Page 11 of Regency Whispers: Scandalous Matches

‘Good morning, Miss Ashworth, I trust you enjoyed the ball last night?’ he said, trying to convey a sense of calm.

‘How could...?’ She faltered as she registered his calm tone and serene smile. ‘Yes...yes, I did. Thank you.’ She glanced at Lady Mountjoy, who was looking at her curiously. ‘It is rather early for a visit, is it not?’

‘I apologise,’ Tom said. ‘I have had a lot on my mind and I thought it later than it is. Lady Mountjoy, generous hostess that she is, was too polite to turn me away.’

‘Mr Stewart, if you would wait a moment whilst I find my address book, I have a few contacts that could help you.’

Before Tom could answer either way, Lady Mountjoy had risen and swept from the room, leaving him with Miss Ashworth.

‘What are you doing here?’ Miss Ashworth whispered as soon as she could be sure the older woman was out of earshot. ‘You weren’t meant to follow me in. Why are you interfering with everything?’

‘Calm down.’

It was the wrong thing to say. The young woman pressed her lips together until they were almost white and colour flooded to her cheeks.

‘So far today you have stalked me through the streets of Southwark, injured my hand, drawn lewd comments from the local residents and now you’re here to betray me.’

‘You’re being melodramatic. And wrong.’

‘What are you doing here?’

‘Firstly, I wasn’t stalking you. I was concerned for your welfare. Secondly, you hurt your hand by punching me. Thirdly, you were the one who stomped down the rotten staircase and made us fall into the grime of the Southwark streets.’ He paused, glad to see some of the defiance had left her. ‘And fourthly, I wanted to check you got home safely, but Lady Mountjoy spotted me outside. I have told her I was here for another reason. I have not even mentioned you at all.’

‘Oh.’ She hesitated. ‘Thank you.’

‘Here we are,’ Lady Mountjoy said as she breezed back into the room. ‘I have written down a few essential contacts. There is an agency that provides nursemaids and nannies, the details of a couple of tutors and three tailors that are wonderful with children.’

‘Thank you,’ Tom said, taking the piece of paper and getting to his feet. He was ready to leave the events of this morning well behind him.

‘You have younger siblings, don’t you, Miss Ashworth?’

‘Yes, five younger sisters.’

‘Good. Tomorrow Miss Ashworth and I will call on you and if needed provide some practical and emotional support. You will get through this, Mr Stewart.’

He bowed, eager to get out of the house before he had to impart any more details of his personal life to either of the two women in front of him.

‘Thank you for all your help, Lady Mountjoy. Have a pleasant day, Miss Ashworth.’

‘Why don’t you see Mr Stewart to the door, Miss Ashworth?’ Lady Mountjoy said with a twinkle in her eye. ‘My hip is paining me all of a sudden.’

Tom left the room, waiting for the footman to bring him his coat and hat before he stepped out through the front door. To his surprise, Miss Ashworth followed him, pulling the heavy wooden door closed behind her and accompanying him onto the steps in front of the house.

‘Is something the matter?’

‘I should thank you,’ Miss Ashworth said quietly. ‘For not giving me away. I know you didn’t have to lie for me.’ She didn’t meet his eye as she spoke but her words were clear.

‘It is not my place to inform Lady Mountjoy what you have been doing, but a word of advice—she is a sharp woman, very hard to deceive. I doubt she is completely in the dark as to what you are doing, even though I have not a clue.’

Miss Ashworth nodded slowly then turned to go back inside. ‘I didn’t know you had children, Mr Stewart,’ she said over her shoulder.

‘I don’t.’

‘But Lady Mountjoy said...’

‘It is for my nephew. He has recently come to live with me. And now I must get back to him.’

Tom bowed, turned and took the steps two at a time, not stopping to look back over his shoulder. Enough distractions. Now he needed to get home and work out how he was going to cope with his life being turned completely upside down.