Chapter 6
Lily almost took a step back at the sudden appearance. Whoever the young woman was, she seemed to be highly irritated with Lily. Or perhaps it was because of whom Lily had been talking to.
“Lily Prescott,” Lily said after regaining her composure.
The young woman’s eyes flashed with something unreadable, but her expression quickly became one of excitement, and Lily was not certain if she had been seeing things.
“Oh, yes, I have heard so much about you, Miss Prescott. My name is Eleanor Everet, but please call me Eleanor. Any friend of Lord Barnard’s is a friend of mine.
” She held out her hand in a friendly gesture.
A wave of relief washed over Lily, yet she could not help but wonder who the woman was to Julian. He had not seemed attached at the ball, yet she hung on him as if they were engaged.
Greetings were exchanged, and the four of them were quickly joined by two other women and a man whom Lily recognized from the ball. The other two women were introduced to her as Catherine and Juliette Sinclair, Julian’s mother and sister, along with his dear friend, Benedict Southampton.
The name instantly rang a bell for Lily as she recalled the man whom Arabella had danced with. He seemed exactly how Arabella had described him, warm, charming, and handsome in a boyish kind of way.
“It is a pleasure to meet all of you. My mother should be along shortly as well,” Lily glanced over their shoulders at her mother, who was quickly approaching.
The look of curiosity on her face made Lily smile, but not so much as the look of surprise on Julian’s face when he looked from her Aunt Margaret to her mother. “May I introduce my mother, Alice Prescott, my aunt’s twin sister?”
A look of understanding flashed across everyone’s faces, and Lily had to stop herself from laughing at Julian’s expression.
He certainly was an interesting man, but he seemed to have his hands full with Eleanor, who desperately seemed to be battling for his attention.
Every time someone spoke to him, she seemed to want to tug on his arm, drawing his attention back to her.
Deciding to distance herself from them, Lily focused instead on Julian’s younger sister, who delighted her with every word.
“Do you enjoy such outings as this, Miss Prescott?” Juliette motioned with her hand, encompassing the entire gallery.
“I do; it is one thing that I miss about New York. The culture is very rich, even if everyone here in London is more refined.” She smiled at the lovely young woman.
“Will you be returning soon?” Eleanor interrupted, yet Lily could not decide whether she was being friendly. Her eyes reflected her smile, yet her grip remained on Julian’s arm.
Lily’s mother interjected for her, bringing a small amount of relief to the strangely tense situation. “We shall be here for the rest of the season, or until Mr. Prescott decides to join us, or calls us home.”
Julian’s gaze remained fixed on Lily, causing her to blush. A sentiment that seemed not to go unnoticed by Eleanor, who attempted to steer the conversation in a different direction.
It was not long before the older ladies broke off into a group alone, while the younger women and men remained behind.
It was not until it was too late that Lily found herself being sequestered by Eleanor, who looped her arm through Lily’s and dragged her slightly aside.
A possessive habit that she seemed to have with everyone.
“I was hoping to get you alone, Miss Pescott. Do you mind if I call you Lily?” Eleanor asked kindly.
“No, not at all.” Lily found herself stiffening despite her best efforts.
“Wonderful, then we shall address each other as Eleanor and Lily. It is a shame that I could not make it to the ball last night, but Mama was not up for taking me. Did you dance with anyone in particular?”
The question seemed odd to Lily as she quickly glanced at the viscount.
He seemed to be listening half-heartedly to the conversation around him as he kept his gaze fixed on her.
What is he thinking?
She felt her heart jolting at the intensity in his stare. While Eleanor seemed to have been enthralled by him, he did not seem to have any kind of interest in her at all, which further confused matters for Lily.
“Nobody worth mentioning,” Lily replied quickly.
Eleanor seemed to chew the inside of her cheek thoughtfully before responding again. “Well, you must allow me to point out a few of the more eligible men at the next ball. I assume you are looking for a husband?”
