“I am not my brother,” he said again, but Augusta had heard and seen enough. With a heavy heart, she turned away, with Lady Mary still by her side, making to return to her box. There was no need for her to remain any longer. She had tried to warn him, and it had fallen on deaf ears. The consequences were now for him alone to bear and she did not need to feel even a twinge of guilt.

  “Let us hope that he might come to see society for what it is,” she murmured without even a faint flicker of hope that Lord Leicestershire would do anything other than continue as he was, leaving her behind in his shadow, watching from a distance and battling her strange, perplexing feelings that left her so confused. There was nothing else for her to do.

  Chapter Seven

  It was more than a little apparent that society had turned a little against him. Stephen shook his head as he wandered along the street, not quite certain where he was to go nor what he was to do, but finding the thought of returning to his townhouse to sit alone as he had done the last two days to be more than a little depressing. What made it all the worse was that he had discovered his signet ring had disappeared from his hand. It had always been a little large for his finger, but he had worn it steadfastly, aware of his right and requirement to do so. For it to be gone now made his heart ache all the more, fearful that he was not fit to hold the title.

  Had he lost it last evening when he had managed to make such a fool of himself? He could not quite recall what had happened. The events seemed to be a little blurry, for one moment he had been following after Lady Whitaker, only to find himself practically catapulted into another young lady who had seemingly stepped out of nowhere. Over and over, he replayed it in his mind, the details still fuzzy. Had she been pushed? Had she deliberately fallen into him? Either way, he had managed to throw his glass of wine all over the young lady and thereafter, her mother had practically accused him of trying to seduce her daughter when he had no knowledge of her name, her title, and had never once even seen her face before!

  Closing his eyes for a moment, Stephen took a deep breath and set his shoulders. Many young ladies had looked at each other as they had walked past him, appearing to be a little wary now rather than eager to be in his company as they had been before. Having had very little to do with society before now, Stephen was astonished to find just how quickly the ton had now changed their view of him. They no longer pressed forward, eager to know him, but rather watched him with a good measure of caution, uncertain as to how he might act.

  And all because of some foolish mistake.

  “Good afternoon, Lord Leicestershire.”

  Stephen stopped dead as Lady Whitaker bobbed a quick curtsy, her eyes warm but no smile on her face. “Good afternoon,” he said tersely, not certain what to make of the lady.

  Lady Whitaker tilted her head. “It was an unfortunate situation that overtook you, Lord Leicestershire.”

  “One I hope you had nothing whatsoever to do with,” Stephen said before he could halt his foolish tongue. Seeing the shock ripple across Lady Whitaker’s face, he dropped his head and let out a long sigh, heat climbing up his spine. “Forgive me, Lady Whitaker. I spoke without consideration.”

  “Yes, you did,” she said firmly, her eyes no longer holding any warmth whatsoever. “I had nothing to do with poor Miss Hartnett, I can assure you.”

  “I am sorry,” he said heavily, rubbing one hand over his eyes. “I should not have spoken so. I can assure you, I do not place any blame on your shoulders, Lady Whitaker.” Sighing, he shook his head, biting his lip. “I do not know how to remove this supposed guilt from my shoulders. It seems as though the beau monde now consider me to be just as much a rake as my brother.”

  Lady Whitaker considered this for a moment, then shrugged. “I am sure that you will be able to step out from it very soon,” she said without giving any indication of when she thought such a thing might happen. “Gossip tends to run from one thing to the next. Within the sennight, you will no longer be the topic of discussion on so many a person’s lips.”

  This did not bring any relief to Stephen’s heart, for a sennight felt very long indeed and he did not want to let himself consider what would occur within that time. He had just become used to the attention showered on him by society, had enjoyed the way that so many people were eager for his attention—and now they turned away from him, their eyes holding suspicion and doubt.

  “I can help you, of course,” Lady Whitaker continued, speaking with great slowness as though she were considering every word. “That is, if you would wish for my assistance, Lord Leicestershire?”

