AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I do,” Lord Carroway chuckled, making Titania smile. “But I am a rather unusual gentleman, I believe, Miss Wells. I have returned to society with the awareness that I must do my duty and find a wife and continue the family line – but I did not expect to find myself so caught by this young lady here.” His expression gentled, and he looked towards her, making a flush catch her cheeks. She had not expected him to appear so tender in his words nor in his expression and was surprised by her own reaction. Looking away so that her blush would not deepen, she saw her mother’s eyebrow arch as she studied Lord Carroway, as though questioning inwardly what she could believe.
“You are very kind to speak so,” Titania found herself saying, not wanting there to be a long, pronounced silence that would stretch awkwardly across the room. “Thank you, Lord Carroway.”
He smiled. “You are most welcome, Miss Wells,” he replied, before picking up his spoon and making to tackle his dessert. Titania joined him, now feeling as though she could enjoy the delicious concoction that the cook had prepared for them, aware that her mother was, by now, appearing a good deal less concerned over Lord Carroway. The conversation turned to other things, such as the ball being thrown by Lord and Lady Winters, and Titania found herself enjoying Lord Carroway’s company. He was well spoken, affable, and made not only herself but her sisters smile. Dinah, of course, seemed quite determined not to like the gentleman and remained as quiet and as disinterested as she always did, but this did not subdue Titania’s spirits in any way whatsoever.
“I fear, Lord Carroway, that there is only you to sit and enjoy your port alone,” Lady Whitehaven said, as they finished their dessert. “I shall have tea sent through for ourselves, but you are more than welcome to join us with your port if you so wish.”
Lord Carroway rose to his feet, a broad smile on his face. “I could not imagine sitting alone here whilst the rest of you remained in the drawing room,” he said, looking down at Titania. “If it suits you, then I should be glad to join you in the drawing room.”
“Then mayhap Titania will walk with you,” Lady Whitehaven suggested, bestowing a smile on Titania, which told her that she had no need to concern herself over her mother’s worries as regarded Lord Carroway any longer. “We shall join you in a few moments.”
“That went as well as I hoped it might,” Titania said, as the dining room door closed softly behind them. “I do hope you were not made to feel unwelcome in any way.”
“None whatsoever,” Lord Carroway replied at once, looking at her. “In fact, Miss Wells, I had a most enjoyable evening.”
Titania hesitated, an urge growing within her that she was not sure whether to give voice to. “Might I ask, Lord Carroway, if you would consider simply referring to me as ‘Titania’?” she asked, a trifle nervously as her gaze darted towards his face. “It seems that we are being very proper whereas I feel as though there is no need to be doing so when we are in such a strange set of circumstances as the ones that surround us at present!”
For a long moment, Lord Carroway remained silent, walking slowly beside her with his arms held tightly behind his back. Titania blushed with embarrassment, wondering if he thought she had spoken out of turn or had been too forward with her suggestions.
“I should be honored, Miss Wells,” he murmured, sending a wave of relief crashing over her. “Forgive me my hesitation. It is only that I am quite overwhelmed with the intimacy that has grown so swiftly between us, for it is something I confess I have never experienced before.”
“Oh.” Titania did not know what else to say, aware that her blush remained in her cheeks as warmth rose up within her.
“I will be honest with you, Titania,” Lord Carroway continued quietly, now looking down at her. “I did mean every word that I spoke within the dining room as regarded our acquaintance. I have never once felt anything akin to what tumultuous emotions ravage my soul whenever I so much as see a delicate smile on your lips or the beauty of your countenance.” He cleared his throat abruptly and then looked away, as though embarrassed by what he had admitted. “You will think me much too forward. And since it has not been a particularly long acquaintance, I am certain that you will think me quite ridiculous.”
“No, indeed!” Titania exclaimed, reaching for his arm before she could prevent herself. “I value your honesty, Lord Carroway, truly.” She found herself looking up into his eyes, not realizing that they had come to a sudden, abrupt stop in the middle of the hallway. “It is not as though you are alone in feeling such things.”
Lord Carroway swallowed hard, his jaw working for a moment as he looked down into her eyes. Titania’s heart began to race furiously as she held his gaze, her mouth going dry as she realized that their hands were now joined.
“I am not the sort of gentleman a lady such as you ought to consider, Titania,” he murmured, his eyes fixed on her face. “I am not a gentleman who can offer you the simple life of an estate, of trips to town and the like, not when I am as caught up with the army and my role therein.”
“I would not wish for such a life,” Titania replied firmly, speaking the truth from her heart. “I have always sought excitement and found myself eagerly anticipating the future, wondering what it might contain. I do not think, Lord Carroway, that I am at all the sort of young lady that any sensible gentleman should consider either.” A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “An earl, for example, should be the perfect choice for a young lady such as myself, and yet I found myself turning away from him almost at once, when it became clear that the sort of gentleman he was did not appeal to my heart in the least.”
Lord Carroway chuckled and some of the tension between them began to drain away. “You speak of the Earl of Huckleby, do you not?”
“I do,” she admitted, turning with him so that they might enter the drawing room together. “I will tell you truthfully, Lord Carroway, that he was not particularly pleased that I was turning away from him and towards you, but I confess that I did not care in the slightest for what he thought.” She looked up at him as he walked her to a chair close to the small fire burning in the hearth. “I think that I am not at all suited for a gentleman such as he, Lord Carroway.” She did not
say anything more, aware that her meaning was clear to him, given the glimmer in his eye as he seated himself opposite her.
“I think, Titania, that I should consider myself a very lucky gentleman,” Lord Carroway murmured, as the voices of the others began to drift towards them from the hallway. “To have been considered by you is a wonder in itself, and I must hope that when Ravel is captured and this is at an end, that you will continue to consider me then also.”
“I am certain I shall,” Titania replied quickly, just before the door opened and her mother walked in, bringing a swift end to their intimate conversation.
Chapter Thirteen
“And you say you are to dine with them then this evening?”
“No, not to dine,” Edward replied patiently, aware of the slight gleam in the lieutenant’s eye. “We are to attend a small soiree, I believe. The courtship between myself and Miss Wells will be made known and matters shall continue to progress as they ought.”
“I see.” The lieutenant cleared his throat, before getting up to pour Edward another brandy, which Edward accepted gratefully. “And you believe her to be in danger still?”
Edward sighed and nodded in frustration. “Ravel and his men will not know that Miss Wells does not have the vial nor the information contained within it any longer and, even if they did so, I am not convinced that they would simply allow her to continue on regardless. Remember that she has seen the face of the murderer.”
The lieutenant nodded gravely, taking a sip of his brandy before he spoke. “I have confirmed that one of the names on that paper you discovered in the vial is the man you believed it to be.”
Sitting up straight, Edward leaned forward, caught with a flurry of excitement. “And?”
“All four names are men who work in the palace—and one who is very close to the prince regent.” His face darkened. “I will not go into particular detail, save to say that one of the men, when questioned, has admitted to being involved with Ravel. He received a good deal of wealth for his trouble it seems.”
