Chapter 8 #2
“Lady Florence, I do hope that you will permit me to speak with you for a moment.”
Florence, who had been twining her fingers together in an effort to keep herself calm, looked straight into the eyes of Lady Lanark. “Good evening. Of course, I would be glad to speak with you.”
With a smile, the young lady reached out and pressed Florence's hand.
“I will be blunt. I came to speak with you about what happened at the ball when my brother refused to acknowledge that he had injured you. It was not my place, perhaps, to become involved in that, but I could not allow him to tell untruths. I hope that you are quite all right.”
“My mother told me that you came to speak with her about what had happened. I do not know why you did, but I must tell you how grateful I am. There was more to the situation than you might have otherwise been aware.” She did not say anything else, seeing Lady Lanark smile in a way that spoke of understanding.
Licking her lips, she hesitated and then dropped her head.
“I do hope that your brother is not particularly angry with all that took place.”
A laugh came from Lady Lanark., and Florence lifted her head, a little surprised. “My dear Lady Florence, you are very considerate indeed. My brother is the one who has wronged you, and yet here you are, concerned about him. That speaks very well of your character.”
A little nonplussed, for she had not expected such compliments. Florence managed to smile. “You are very kind.”
Lady Lanark smiled back at her. “Not at all. I must say I am very sorry that my brother did not speak honestly.” Her smile faded. “I am sure he will want to speak to you himself.”
“This evening?” It felt as if someone had come to stand behind her and was now gripping her chest tightly from behind. “He is here this evening?”
Lady Lanark nodded but did not smile. “Yes, he is. As I have said, I am sure that he does wish to speak with you this evening, although you do not need to speak with him if you do not wish it. I do not want you to feel at all anxious. I can speak to my brother and tell him that you do not want his company this evening.”
Florence quickly shook her head, not wanting Lady Lanark to think that she was in any way disconcerted.
She had already mortified herself on more than one occasion when it came to her nervousness, and this was not going to be an opportunity for further incidents.
“I am sure I will be able to speak with him.” A tremor ran through her frame as she said those words, but she forced a quick smile as Lady Lanark nodded.
“As I have said, I thank you for what you did. It saved me a great deal of strife.”
“My sincere apologies for interrupting the conversation, Lady Lanark.”
Before Florence could continue, her mother came to stand beside her.
“There are some gentlemen I should like to introduce her to,” Lady Grangemouth continued as warmth settled into Florence's cheeks. “As I am sure you can understand, it is important for Florence to make an excellent match this season.”
Lady Lanark smiled. “I quite understand. I should not like to keep Lady Florence back from such a thing.” With a smile, she glanced towards Florence. “I am sure we will speak again this evening. We are certain to become very good friends, I think.”
Florence nodded and tried to smile, but the nervousness within her body was so great she felt as if every part of her was tingling.
To be introduced to new gentlemen was nerve-racking indeed, especially when she knew that her mother hoped that every single dance this evening would be taken.
What if she did not please any of the gentlemen?
What if they all had heard of her previous mishaps and did not want to dance?
Sweat broke out on her forehead as she followed her mother across the ballroom.
No matter how hard she tried, Florence was quite sure that this would be, yet again, another failure.
“Lord Sutherland, how very good to see you this evening.” as her mother dropped into a curtsey.
Florence did the very same, looking up at the gentleman as she rose to her feet.
He was, much to her shock, a good deal older than she had anticipated.
Indeed, she would put him ages with her father, if not a little younger.
“It is good to see you also.” Lord Sutherland swept a careful eye over Florence, and she shivered involuntarily. Surely her mother had not said anything to Lord Sutherland? She would not have come to him beforehand and suggested that he might make an excellent match with Florence, would she?
“Might I present my daughter, Lady Florence?” Gesturing to Florence, Lady Grangemouth smiled warmly.
“She is the only one left of my daughter still to marry. That is why we are here this season, you understand?” The warm smile grew as Lady Grangemouth looked again to Lord Sutherland.
“I do hope it will not take her long to find a suitable match.”
Florence did not know what to do or where to look.
Her mother was speaking more overtly than she had expected and given that Lord Sutherland was standing close to some other gentleman.
Florence had no doubt that her mother had spoken deliberately so.
In her determination, however, there came a great deal of embarrassment for Florence herself.
Others would hear of how Lady Grangemouth was speaking, and soon rumors would spread through all of society.
Perhaps they would laugh at Lady Grangemouth's desperation or wonder why Florence had such an urgent need for marriage.
She dropped her head and looked down at the floor, heat behind her eyes.
Clearly her mother had very little idea as to what she was doing in speaking so.
“You have always been able to find a good match for your other daughters.” With a sniff and a hint of a smile - a smile that did not bring any warmth into his expression - he glanced at Florence and then returned his gaze to her mother. “She is permitted to dance, I presume?”
The answer came in the affirmative, and Florence closed her eyes. Surely this could not be? Surely her mother's eagerness was not so great that she would push Florence into marrying a gentleman of age with her father?
“Perhaps the waltz then?” Lord Sutherland reached out one hand. “Your dance card, Lady Florence.”
The waltz? Florence’s heart threw itself into a panicked rhythm.
There was only one reason Lord Sutherland was requesting the waltz.
It would give the impression to the ton that he was interested in forming a connection with her, which, no doubt, her mother and father would be delighted with.
She could not think of anything more dreadful!
“Florence?”
The sharpness in her mother’s voice reminded her that she had no choice but to accept. However, before she could take the dance card from her wrist and hand it unwillingly to Lord Sutherland, a voice came from her left.
“I am terribly sorry to interrupt, but the waltz belongs to me.”
Florence could not think of who would say such a thing. Lord Sutherland instantly began to bluster, but as Florence turned, her eyes shot wide. Lord Applegate was standing there, a smile on his face and a light in his eyes she had never seen before.
“It is very rude indeed for me to eavesdrop as I did.” Lord Applegate spread out both hands. “But, as I have said, I could not let Lady Florence give her waltz away when she has already promised it to me.”
Tingling ran all the way down her arms as Florence met his gaze.
She could not understand why he was doing such a thing as this.
Was it his way of making amends for what he had done by lying?
Was he trying to prove to her that he could be an upstanding gentleman?
Or mayhap he had just felt sorry for her.
“Florence, is this true?” Her mother's face had gone red. Both eyebrows were lifted in clear astonishment, but Florence nodded quickly, desperate to escape the. Requirement of dancing the waltz with Lord Sutherland. Lady Grangemouth blinked once, twice, and then looked up at Lord Sutherland.
“You must forgive me, Lord Sutherland,” she shrugged and shook her head. “I did not know that Lord Applegate had requested Florence's waltz. This is as much a surprise to me as it is to you.”
“I do apologize.” Lord Applegate did not sound in the least bit sorry, given the smile that was spreading across his face. “Lady Grangemouth, might I be permitted to take your daughter for a short round of the room? My sister and her husband can join us so that Florence is chaperoned.”
This was all the more astonishing, and when Lord Applegate offered his arm, she took it, at once grateful for the support.
She did not hear her mother's agreement, but when Lord Applegate began to walk, Florence went with him without hesitation.
Her fingers were tight on his arm, but she did not apologize for this action.
The last few minutes had been both horrifying and confusing, and she needed his strength at this present moment.
How strange it was to be walking with the very gentleman who had caused her so much upset of late – and how strange to be so grateful to him!