  He began to nod, only to stop himself, seeing the way her brows lifted in expectation of delight, feeling that same swirling in his stomach that had come last evening when he had first realized what had happened. Lady Whitaker was offering him something, but he was not certain what it was.

  “I think I shall simply suffer for the sennight,” he told her, seeing the way her brows lowered almost at once, a line between them now and a thinness to her lips that had not been there before. “I shall prove to the ton that I am not a rogue. I shall behave impeccably and speak to everyone with great politeness in the hope that they will be convinced by that.”

  Lady Whitaker lifted her chin, a dark glint to her eyes that had not been there before. “You are not enamoring yourself with me, Lord Leicestershire,” she told him, making him wince inwardly. “I am offering to do what I can for you. Do you not understand?” She took a small step closer to him, and Stephen immediately felt the urge to move away but forced himself not to do so. “I am a wealthy lady with wonderful connections and all of society practically at my feet.” She smiled at him, but her gaze remained hard. “If you came to stand by my side, if we were seen out and about in society together, then within the week, the ton would know that they were mistaken in their worries about you.”

  Stephen swallowed hard, finding it more and more difficult to extricate himself. The last thing he wanted was to make the situation worse and, whilst he did not know Lady Whitaker particularly well, he was a little fearful that drawing close to her, as she suggested, was quite the wrong thing to do. Clearing his throat, he happened to glance around him only to see none other than Lady Augusta and Lady Mary walking together, their smiles and bright eyes quite at odds with how he felt. Without intending to do so, Stephen found his eyes lingering on Lady Augusta until, perhaps feeling his intense look, she turned her head and caught his gaze.

  “Lord Leicestershire?”

  Giving himself a slight shake, Stephen looked back to Lady Whitaker, seeing her expectant expression and berating himself inwardly for not finding a decent excuse with which he might extricate himself.

  “Lady Whitaker,” he said carefully, wondering how he would express his disinclination without upsetting her. “I think that I—”

  “Lord Leicestershire, good afternoon!” Lady Augusta had come towards them both in only a matter of moments, saving him from his awkward situation. “And Lady Whitaker, how very good to see you again.” She smiled warmly at Lady Whitaker, who struggled to rearrange her features from disappointment and frustration at being so interrupted, to happiness at being met by two acquaintances.

  “Good afternoon,” she murmured as Lady Mary smiled at them both. “Are you out together this afternoon? Mayhap you have thought to find a new ribbon?” There was a touch of hopefulness in Lady Whitaker’s voice, and Stephen turned his eyes directly towards Lady Augusta, silently trying to convey his eagerness that she would not hurry away. Lady Augusta glanced at him, but her expression did not change. Instead, she kept smiling at Lady Whitaker and told her that she and Lady Mary had decided to take a short stroll through town.

  “My mother is with us also,” Lady Mary continued, glancing over her shoulder. “But she continues to find people to converse with, and so we have not made a good deal of progress this afternoon!”

  Lady Whitaker smiled and murmured something that Stephen could not quite make out, with Lady Mary throwing him a quick glance also.

  “I am certain she would be very glad to speak to you,” Lady Mary said, stepping to one side and extending her arm towards her mother, who was now standing a short distance away, talking animatedly to another lady, whom Stephen did not recognize. “Please, Lady Whitaker, do join me.”

  Stephen held his breath as Lady Whitaker glanced at him, giving her what he hoped was a rueful look, which, thankfully, she accepted without question. Excusing herself quietly, she walked towards Lady Mary and together, they walked away from Stephen and Lady Augusta.

  There came a silence between them that had Stephen clearing his throat and dropping his gaze. He did not know what to say. He had been brusque in his manner towards Lady Augusta, had spoken disparagingly to her when she had been attempting to help him. Had he listened to her, had he been able to overcome his foolish pride, then he might have avoided the disastrous situation with Miss Hartnett.