Lily simply smiled. “Not actively, but you know how it is with an eager mama. The prospect is never far off.” Her answer seemed to placate Eleanor somewhat as she glanced back at the viscount.
“I do understand. It is a pity that you are not already settled on someone. But then again, not everyone is as lucky as Julian and me,” she blushed slightly and made a shocked face.
“Oh, my apologies, I do forget myself, I mean the viscount. We go back so far that I find it strange to address him formally.” She smiled sweetly at him, but he did not seem to notice at all.
Tearing her gaze away from him, Lily focused on their conversation instead. “Have you been friends for long?” She attempted a gentle probing question.
“Oh yes, we grew up together. It is only natural that we would eventually be thrown together like this. Of course, the match is very much wanted by both families, especially now that Julian is Viscount Barnard.” She drew her lower lip between her teeth and glanced back at him with a dreamy look in her eyes.
“Can you not tell by the way he keeps staring at me?” She batted her lashes.
Was I mistaken?
Lily suddenly felt silly as she looked away. She had thought that he had been looking at her, and had possibly even been interested in her, but it must have all been a misunderstanding. It made sense that he would have been looking at Eleanor if they were indeed as close as she was saying.
“So, you must let me help you find a match when next we meet. It would be exciting and fun, do you not think?” Eleanor turned back to her just as Lily’s mother and aunt reappeared at her side.
Lily smiled and held her tongue before turning to her mother instead. “Mama, could we leave? I have a dreadful headache.”
Her mother nodded sympathetically. “Of course, dearest, you are looking a little pale. Shall we give our apologies and leave?”
Nodding gratefully, Lily made her excuses and greeted everyone, avoiding looking directly at the viscount just in case Eleanor got the wrong idea.
***
Her mind wandered absently beyond the four walls of the carriage as Lily stared out. She was not certain why, but she had felt a little foolish in thinking that the viscount had been attracted to her; after all, she had not wanted another man whom she found attractive.
Snippets of the conversation beside her piqued her interest as Lily listened with half an ear.
“He is quite handsome, is he not? The poor man was an officer, but he recently inherited his cousin’s title.
And I can tell you that the former viscount left the estate in quite a problematic position.
It only stands to reason that the newly titled viscount will want to marry well. ” Her aunt finished conspiratorially.
“Heavens, that could be the perfect situation for our Lily…” Her mother gasped.
Turning fully into the discussion, Lily shook her head. “I can see where this conversation is headed, and I regret to inform you both that the viscount will not be looking for a bride.”
“What on earth do you mean, dearest?” her mother asked, tilting her head to the side as the carriage rattled over a few bumps, jostling them in their seats.
They all grabbed the edges of their seats to steady themselves.
“Did you not know, Aunt Margaret, the viscount is attached to Miss Eleanor Everet; she all but told me so herself,” Lily informed them matter-of-factly.
Aunt Margaret’s brows knit together as she frowned. “No, that cannot be right. I am aware of all the matches in the ton, and Miss Everet is not engaged, nor is the viscount attached. I would have heard of the arrangement by now if it existed.”
Her mother seemed to perk up again. “That is good news then, such an arrangement could solve all of our problems. Lily can make a good match, leave her past behind, and the viscount can use her dowry to save his estate.”
“Mama, how can you say such things?” Lily complained.
Turning toward her, Lily’s mother grew serious.
“You are not a child, dearest; one must talk openly on such matters. You are both in positions to help the other, and do not discount an arranged marriage. Good things can come from such situations. You never know, you and the viscount could possibly even grow to cherish one another.” The statement caused Lily to roll her eyes.
“I do not think it necessary to marry anymore, Mama. I have left Oliver King and all of that behind me. I am quite content to remain as I am for the time being.” She sat back against the seat, hoping that her point had been made.
Her mother’s face grew more solemn as she exchanged a look with her sister.
“What is it?” Lily asked, her chest knotting with concern. A look like that could only mean trouble, and she was not in the mood to deal with any new developments.
