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“No, he is not to know anything of it until it is much too late,” Lady Havisham said firmly, as Deborah pressed both hands to her cheeks, feeling them hot and herself unsteady. “You must give me your word, Havisham.”
“I do not understand –”
“I do not care whether or not you understand! You must give me your word.”
Her heart was beating so furiously that Deborah was sure that the sound of it echoed around the room. Desperately, she found the strength to look into Lord Havisham’s face and saw him looking back at her with a frown of confusion creasing his brow.
But then he nodded, and Deborah closed her eyes in relief.
“You have my word, of course.” There was a gentleness in his voice that Deborah had not heard before, and her relief was so overwhelming that she thought she might sink to the floor. “Forgive me for my previous harshness, Miss Fullerton.”
She could not speak. The audacity of his request, so simply given when he had been so blunt, so cruel in his words, meant that she was unable to answer him.
“We should depart.” Lady Havisham’s briskness broke the awkwardness and, the next moment, Deborah felt her arm being grasped gently as she fell into step with Lady Havisham. “The ball will not wait. I think, Havisham, that Miss Fullerton and I will take the carriage alone. We will send it back for you.”
Deborah did not dare glance behind her, quite certain that Lord Havisham would explode with irritation at such a demand – but Lady Havisham’s words were met with nothing but silence.
“Come, the carriage will be waiting.” Lady Havisham’s arm slipped around Deborah’s shoulders, comforting and calming as though she were her daughter and Lady Havisham her mother. “And you shall have the most excellent evening, I am sure.”
Deborah could only nod, her heart still pounding furiously and her head already beginning to ache. Lord Havisham had proven to her, once again, that he was not the sort of gentleman she could ever consider marrying. His harsh manner and lack of consideration was an indication of a character lacking any sort of kindness.
She only hoped that she could trust Lord Havisham’s word, for if he betrayed it, then Deborah knew her future would be very dark indeed.
Chapter Five
“And who is the young lady that your mother is presenting to Lord Blake?”
Jonathan cleared his throat.
“That is Miss Deborah Fullerton, daughter of Viscount Ingleby.”
“Might I ask who she is in relation to your mother?”
Glancing at his friend, Jonathan hesitated. This was now the third ball that they had attended together and still, he was unsure as to how to introduce the young lady.
“Miss Fullerton resides with my mother at present, assisting her in some matters.”
A small frown flickered across Lord Thornley’s face.
“Then she is a companion?”
Again, came the hesitation.
“If you are wondering whether or not she is out, then the answer to such a question is yes, she is.” Jonathan saw the gleam in Lord Thornley’s eyes, caught the way his lips curved into a half-smile. “I am certain that she would be very pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Thank you.” Lord Thornley cleared his throat and pulled back his shoulders. “Do excuse me.”
Jonathan nodded but said nothing, watching as Lord Thornley made his way directly towards Miss Fullerton. His mother greeted the gentleman eagerly, having already been introduced some time ago. Sighing inwardly, Jonathan turned his head away and walked across the room, thinking that he might go in search of a game of cards rather than linger in this room. Another sennight had passed, which now made it a fortnight since his mother had arrived in London. A fortnight of being in Miss Fullerton’s company and a fortnight of finding his life a good deal more complicated than before.
“Good evening, Lord Havisham.”
Stopping, Jonathan smiled at the young ladies who each studied him with a keen eye. He knew two of them, with the first being the daughter of Viscount Anglesey and the second the daughter of the Earl of Marlock.
“Good evening, Miss Docherty, Lady Vivian.” Sweeping a bow, he glanced at the third. “Pray introduce me to your friend.”
Lady Vivian, with her bright smile and vivid blue eyes was the first to oblige him.
“Might I present Miss Judith Newfield, daughter of Viscount Kintore.”
