“Come now, Titania,” Merry said, now sounding truly concerned. “This is the first time I have seen you hesitate in such a manner. Is it from a gentleman? Or does it hold news that has troubled you in some way?”
Seeing that Merry’s expression was no longer filled with disdain, Titania drew in a long breath and looked down at the letter again. “It is from Lord Carroway,” she said without hesitation. “He wishes to call upon me, even though we have not been introduced.”
“Then you absolutely cannot allow him to do so,” Merry said fervently. “You and he have not been introduced! It would be most improper.”
Titania tilted her head and regarded her sister, thinking quickly. “Which makes his request all the more intriguing, does it not?” she murmured, aware that Merry frowned almost at once upon hearing this. “You cannot pretend that what was said about him last evening has not captured your attention!”
Merry threw a glance towards Catherine, who was looking rather confused given that she did not know anything about what had occurred last evening. “I should not like to think that Lord Huckleby’s warnings have gone without you giving them due consideration, Titania,” she said slowly. “Surely you must know that a rake such as Lord Carroway should not be given even a moment of your time!”
“A rake?” Catherine repeated, sounding a little confused. “How do you know this, Merry?”
Titania quickly explained. “Lord Carroway was present last evening, and Lord Huckleby spoke to us of him. It was rather strange that, thereafter, Lord Carroway watched me, smiled, and then turned away.” She shook her head to herself, biting her lip for a moment. “He did not seek an introduction, and now he wishes to call upon me without explanation.”
Catherine frowned hard; her eyes fixed upon Titania. “And you are considering accepting his request?” she asked, sounding a little cautious. “Are you sure that is wise, Titania? You know that Mama will not be at all pleased if you encourage such a gentleman’s company.”
“They may be nothing but rumors!” Titania protested, suddenly finding herself more than eager to meet with Lord Carroway. In fact, she was suddenly filled with excitement at the prospect. “There may be a simple explanation for his lack of introduction at the ball. After all, I constantly found myself in conversation and certainly did not lack for dance partners. It may be that he was simply unable to do so.” Rising to her feet with a sense of determination filling her, she hurried across to the writing desk and immediately began to pen a response. “And I shall ask him to call upon me tomorrow, when you may both be present. I shall ensure that Mama is busy elsewhere, so she will have nothing to concern herself with.”
A small chuckle came from Catherine who, unlike Merry, seemed to be finding the prospect of such a thing to be rather mirthful.
“What if he is boring and staid then?” she asked, getting up and wandering about the room. “What if, as you have said, the rumors are nothing more than that, and you find him to be entirely boring?”
Titania couldn’t help but laugh, ignoring Merry’s dark stare. “I hardly think that I should care about that,” she stated, as Catherine chuckled again. “If he is dull, then I need not see him again. That is all.”
“And what if he makes improper advances towards you?” Merry asked, her voice filled with warning. “What then?”
Titania lifted her head with a sigh of exasperation escaping from her lips. “I hardly think it will come to that, Merry, given that both yourself and Catherine shall be present with me,” she stated, quite calmly.
Merry bit her lip, a line forming between her brows. “I do not understand why you are so very keen to be introduced to this gentleman in such an improper manner,” she stated, her gaze still fixed on Titania. “What is it about him that captures you so, particularly when you have such attentions from many other gentlemen, including Lord Huckleby?”
Titania could not immediately answer, finding that she did not have a ready explanation. Her hand remained poised above the paper, her eyes drifting away from her sister, and she considered her response. Merry and Catherine said nothing, waiting for her to speak, but still, Titania could not find an easy explanation. How could she tell them that there had been something in his eyes that had caught her attention? How could she say that she had been unable to forget him since he had smiled at her and then walked away? How could she state that her mind had been filed with thoughts of him all through the previous evening and then again this morning?
“My goodness,” Catherine murmured, catching Titania’s attention. “You are bewitched I think, Titania!”
“No, indeed,” Titania replied, swiftly, aware of the color that was rising in her cheeks as she tried to dismiss her sister’s words. “I am simply intrigued by him, that is all.”
Merry lifted an eyebrow but said nothing more, shaking her head as she looked away. Catherine laughed softly and wandered to the window, the discussion seemingly brought to a close. Titania ignored them both as best as she could and instead turned her hand to writing her letter to Lord Carroway. Yes, she wrote, she would be glad if he would call upon her tomorrow afternoon for a short visit. Perhaps then, Titania thought to herself, as she signed her name, she might be able to remove this strange curiosity about the man from her mind and, thereafter, focus on the particular attentions of Lord Huckleby, who was infinitely the best match for her should he choose to pursue her.
Sealing the letter, Titania smiled to herself as she rose to ring the bell. A small ball of excitement settled in her stomach as she waited for the footman to arrive to carry the letter from her and to Lord Carroway. Just what were his reasons for wishing to call upon her? And would she find herself disappointed should it become apparent that the r
umors about him were quite true? Or was there something even more exciting about being on close acquaintance with someone considered to be a rake?
Swallowing hard, Titania smoothed her gown and tried to settle her mind. She would have a busy afternoon given that she was expecting a good many gentleman callers. It would be best if she forgot about Lord Carroway entirely until the morrow. For the moment, she had a good many other gentlemen to entertain.
Chapter Seven
“You are quite certain?”
Edward nodded as he looked up at Lieutenant James. “Indeed,” he said, firmly. “He stated very clearly that he was seeking out Miss Titania Wells, although he did not say for what reason. Ravel was mentioned however.”
The lieutenant frowned, rubbing his chin with two fingers as he considered. “Then Miss Wells may be involved in some way.”
“I cannot agree with you there,” Edward said quickly. “For if that were the case, then why did this man seek to have her done in the first evening I came upon him?” He saw the lieutenant frown and knew that he had made his point. “The first evening I found Miss Wells, she was fighting for her life against the very same man who died two nights ago. If she was involved in any way, if she truly is working for the French, then it makes no particular sense for him to attempt to kill her.”
Lieutenant James nodded slowly. “You are correct in that, I will agree.”
“Therefore, I believe we have made an error of judgment in not ensuring her safety,” Edward continued quickly, before the lieutenant could say anything more. “I have a man watching the house at the present and another will take over come the evening, but I believe that I must further my acquaintance with the lady in order to discover what it is that she knows or possesses that Ravel so eagerly seeks.” He felt himself alive with both anticipation and an eagerness to hurry to her side, knowing that his appointment with her was due within the hour. “It may be that she herself is entirely unaware of what she has in her possession that is of such great importance.”
The lieutenant sighed heavily and let his hands fall to his sides. “And still, we have no knowledge of who this ‘Ravel’ is, or of his plans as regards our royal family,” he stated, sounding exasperated. “If the king or the prince regent is in danger, then we must ensure that they are our very first priority.”