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One thing was quite certain now however—as much as he had told himself he had no need to strike up any form of acquaintance with Miss Wells, he would now have to do precisely that. He had to discover more about her, had to protect her in any way he could. There was no other choice but to call upon her and ensure that their acquaintance grew steadily until he could be certain that she was both protected and not connected to the French in any way.
“Tomorrow,” he muttered to himself, hurrying along the street from whence he had come. “I shall write to her the morrow.”
It could not come soon enough.
Chapter Six
“Good gracious, Titania! This is quite ridiculous!”
Titania hid a smile as her mother walked into the drawing room, knowing that Lady Whitehaven was not at all displeased with what she saw.
“It seems that you had a very successful evening last night,” Lady Whitehaven continued, looking all about her and seeing the many wonderful bouquets of flowers that were practically on every surface. “Just how many have you received?”
Titania made to answer, only for there to come a scratch at the door. Lady Whitehaven called for them to enter and the footman appeared with yet another bunch of flowers and a small note, which he handed to Titania.
“This would be number twelve, Mama,” Titania replied, with a quick smile as the footman looked about himself rather helplessly. “You might put them in my rooms. In fact, do such a thing for any further gifts that arrive.”
The footman nodded and retreated from the room, leaving Titania with the note to read. Breaking the seal, she beamed as she read the words from Lord Huckleby, overwhelmed with delight that he had chosen to send her flowers and write her a beautiful note such as this.
“It seems this one in particular has caught your attention,” Lady Whitehaven commented, with a twinkle in her eye. “Might I know the name of this gentleman?”
Titania shrugged, trying to pretend that it did not mean as much as her mother believed. “It is only from one Lord Huckleby,” she said with a quick smile. “The Earl of Huckleby, I mean.”
Lady Whitehaven’s smile grew steadily. “That is marvelous, Titania. I congratulate you on your success then, for if an earl is eager to call upon you, t
hen I would consider it to have been something of a victory on your part!”
Titania blushed, just as the door opened to admit her sisters and cousin. Merry and Catherine exchanged a glance as they looked all about them, whilst Dinah did not so much as comment, hurrying to sit down in a seat by the fire and opening her book at its place.
Titania resisted the urge to roll her eyes, knowing that Dinah was deliberately ignoring the flowers and the like because, most likely, it was wrong in her eyes for Titania to be so fawned over.
“I see you have garnered as much attention as you hoped, Titania,” Merry said dryly, sitting down opposite Dinah. “Despite your dissatisfaction with last evening.”
Lady Whitehaven looked at Titania sharply. “Dissatisfaction?”
Titania shot her sisters a warning look before smiling up at her mother. “I have nothing to complain about, Mama, truly,” she said honestly. “You need not have any concerns. Although,” she continued, smiling brightly, “might you come to sit with me this afternoon for any callers who might come by?”
Lady Whitehaven nodded fervently, her concern over Titania’s supposed dissatisfaction disappearing in a moment. “But of course, my dear girl,” she answered, before sending a long look in the direction of Merry and Catherine. “And I should be glad to sit with you both also, should there be any callers for you.”
Catherine let out a snort, which she did not apologize for nor try to hide. “I hardly think that you should expect anyone for either myself or Merry, Mama,” she said firmly. “Although we will sit with Titania also, if that is pleasing to you?”
Titania knew she could not refuse. “Very well,” she stated, as Lady Whitehaven began to make her way to the door. “I should be glad of your company.” She did not mean this—for, most likely, her sister would look at each gentleman caller with sharp, unrelenting eyes in the hopes of finding something that they could exclaim over to Titania later. Not that she would care, Titania told herself, lifting her chin as she looked back into Catherine’s sardonic expression. They could say what they wished, but she would make up her own mind.
“Very good,” Lady Whitehaven called, opening the door and throwing a smile over her shoulder. “I have one or two things to do before I return for afternoon calls. Pray, do something with your hair, Merry. You look quite wild!”
Titania allowed herself a small smile, as Merry muttered something about her hair being more than suitable—although Titania noticed that she rose to ring for the maid. Apparently, her sisters were taking on their brother’s advice and attempting to show some sort of gratitude for their mother’s kindness in taking them to London. She waited in silence for some minutes as her sisters looked back at her, waiting for them to comment about something, but their quiet was interrupted by a knock at the door. The footman entered, yet again, but this time he held only a small silver tray with a single letter on it.
“Do you mean to say that one of your suitors has not sent you a bouquet but only written?” Catherine said in mock astonishment, as Titania took the letter from the footman. “Good gracious! I hope his suit will be turned down immediately.”
Titania looked back at her sister calmly, breaking open the seal as she did so. “I do wish you would not be so callous, Catherine,” she said honestly. “I know you do not care for the Season and the like, but surely you need not mock my success?”
These words seemed to have some effect on Catherine—for her sister lapsed into silence, her expression a little guilty as she looked away. Titania held Merry’s gaze for a moment or two, wondering if she would have something to add to Catherine’s mockery, but to her surprise, she said nothing.
Looking down at the letter, Titania’s brows rose in astonishment as she read, hardly able to believe that the very gentleman she had been unable to remove from her mind was now writing to her with such boldness. He stated that, whilst he knew they had not been formally introduced, he was eager to call upon her and sought to do so that very afternoon.
“You look surprised, Titania,” Merry commented, her voice holding no ridicule whatsoever, but instead, a faint trace of worry. “I do hope nothing is written within to concern you.”
Titania hesitated, looking up at her sister and wondering if she should share the contents of the letter with them. Merry, at the very least, knew of Lord Carroway and certainly would understand her hesitation.