  “I—I should have listened to you, Lady Augusta.”

  The words came out in a rush, his tongue tripping over his teeth as he attempted to overcome the embarrassment that came with speaking so openly.

  “I believe that what happened with Miss Hartnett was, somehow, arranged by whomever it was that you overheard speaking in the bookshop,” he continued quickly. “I was foolish in my eagerness to disregard what you said. It was very kind of you—very considerate of you—to come in search of me, particularly after what I have told you I intend to do.” He had not done a good deal in that regard, he realized, aside from telling his solicitors that he wished for them to find a way to remove him from his betrothal agreement. “I fear I have misjudged you, Lady Augusta. Your advice to me, your words of truth—whilst difficult to accept at times—have all been quite correct.”

  Lady Augusta let out a slow breath as though she was not quite certain whether or not to believe him. Her eyes were dark green pools, her lips firm as they pressed together, considering.

  “I do not know nor understand society,” Stephen muttered, closing his eyes and turning his head away with the shame of it. “I have spent so many years on the outskirts, seeing how the beau monde sought out my brother, how the young ladies chased after him, and how they were so eager to make his acquaintance, always telling myself that it was all quite foolish and false. And now, since I have taken on my brother’s title, I have found myself in a situation that I have never once been in before.” He shrugged as though such a remark would make sense. “I have been eager to pursue it, I suppose. I have enjoyed the attention. And yet, you warned me that there was a darkness within society, but I did not see it. I chose not to see it.”

  Lady Augusta’s expression softened. “I believe you were trying to avoid giving an answer of some description to Lady Whitaker,” she said, a question within her statement. “I have tried to tell you before now, Lord Leicestershire, to be careful when it comes to your acquaintance with the lady. Mayhap now, you will be able to understand my reason for such a warning.”

  He nodded. “I was, in fact, attempting to extricate myself from her very kind offer of accompanying me throughout society so that I might be able to overcome this very strange situation I now find myself in. A situation where I have lost something of the standing I was once in, as well as the signet ring that was upon my finger. I fear as though I am not meant to be within society, Lady Augusta, that I have failed in the most dreadful of ways.”

  “You fear that you are now viewed with suspicion rather than outright happiness at your company,” Lady Augusta replied with a knowing look. “Might I ask what you said to Lady Whitaker?”

  Stephen allowed himself a small smile. “I was trying to find a way to refuse her offer,” he told Lady Augusta, looking over to where Lady Mary and Lady Whitaker were now talking together. “As much as I would like to return to the status I had only a short time ago, I fear that it will merely take time for the ton to believe that I am not the rogue they think me to be.”

  Lady Augusta turned her head, following his gaze. “That is wise, Lord Leicestershire.” Looking back at him, she twisted her lips to one side, still considering him. “I would offer to take up Lady Whitaker’s offer in her place, but I fear that you would not accept me.”

  Stephen was staggered. It was as though the last few days had not occurred at all as though everything they knew about each other had evaporated entirely. How could she be so willing to come and assist him now, when he had been so cruel towards her?

  “You need not accept,” Lady Augusta continued, after only a momentary hesitation. “I can see that you have—”

  “Please, please.” Stephen waved his hand in front of his face, giving himself a slight shake to regain himself a little. “It is not that I want to refuse, Lady Augusta, but rather that I find myself so confused by your generosity and kind spirit that I feel myself both ashamed and thoroughly unworthy of your willingness.”

  Lady Augusta did not blush and look away, did not smile sweetly nor shake her head as though to push his words away, but instead, she simply continued to watch him, her eyes searching his face and finding some answer to whatever questions were going about her mind. She sighed and her shoulders dropped, relaxing just a little.

