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“And I do wonder what Mama’s reaction shall be,” Catherine added, a slight tug of her lips indicating the mirth that rose up within her. “She shall either be delighted or horrified to hear that you have accepted an invitation to walk with Lord Weston, Merry.”
A slight twinge of guilt caught Merry’s heart. “Mayhap I should have spoken to her before I wrote to Lord Weston,” she admitted, feeling a little tense. “I suppose I feared that she would be overly exuberant. I did not think that she might be displeased.”
Catherine laughed and shook her head. “It will not matter,” she answered, encouraging Merry. “You have made your own decision, as you have always done before, Merry, and that will not come as any great surprise to our dear mama.”
Merry made to answer, made to retort in a teasing fashion that she had very little idea as to what Catherine was saying, only for the bookshop door to open and a lady to stride through, as the door was held back for her. Merry’s steps began to slow as she caught sight of the lady’s face, seeing her to be none other than Lady Reid, who had spoken so harshly about Merry only yesterday.
Catherine shot her a quizzical look, but Merry only shook her head quickly and turned towards the door, making to ignore Lady Reid entirely. After all, they were not introduced and as such, had no reason to speak to one another.
“Ah, Miss Wells.”
She stopped dead; Catherine tugged to a standstill beside her. Quickly, she turned to greet Lady Reid, plastering a quick smile on her face.
“Forgive me,” she said quickly, seeing the sharp gaze that came from the lady. “I do not think we have been introduced.” She let the words hang between them for a few moments, looking at the lady steadily and seeing
the flash in her blue eyes. “You were walking with Lord Weston yesterday, I believe.”
“And he then left my side in order to speak to you,” Lady Reid replied, her lips flattening as she looked at Merry with narrowed eyes. “Might I ask what it was you spoke of?”
A tiny gasp of surprise escaped from Catherine, as Merry herself battled her own astonishment. It was more than extraordinary for Lady Reid to ask such an impertinent question, and Merry certainly was not about to answer it.
“It was nothing of particular importance,” she replied firmly, managing to find her voice. “If you will excuse me, Lady Reid, we mean to find a book to read.”
Lady Reid did not allow Merry to take her leave, for she took a small step closer to Merry and shook one finger in her direction.
“You are to leave Lord Weston alone, Miss Wells, do you understand?”
Merry stiffened, more than a little astonished by the lady’s lack of propriety and the rude manner in which she spoke. “I do not think that you have any right to tell me what I must or must not do, Lady Reid,” she replied firmly. “Good day.”
“It will be all the worse for you if you permit your acquaintance to continue,” Lady Reid replied fiercely, her voice low and threatening. “Do not misunderstand me, Miss Wells. I shall make things more than difficult for you if you continue to accept Lord Weston’s attentions.”
For a moment, Merry was quite at a loss for words, having never experienced such rudeness nor such an ill manner before. Lady Reid was clearly determined to have Lord Weston for herself and, therefore, wanted Merry to be gone from his acquaintance. Why would she demand such a thing? Surely Lord Weston could not have any sort of true fondness for Merry, so that he would set his face towards her instead of towards Lady Reid? Lady Reid was beautiful, intelligent, and captured the immediate attention of everyone within London the moment she had returned to town, whereas she herself was plain, dull, and certainly did not capture the attentions of the beau monde.
“You have no right to threaten my sister.”
It was Catherine who spoke up now, her chin lifted and her eyes sparkling with anger. Merry felt herself grateful for her sister’s support, moving a little closer to her.
“She is permitted to speak to, associate with, and accept the invitations of anyone she chooses,” Catherine continued, decisively. “Good afternoon, Lady Reid.”
Lady Reid’s hand shot out and grasped tightly to Merry’s arm. “You have accepted an invitation from Lord Weston?” she asked, her voice rising loudly. “What has he asked you?”
Merry’s frustration burned with her, her cheeks flaring with color. “You shall have no satisfaction from me, Lady Reid,” she told her, wrenching her arm away. “It is only to state, once again, that I shall accept whatever invitations I choose, and that such a decision shall be mine alone. I will not listen to your threats nor your demands. Good day to you, Lady Reid.” She gave the lady a long, angry look before turning her head away and marching towards the back of the bookshop, her heart clamoring furiously within her.
Merry could not help but dart one more look over her shoulder, however. Lady Reid was standing as she had been when Merry had left her, her gaze fixed on Merry. Her brows were lowered, her cheeks a dark, angry red, and a tenseness about her frame that spoke of utter fury. Merry could not understand it, for surely Lord Weston was the one to whom Lady Reid ought to speak should she have concern over whom Lord Weston spent time with. Nor did Merry think that Lord Weston would ever consider her in the place of Lady Reid. If it was his affections she sought, then Merry did not think that Lady Reid had anything with which to concern herself.
“Goodness,” Catherine murmured, looking at Merry in surprise as the bookshop door closed behind Lady Reid as she left. “What was that all about? Why does Lady Reid seem so eager for you to step away from Lord Weston?”
Merry shrugged, not allowing Catherine to see just how confused and upset she was. The strength and the anger that had flooded her as Lady Reid had spoken now gave way to bewilderment, her limbs shaking slightly from the shock of it all. Lady Reid was a powerful lady and the threats, whilst Merry had ignored them, could easily be brought to fruition in whatever way Lady Reid chose.
“You should mention this to Lord Weston, when you walk with him tomorrow,” Catherine added, grasping Merry’s hand and taking her to a quiet part of the bookshop where they might speak in hushed tones. “I am certain he will want to know what has occurred.”
Merry shook her head. “I have no reason to do so. Lord Weston can keep his own affairs in check, and since it is merely a walk and nothing more, I have nothing to concern myself over. If he was to seek to court me, however, then that would be an entirely different matter.” She tried to laugh, but the sound stuck in her throat. “Thank you for your concern and your help, Catherine.”
“But of course,” Catherine replied at once, her eyes searching Merry’s face. “But I still think that you should speak to Lord Weston about what has just occurred. It is best that he knows of it.”
Merry shook her head. “I do not think it will come to anything,” she told her sister, trying to push the incident from her mind. “But if he asks me, then of course, I shall tell him the truth.” She smiled at her sister, feeling the tension beginning to leave her frame. “Come now, let us look at the books before we return home. Remember that I must have an excuse to give to Mama as to why we left the house for a short time.”
Catherine laughed softly, shaking her head, and the matter of Lady Reid was set to one side. “Very well,” she replied, with a smile in Merry’s direction. “I shall be glad to return home, I confess, for I find myself quite weary.”
