As they are all handsome,kind, wealthy, and doting, it would certainly make sense for me to do so. Especially considering that my intended has abandoned me. I confess Sir Vernon’s advice sounds more and more sound as each day passes.
I console myself with the fact that—one way or another—I’ll be engaged by the Season’s end.
Sincerely,
Miss Lily Preston
Bradford frownedat the date at the top of the letter, flipped it over and examined the address and post marks. Why, it had been mailed well over a month ago! Though Lily had addressed the letter properly, somehow the missive had found its way to Berwick-upon-Tweed, a distance of nearly seventy miles away.
Judging by the shadow of a different shade of wax pressed to the address, Lily’s letter had probably been stuck to another letter’s wax seal for the second part of the journey. The notes andpostage calculations showed it had lingered in Berwick-upon-Tweed for some time and only been rerouted three days ago.
Regardless of the reasons, the result was the same. Lily had declared herself as clearly as a young lady was able, and she’d received no reply when she reasonably could have expected one several times over within the timeframe. The end of the Season was only perhaps a week away.
Bradford sprang from his desk and strode out into the hall.
CHAPTER 29- LILY
Lily sighed through her nose and kept her serene smile firmly upon her face. It was the final ball, where the celebration of the Season came to a crescendo. Laughter rang through the halls, and a fresh batch of news enlivened the conversations. Why, Lily had heard of four recent engagements since she’d walked through the door!
Even so, Lily couldn’t help but feel deflated. This evening made it official: the letter she’d written Bradford had failed to garner any response. She felt she’d experienced every emotion since she’d posted it—hope, anger, certainty, doubt…
Now, Lily felt nothing but a dull embarrassment for sending the letter at all.
Despite what she’d written, Lily had no intentions of accepting either of the gentlemen who’d hinted they’d soon be seeking a private audience with her brother William. Apparently, Lily’s gentle dissuasion and Rachel and Beatrice’s outrageous machinations hadn’t been enough. Or perhaps those gentleman just preferred this quiet, sad version of Lily.
At balls, she did her very best to blend into the crowds of the ballrooms instead of standing amongst the other singleladies looking to dance. If she saw a gentleman approaching, she turned and went the other direction or escaped to the ladies’ retiring room.
For the most part, Lily’s tactics had worked. Though she’d been caught unawares several times, she made such little effort at conversation during the subsequent dance that the man went away frowning. Lily had quickly acquired a reputation for being frigid and unapproachable, and she simply didn’t care.
If Lily wasn’t heartbroken, she was as close to the emotion as she ever wanted to tread. Even now, while this current Season was still coming to a shimmering close, Lily dreaded the second. Certainly the time away from London in the interim would do her good.
William said that the entire family was to take an extended holiday as soon as Parliament closed. Lily didn’t know if she was grateful or disappointed that Devon was nowhere close to Northumberland. It varied moment to moment, but she was undoubtedly happy that they were headed to the countryside, in any case.
Of the four Preston sisters who had been presented, Lily thought that only Claire might be close to achieving matrimony. That was only clear to Lily because of the obvious way Lord Rutheridge looked at her sister—the same way he’dalwayslooked at her, though Claire had been too dense in her youth to notice.
Lily was ashamed to admit she didn’t know how Beatrice or Margaret had fared. First, Lily had been too focused on Bradford—the threat he presented, and then his very presence—to pay attention. After Bradford had left, Lily found she could barely pay attention to anything at all.
It was properly idiotic. She had turned into one of those mooning ninnies she’d always sworn she never would. Lily fluffed her skirts and checked her position behind the largepillar. It was a strategic spot—the pillar blocked her from view from most of the room, but she could still see the gardens through the glass-paned doors.
“The letter was delayed,” a voice said from behind her.
Lily froze, one slender hand still pressed against the cool marble. Her breath caught in her throat. She recognized that voice, had longed to hear it ever since it last bid her goodbye. And yet there was a part of her that feared she’d be mistaken when she turned to gaze upon the owner, that it would be some stranger trying to discuss the post.
Though it took all her courage, shedidturn. She blinked. Bradford stood before her—not in a crisp, three-piece suit as she’d expected, but wearing a riding outfit and a pair of boots speckled with mud. His hair had achieved a heretofore unknown volume and height. Despite the intensity of the moment, Lily couldn’t help staring at it; she had to roll her lips between her teeth to prevent herself from laughing inappropriately.
He looked heavenward and sighed, even as he pawed at his hair with one hand. “I know. It’s dreadful.”
“It looks like a very impressive souffle,” she murmured, her voice trembling.
Bradford made a noise of disgust. “Now that we’ve covered the most important thing?—”
Lily couldn’t restrain herself any longer, she laughed. It wasn’t just his slightly shocking appearance—it was pure delight that he was there at all. For Lily knew he wouldn’t have come in person if he didn’t return her tender feelings.
He could have put any rejection very politely in a letter of his own. Certainly he wouldn’t have left Rebecca again unless it was a matter of utmost importance. UnlessLilywas a matter of utmost importance.
Lily longed to hug him round his middle and press her cheek to the wrinkled shirt that undoubtedly smelled strongly of horse.Only the tinkling strains of the music and the knowledge that they were in public kept her from it.
“You came.”