Taking a deep breath, her mother turned to her and reached for her hand, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze.
“Lily, dearest, you may have left the matter behind you in New York, but I am afraid that the matter has not left you behind.” She glanced again at her sister, causing the pit of Lily’s stomach to churn.
“Has something happened, Mama? If so, you may tell me, I am made of sterner stuff than that. Has Oliver been spotted with yet another woman?” She felt her mother’s grip tighten on her hand.
“I am afraid that it is worse than that, dearest…” Her mother’s voice trailed off again with a heavy sigh. “Rumors of your alleged involvement in the ongoing accusations are still circulating.”
“And they are growing more and more prevalent by the day,” her aunt added, matching her sister’s grave tone of concern.
“But who would be spreading such vicious lies?” Lily’s heart began to race as she thought of all the implications that such rumors could carry for her. Treason was an offense punishable by death, and that was not something she was willing to experience because of Oliver.
Both her mother and aunt shook their heads before her mother spoke again.
“We do not know; all we know is that the rumors are circulating. And that is enough for us to concern ourselves with. Whether it is Oliver spreading the rumors or simply society speculating, we must put a stop to them at once.”
“And marrying will achieve that…” Lily sighed, feeling her shoulders rise and fall.
Her mother nodded. “You must marry, and you must marry well. A title like that of Lord Barnard’s will be able to protect you. You can claim that you knew nothing of Oliver’s schemes once you are married.”
“But I truly knew nothing of any if it!” She protested loudly, raising her voice.
Aunt Margaret chimed in again, her tone sharp yet understanding.
“And we believe you, but the rest of the world will not. Relations between Spain and America have been shaky for quite some time; we must squash these rumors before they reach the ears that truly matter. Give the gossips something substantial to chat about while you clear your name.”
Her eyes flashed with determination.
Lily could feel her hopes sinking again as she shut her eyes and shook her head. “That may very well be the case, but I do not think that the viscount is an option. Miss Everet was adamant that they are attached.”
Her aunt rolled her eyes.
“And we are adamant that you should be married. We shall have to see who is right in the end. I saw the way that Miss Everet was hanging on the poor man, and I would stake my life on the fact that Lord Barnard is not attached. He did, however, seem to take a particular liking to you. The viscount has always been a private man, but the announcement would have been made by now if the matter was serious.”
“And just because he is possibly courting the young woman, it does not mean that she will have him. Young lords are well-known to court several young women in one season until their minds are made up. There is no harm in stoking the embers of attraction to see if they will catch flame,” her mother persisted.
“Attraction?” Lily asked, regretting the question almost as soon as it had slipped out.
Her mother and aunt nodded vigorously in unison again.
“The viscount is most certainly attracted to you, Lily. We saw the way he danced with you at the ball, and how intently he was paying attention to you in front of the painting. Do you not find him attractive as well?” Her voice was tinged with curiosity as she eyed Lily quite closely.
Lily’s pulse quickened at the question. “Of course, he is an attractive man…” she said hesitantly.
But Eleanor said that he was looking at her.
Glimmers of doubt entered her mind again, but her aunt and mother did not seem to notice.
“I know, we should have them over for dinner!” Her mother completely ignored her protests and began to make plans with her aunt. “I simply adored his mother and sister.”
Lily turned her head again, gazing out the window as she left the conversation behind. It did not matter whether she agreed with her aunt and mother or not; they seemed to have made up their minds and would not be swayed.
How will he feel about this?
Her mind wandered back to their dance at the ball, their meeting on the terrace, and even the moment in the gallery. Had she been misreading the signs all along?
He had not once mentioned Miss Everet or any kind of attachments, but it did not make sense to her that Eleanor would mention the matter if it was not true. Was it simply that he was a private man, or was there more to the matter than any of them knew?
The questions began to make her head ache as the carriage rattled on toward her aunt’s home in Mayfair.
Only one thing was certain: her aunt and mother would stop at nothing until she was married.