Titania sighed heavily as Lady Whitehaven frowned in her direction. There was a good deal of surprise in her mother’s eyes, which Titania had expected, given that Lord Carroway had not approached her in order to court Titania, but perhaps also from the fact that Titania had accepted without hesitation.
“Lord Carroway is known to be a rake, Titania,” Dinah said firmly, looking at Titania from across the dining table. “Even I, who seeks to keep myself from the rumors and the gossip that spreads like a malignant disease through the beau monde, have heard of him.”
Titania felt a good deal of irritation rise in her heart and frowned heavily in Dinah’s direction. “That is most surprising to hear, Dinah, given that you have always stated that it is important not to judge others and ensure that the truth is always sought instead of simply accepting what one hears about another.” She narrowed her eyes and saw the color flood Dinah’s cheeks. “Does it not say that ‘the Lord looks upon the heart’ instead of merely the outward appearance? Therefore, should we not do so also?”
“That is enough, Titania,” Lady Whitehaven interrupted firmly. “You are correct, but Dinah is also right to be concerned for you. The rumors about Lord Carroway are concerning.”
“But that is all they are, Mama,” Titania insisted, wishing that she could speak openly about what Lord Carroway truly did. “I have spoken to him of them, and he has shown me just how much he despises them. In truth, I cannot be certain that these idle whispers have not been started by another gentleman who dislikes Lord Carroway intensely.” She shook her head, recalling Lord Huckleby’s determination to remove her from Lord Carroway entirely, wondering how he would react when he heard that she and Lord Carroway were now courting. “Please allow me the opportunity to make my own decisions as regards the gentleman.” She looked across the table at her mother, seeing the indecision on Lady Whitehaven’s face and praying inwardly that her mother would not forbid the courtship from continuing.
“You stepped out with him earlier today, did you not?” Lady Whitehaven asked slowly, her gaze settling back onto Titania. “This Lord Carroway took you to…?”
“To the bookshop, Mama,” Titania replied quickly. “And he was the most pleasant of gentlemen.” A soft smile tugged at her lips as she considered what had passed between them, her heart filling with pleasure over what she had experienced with him. Lord Carroway had been excellent company, and they had conversed on a good many subjects for some time. They had not spoken of Ravel or of the vial, nor of the danger Titania might be in. Instead, they simply enjoyed one another’s company without even worrying about the danger that might surround them both. Lord Carroway had spoken to her of his life as an orphan and had been more than honest with her about all that he had experienced. The pain that came with not knowing the truth of his family heritage and not even knowing whether or not it truly was a duke who was responsible for his very existence was obviously a great source of pain for him, and Titania had marveled at the strength within him to continue on as he did. She could not imagine what it must be like to not know where one came from and to feel as alone as Lord Carroway stated he so often did.
“You are quite certain that you wish to allow this gentleman to court you, Titania?” Lady Whitehaven asked, as Catherine shook her head firmly beside her, making her thoughts on the matter clear. “You are aware that there may be consequences for you if he proves to be the rake that everyone believes him to be? He may set you aside if you do not respond to his less-than-proper advances.”
This riled Titania and sent a flurry of anger rushing up her spine, color filling her cheeks. “I am quite determined, Mama,” she stated plainly. “I do not believe the rumors. Lord Carroway has been nothing but a gentleman towards me, and I should like to continue my courtship.”
Lady Whitehaven pressed her lips together tightly, evidently considering all that Titania had said and weighing up the matter in her own mind. Titania waited for judgement to fall, her hands tightening into fists under the table in an attempt to calm her anxiety.
“I do not like that Lord Carroway himself did not come to speak to me of his intentions, Titania. Nor am I particularly pleased with your decision to agree to this courtship without even considering whether or not you ought to consult with me.”
“I am sorry, Mama,” Titania began, only for Lady Whitehaven to hold up one hand, silencing her.
