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“No, indeed! I am glad that he is not here, else I fear that he would attempt to end our conversation in much the same way that he ended your dancing with Lord Thornley!”
“I believe he had his reasons.”
“I am certain that he did not. No such reasons shall satisfy a gentleman who is so eagerly and obviously keen for a particular young lady’s company.” He leaned closer but Deborah moved back a fraction, not wanting to encourage him in any way. “Should you like to take a turn about the room?”
“No, thank you.” Deborah did not hold back from refusing, seeing the way his smile shattered and his brow furrowed. “Lord Harrogate, you have been very kind in seeking out my company, but I must inform you that I have no intention of pursuing you in any way.”
A small exclamation of delight came from behind her, and she turned sharply, wondering who it might be, just as Lord Thornley sped past her and came to join Lord Harrogate, who was looking decidedly disappointed.
“Lord… Thornley?” Deborah bobbed a quick curtsey, having not seen the gentleman present thus far. “Good afternoon.”
“Good afternoon.” Lord Thornley was beaming at her as though she had made him the happiest gentleman in all of London. “I am sorry to hear that you do not wish to incline yourself towards Lord Harrogate. Might I ask… you will think me most improper, but I cannot help but hope.”
Deborah blinked.
“Hope?”
“Well…,” Lord Thornley sounded hesitant, no longer looking directly at her. “I had hoped that, with your lack of interest in Lord Harrogate, there might be a specific interest in… someone else?”
Fire flared up into her face, but Deborah did not immediately reply. It could not be Lord Havisham that he meant but rather himself, in which case she would have to speak openly and honestly with him also.
“I had been considering you, Lord Thornley, yes,” she admitted, at which Lord Thornley grinned with evident delight. “But I confess to you also that my heart is engaged elsewhere.”
His grin disappeared in an instant.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I – I do not know how to put it more plainly,” Deborah replied, now growing a trifle embarrassed. “You have been very kind to me indeed – both of you, in fact – and I very much appreciate your consideration. However, if I am honest, I find that my heart is quite lost to another and therefore –”
“He told you of our bet, did he not?”
Deborah stared at Lord Harrogate, completely flummoxed.
“Bet?”
The man snorted, crossing his arms over his chest as his lip curled.
“You need not pretend, Miss Fullerton.”
“I am not, I assure you. I have no knowledge of this bet.”
The heat which had been within her now began to dampen as her embarrassment turned to shame as she looked from Lord Harrogate to Lord Thornley and realized that this bet had been to do with her.
“I am sure that Lord Havisham informed you of this,” Lord Thornley’s voice was filled with a furious anger that seemed to fill the room. “I threatened to reveal all that we knew about Lady Ensley, but it seems even that did not convince him.”
“Lady Ensley?” Deborah repeated, but her breathless whisper was torn away from her as the two gentlemen continued to talk.
“Then there must be a fulfillment of your threat, Thornley. If Lord Havisham has told her the truth and she now pretends to know nothing of it, then –”
“She does not know anything of it.” Deborah turned, just as Lord Havisham’s hand caught her arm. “And shall we perhaps lower our voices, unless it is that you wish for every single gentleman of thetonto know about your foolishness?”
For whatever reason, this statement seemed to blow away both Lord Harrogate and Lord Thornley’s bluster, for they both dropped their heads and muttered something under their breath.
“Miss Fullerton, I apologize for my absence this morning.” Lord Havisham’s hand was still on her arm, but when she looked up into his face, there was nothing but gravity there. “I had wanted to speak to you before the afternoon soiree, but I slept overlong. Perhaps it is because my heart contains such a great deal of happiness given what we shared yesterday.” A tiny smile pulled at one side of his mouth and Deborah returned it, still very unsure of what was going on. “However, given that these twofinegentlemen have already spoken to you, it seems that I must tell you the truth.” The irony of his words was not lost upon Lord Thornley and Lord Harrogate, for they grimaced and looked away, their jaws jutting forward. “I have been a coward, Miss Fullerton.”
Deborah blinked at him, a tight hand grasping her heart.
“I do not understand.”
