Page 68 of A Stolen Heart

“It’s because of Lady Pencross, of course,” Nicola explained. “It’s not that he’s heartless, but that he cared too much. She broke his heart, and he’s never allowed anyone to get close to him since.”

Alexandra’s interest was by now thoroughly piqued. She leaned toward Nicola, saying, “Lady Pencross?”

“You haven’t heard about that?”

“I just met the man recently.”

The name Pencross sounded vaguely familiar to her, though. Then, with a jolt, Alexandra remembered. That had been the name of the woman at the ball who had come up to her and made the peculiar comments about Sebastian. She remembered Sebastian’s stiff manner and brief words with the woman. She had wondered at the time what had prompted him to act that way.

“He wouldn’t be likely to talk about her,” Nicola went on. “When Sebastian was young, only eighteen or so, he fell madly in love with Lord Pencross’s wife, Barbara. She was about ten years older than he, but a beautiful woman. She still is, actually, although she must be in her forties by now. Anyway, Sebastian met her and fell in love with her. They had a wild, passionate affair. Everyone knew about it—it was quite the scandal of the Season. Sebastian even called a man out in defense of her honor.”

“He fought a duel?”

Nicola nodded. “Yes. Bucky was his second, so I know it’s true. Needless to say, Sebastian’s family was terribly embarrassed by the whole thing. Bucky says that Sebastian’s father called him home and told him he was a disgrace to the family, and he cut off his allowance until he came to his senses. Sebastian was furious and hurt. His family stopped speaking to him—including his mother and sisters. He still hasn’t forgiven them for it. He provides for them, of course, but he hardly ever goes home.”

“What happened with Lady Pencross?” Alexandra asked, too enthralled to bother to hide her interest.

“Well, the rumor is that Sebastian wanted her to run away with him, to leave the country and the scandal, and go to India.”

“He made the mistake, you see,” Penelope added, “of thinking that Lady Pencross loved him as much as he loved her. But she was merely entertaining herself with a younger man. I heard she laughed in his face when he suggested giving up her money and position as Lord Pencross’s wife to go live in love and poverty in India with Sebastian.”

“She refused him?”

Nicola nodded. “He was terribly disillusioned. He went off to India by himself and made his fortune. I don’t think he would have come back except that his father died, and he had to assume the title.”

“I see.” Alexandra thought that she did indeed see. It made sense to her now that Thorpe had been so quick to believe the worst of her. The woman he had loved when he was young had proven faithless, her love false. It would be hard for him to trust any woman, easy to be suspicious and hard.

“He hasn’t loved a woman since,” Penelope added. “It’s very romantic, but sad, don’t you think?”

“Yes, I do.” Alexandra paused, thinking. “What happened to Lady Pencross?”

“It was a scandal, of course, but eventually it subsided. She is accepted by most, though not the high sticklers, of course. I have seen her several times this Season. Her husband is much older than she, and he is in ill health. But she is not at his bedside. He is back on the family estate, and she is here, doing the social rounds.”

“She sounds a heartless sort.”

Nicola nodded. “I believe she is. But I have little connection to her. She travels in a different set, and I see her only at very large balls.”

“Or at the opera or a play,” Penelope added.

“Really?”

“Yes. I suppose we might even see her tonight.”

Alexandra’s interest was thoroughly kindled. She would like very much to see this woman again, now that she knew who she was. She had not been paying enough attention the first time.

“I’ll point her out to you if I see her,” Nicola told Alexandra shrewdly.

Their talk drifted away from the topic of Sebastian and his former love, but Alexandra’s thoughts kept returning to it, and she paid only partial attention to what the others were saying. The conversation moved to various activities that were taking place in London. The Season was in full swing, and the June weather was glorious, prompting many an outing. Nicola and Penelope, it seemed, were going to a balloon ascension in a few days, and they urged Alexandra to come with them.

“They’re terribly exciting, I hear,” Penelope said. “I have never been to one before. Mother thinks that they are vulgar spectacles, but she finally relented this time. Please say you’ll come.”

“It’s to be a race of some sort,” Nicola added. “The one who lands farthest away from London wins. It’s quite something to see.”

“Bucky says balloons are the conveyances of the future,” Penelope attested, her eyes alight.

“Is Lord Buckminster to be one of the party, too?” Alexandra asked, thinking once again that Penelope seemed enamored of the man.

“No, but I am sure that we will meet him there. Bucky rarely misses these ascensions,” Nicola said, glancing at Penelope significantly. The color in Penelope’s cheeks rose.