AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He is an utter unknown—except for the reputation of his pater, who was a walking scandal, as you well know. End this sham of a betrothal, which is based solely upon other men’s follies. Marry me.”
He’d told her Society would forget her “lapse in judgment” and that he’d forgiven her. Forgiven her. Forgiven her.
Why was it that men could bring their mistresses to the theater and duel and feel obligated to fulfill their debts of honor, and yet, when she had chosen the honorable thing, she’d apparently had a “lapse in judgment”? When she’d felt compelled by honor to fulfill the terms of the vowel, she was the one who needed forgiveness?
Her entire body fairly vibrated from the pressure building inside her.
“Louisa!”
She and William both turned in unison to see who had called her name. It was Alex, which was a total surprise, as he’d not indicated he would be at Vauxhall this evening—and he was not alone. Lady Elizabeth Spaulding, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Marwood, was on his arm.
“Look who has been released from the schoolroom to enjoy an evening in company for a change, Weezy,” Alex drawled.
“Elizabeth!” Louisa exclaimed as they embraced. Elizabeth was but fifteen years of age, but Louisa had met her on several occasions.
“I could not believe it,” Elizabeth said excitedly, “when Papa himself said I was invited to join Lord Halford and your parents this evening! He knew you were all to be here and said it would be a good opportunity for me to further my acquaintance with Lord Halford. Under strict chaperonage, of course.” She turned her head, and Louisa’s gaze followed hers to the girl’s parents not far away, watching them closely.
“The strictest of chaperones, I daresay,” Alex said with a complaisant shrug of his shoulders, obviously not worried at all. “Lizzie, allow me to present Louisa’s betrothed, Viscount Farleigh. Farleigh, this is Lady Elizabeth Spaulding, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Marwood—who has not yet made her come-out.” Elizabeth looked up at him with sparkling eyes.
“An honor, Lady Elizabeth,” William said, extending a gracious bow to her.
Alex’s eyes flickered in the direction of his parents. “And it seems we are being summoned, Lizzie; duty calls. A supper of thinly sliced ham awaits.” He sighed dramatically. “It is a good thing I ate a hearty supper before coming here. I hope you all did the same.” They strolled off to join the duke and duchess.
“I take it theirs is an arranged marriage,” William murmured.
“Yes,” Louisa said. “The Duke of Marwood has been promoting the match since they were born.” Seeing Lady Elizabeth reminded Louisa of their similar and yet very different circumstances. At least she and Alex had been given time to accustom themselves to the idea, and an affection of sorts had grown between them, unlike her own present situation.
“Thinly sliced ham?” William asked her, looking comically as if he’d just received a death sentence.
“Apparently so. I suspect Alex will be returning Lady Elizabeth home early, which would be why they’re eating now. May we walk and take in more of the sights?” she asked.
“Certainly,” he replied. “I must build up my appetite for the thinly sliced ham.”
She puffed out a breath at his little joke. She really wasn’t in the mood for light humor.
William led her away to stroll down a less crowded path near a wooded area of Vauxhall. Louisa had heard these wooded areas were designed for couples seeking privacy—and from what she could now see, they could do it quite successfully. She suspected many gentlemen had traipsed these wooded areas with ladies over the years.
She wouldn’t think about it.
She didn’t want to think about any of it.
“What’s troubling you, Louisa?” William asked her. “All seemed well enough between us when I left you yesterday. I thought we had reached an understanding.”
Louisa looked about. They were out of earshot of anyone, but probably for the first time in her life, she was unwilling to open her mouth. She was afraid that if she spoke, a Pandora’s box of hurt and resentment and angry questions would be released and would never be contained again. “Nothing is troubling me,” she lied. “I don’t know where you got such an absurd notion.”
* * *
Something had definitely upset Louisa since he’d left her yesterday. She was behaving wholly out of character.
On impulse, he grabbed her hand and pulled her none too gently toward a path that led into one of the denser wooded areas.
“People are watching,” she said, trying to pull her hand from his grasp.
“Then don’t struggle. You’ll only draw more attention to us.”
“I’m not struggling!”
“Yes, you are.”