“Therefore,” Lady Whitehaven stated, her final decision now forthcoming. “You will invite Lord Carroway to dine with us tomorrow. It will give me the opportunity to know him a little better and, if I am satisfied with his conduct and am certain that he truly means to consider you in the way that he ought, then I shall be content to allow the courtship to continue.”
Titania let out a long breath of relief. “Thank you, Mama.”
“However,” Lady Whitehaven continued in a loud voice. “If I am not convinced by him, then you will bring this courtship to an end at once. Do I make myself quite clear?” Her eyes were sharp as they landed on Titania, but Titania had no concern whatsoever, knowing that Lord Carroway would do more than convince her mother that there was no truth to the rumor that he was a rake.
“I understand,” Titania said, smiling at her mother and catching the slight softness in Lady Whitehaven’s expression. “Thank you, Mama. I shall write to him this very moment and invite him to dine with us tomorrow. Do excuse me.”
* * *
The following evening found Titania back in the dining room, sitting in her usual seat except that, this time, Lord Carroway was with them. He had been permitted to sit by her, and Titania was becoming more than aware of his presence, feeling her heart pounding with a quick, excited beat as she smiled up into his face. Lord Carroway smiled back, although there was a slight nervousness in his expression that told her he was, mayhap, a trifle anxious about this meeting.
The first few courses were served without any particular difficulty, and the conversation moved from various benign topics to ones that held a little more interest for Titania. Lord Carroway spoke well, ensuring that he spoke directly to Lady Whitehaven, Merry, Catherine, and Dinah, although the latter did not show any particular delight in engaging in conversation with him, given her quiet responses.
“Might I ask you something a little more direct, Lord Carroway?”
Dessert was being served by this point and, as Titania stiffened, she realized that her mother had grown tired of the banal conversation and was now determined to speak to the viscount directly.
“Indeed, Lady Whitehaven,” Lord Carroway replied, setting down his spoon and looking back at Titania’s mother. “I shall do my very best to answer truthfully.”
“Good.” Lady Whitehaven’s smile was tight lipped. “I am a trifle disappointed that you did not come to speak to me regarding the courtship of my daughter, Lord Carroway. It is not what is usually done.”
There was a short, tense silence, and Titania was forced to set aside her own spoon and dessert, such was her fierce nervousness that seemed to rifle all through her.
“You are correct, Lady Whitehaven.”
Titania looked at Lord Carroway sharply, seeing his expression one of regret.
> “It was clumsily done,” he continued, not looking at Titania but continuing to address Lady Whitehaven directly. “If I may speak honestly and confess something to you, then perhaps you might understand my foolishness.” So saying, he turned his head towards Titania and gave her a long look, his eyes holding something that made her breath hitch. “The truth is, Lady Whitehaven, I have never once felt so strongly for a young lady that I have found myself wishing to court her,” he said, turning back to look at Lady Whitehaven, as Titania found heat rising upwards within her, starting at her toes. “Therefore, when I realized that I wished to seek out your daughter in order to court her, I found myself doing and speaking things in a most awkward fashion. I did not do things correctly, as you say.” He shook his head and gave Titania another quick smile. “But Miss Wells accepted me regardless.”
“I see.” Lady Whitehaven’s voice was sharp, although there was a slight softening about her eyes that betrayed a growing consideration towards Lord Carroway. “You say, then, that you have not sought such a courtship before?”
“No, indeed I have not,” Lord Carroway answered truthfully, already aware of what Lady Whitehaven was asking, given that Titania had spoken to him of it prior to his arrival at dinner that evening. “I know that there are rumors about my character, Lady Whitehaven, but none of them have any grounding in truth. I am not a rake, nor am I a scoundrel. If you wish, you might speak to some of my closer acquaintances, who will tell you that I have very rarely been seen within society. It is not my preference to be so caught up in all that goes on.”
“I quite understand that,” Catherine interrupted suddenly. “Although I am surprised to hear a gentleman say such a thing.” She gave Lord Carroway a small smile, and Titania felt her hopes lifting. “It is quite unusual, you must admit.”