence to her now—had forsaken her.
Despite my persistent wondering about her history, I could apologize for my behavior.
“Forgive me, Miss Lewis. Your conduct here has been without reproach.”
She studied me, as if searching for the truth in my features. “Before I can accept your apology, I must know what I have done to earn your suspicion. You have had many governesses pass through these walls. Were they all lazy or inefficient in their duties? Is that why you assume I am the same?”
I must’ve done a number on her if she could not believe my apology.
I tried again. “I’m afraid I can be overly careful with who I trust. It’s not because of the other governesses.
They were adequate enough. It’s for reasons unrelated that I would rather not delve into at the moment.
” I folded my own arms, awkwardly mirroring her.
“Please, do not take to heart anything I might have said or done that would make you feel unwanted here.” Apologies had never been my strong suit.
I waited, wondering if she would accept it.
“I suppose you did save my life. The least I could do is forgive you for not noticing my fine qualities straightaway.”
I was not prepared for her sudden wit and the way it cut through the tension between us. Laughing, I relaxed my arms. “Remind me again what those fine qualities are?”
She gave me a glare that would rival Augusta’s. “I presented them to you my first day here. If you recall, I am well-read, speak three languages, and can play several instruments. Shall I continue?”
I raised my brow. “No need. I am most impressed.”
She gave a knowing smile. “At the top of that list might be the many ways I can put Lord Camden in his place.”
I smirked and set my hand on the wall beside her, unintentionally bringing myself closer to her. “Really? And what place would that be?”
“I find you are best served acting as a boat for damsels in distress.”
I scoffed. “My place is in the lake?”
“I would call it a large pond.”
I tried to hold it back, but a hearty laugh escaped. There was a sparkle of camaraderie in her eyes that I relished. Her friendship had to be earned, and she was slowly accepting me. Or perhaps it was the other way around. Either way, I quite enjoyed conversing with her.
“Miss Lewis, we need you!” Augusta called from inside the drawing room.
"Ah," I said, this time leaning closer on purpose. "It appears you've been forced to choose between my company and my sister's. While you undoubtedly prefer mine—thanks to my boat-like qualities—I must not let you risk your position. You'd better go."
The smallest smile formed on her lips before she darted away.
I stared after her. I had not expected such an exchange, yet I believed she had enjoyed our banter as much as I had. Tapping my letter against my hand, I walked backward a few steps. Would my rescuer blush as sweet as Miss Lewis, and would her temper be so easily riled?
For the first time, another woman had captured my complete attention. It was difficult to think about anyone other than Miss Lewis.