  “Lord Leicestershire, I made a very poor first impression,” she said, spreading her hands out to either side. “I was less than willing to be your bride. I was upset that my father had made this arrangement without even considering me. It had all come as a great shock and I did not treat you as I should have.” She shook her head, her smile rueful. “And thereafter, when you returned to society after your mourning, I found myself upset as to how changed you appeared. I know that I only met you for a short time, but I was aware of your quiet reserve, how you kept yourself back from society. I watched you for some time before we were introduced, Lord Leicestershire, and saw that what I had been told of you was quite true.” One shoulder lifted. “Then to see you so eager to throw yourself headlong into society, to accept their attention when their eagerness to know you is simply because they want to take what they can from you, rather irritated me. Again, I did not behave well. I was foolish and sought to be spiteful in retaliation.”

  Her eyes held his, her cheeks coloring but her gaze steady. “I will not pretend that your decision to seek an end to our betrothal has not brought me distress, but neither will I allow it to influence how we now converse and behave towards each other. I can understand your decision since you are now a marquess and thus have a much more to consider regarding your future.” Her shoulder dropped. “Might we consider ourselves acquaintances, Lord Leicestershire?” she asked, a slight lift to her voice, clearly hoping that he would be willing to set the past aside. “I would be glad to come alongside you, Lord Leicestershire, to prove to society that you are not the rogue that your brother once was and,” she finished, glancing away, looking a little abashed, “perhaps the opportunity to discover who was speaking at the bookshop that day, and why they are so inclined towards bringing you such shame and embarrassment.”

  It was a very great speech, and as she finished, Lady Augusta let out a long breath as though she had said all she wished and was now quite relieved with it all. Stephen found that his throat was a little sore, as though his whole being was struggling to find a suitable response.

  “I think I do not know you at all, Lady Augusta,” he managed to say, his voice wavering just a little with the swell of emotion in his chest. “I have misjudged you. I have shown you no consideration. I have been cruel and unkind—deliberately so—and did not even think of listening to you when I ought to have done so.”

  To his surprise, Lady Augusta stepped forward, her hand on his arm for just a moment, her eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled.

  “Might we say, Lord Leicestershire, that we have both made mistakes and errors in judgment?” she said softly, her hand dropping back to her side. “Will that satisfy you? There is no need for either of us to torment our hearts with guilt and regret.”

  A sense of sheer relief pressed into his soul, and he nodded fervently, hardly able to lift his eyes from her. “I would be most grateful for such a kindness, Lady Augusta,” he said quietly. “I thank you. And, yes, I would be just as glad for your presence, at any time you would wish to give it.”

  She smiled at him, and he felt his heart twist in his chest, feeling as though he were seeing her for the very first time. He had made so many mistakes, but apparently, Lady Augusta was more than willing to forget about them in the hope that he would do the same for her.

  “And without speaking ill of Lady Whitaker, I would be very careful in your acquaintance with her,” Lady Augusta said, her voice dropping so that there would be no chance of Lady Whitaker hearing her. “There are rumors about her friendship with certain gentlemen here in London, all whilst her husband remains at his estate.”

  “I see,” Stephen muttered, aware of the flush that crept into his cheeks.

  “Might I ask why you were following after her at the theatre, on the night you fell into Miss Hartnett?”

  “Following Lady Whitaker?” Stephen asked, seeing Lady Augusta frown and aware now of her concern regarding the lady. “It was nothing of importance. It was only that Lady Whitaker thought to introduce me to a gentleman of her acquaintance—a Lord Garretson, if I recall correctly—and she was merely seeking him out.” He shrugged. “When she beckoned to me, I followed after her, only to...to fall into Miss Harnett.”

  Lady Augusta nodded slowly, her brow furrowed. “I did not see precisely what happened,” she said. “But I have spoken to Lady Whitaker on many previous occasions, and I am quite certain that it was not her voice that I heard on the day I was in the bookshop.”

  He nodded, finding himself now quite eager to discover who had done such a thing to him and their reasons behind it. “That is not to say that she could not have come to the aid of someone else.”

 

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