“I must hope so,” Lady Madeline said, as Bridgette shook her head again, still trying to appear doleful.
“Indeed we must,” she said, putting an enquiring look in her eyes as she looked to her friend. “Did you not tell me recently, Lady Madeline, that when you were last pulled into the attentions of a gentleman, you discovered something quite dreadful about him? Something that shocked you terribly?”
Lady Madeline gasped, one hand to her heart and her eyes wide. “Indeed!” she exclaimed. “Indeed, it was truly awful.”
Lord Chesterfield frowned. “I am sorry to hear it,” he said, as Lord Millerton settled his free hand over Bridgette’s own as it rested on his arm, evidently aware that the moment was near. “Might I ask what it was that upset you so?”
Lady Madeline sighed heavily, her hand still pressed lightly to her heart, her eyes downcast.
“It is embarrassing even to speak of it,” she said softly, as the birds in the trees began to sing, making Bridgette smile. “But I will tell you regardless, even if you will think me foolish for finding such a thing upsetting.” She took in another breath and sighed heavily. “I discovered that he….” She trailed off, giving the impression that she found what was being said much too difficult to bear.
“The gentleman in question attended Madame Bereford’s house, after almost every social occasion,” Bridgette interrupted, her voice a little too loud given the topic of conversation. “Was that not so, Lady Madeline?”
She dared not look at Lord Chesterfield, her eyes on her friend Lady Madeline, who walked with disappointment in her face, her shoulders slumping.
“It is so,” Lady Madeline replied, heavily. “It was truly shocking, I must tell you.”
Lord Chesterfield said nothing in response, clearing his throat in such a loud manner that Bridgette had no other reason but to look at him in surprise.
“Do excuse me, Lady Callander, Lady Madeline,” he coughed, still rubbing a hand over his throat. “Yes, indeed, I can well understand why such a thing would astonish you utterly.” He tutted loudly as though that noise would make up for his lack of immediate response. “I am sorry to hear such a thing.”
“It is not a place I hope you attend, Lord Chesterfield,” Lady Madeline said, sounding a little reproachful. “That is something I cannot abide and will not abide.”
“No, no, indeed not,” Lord Chesterfield said, firmly shaking his head. “It is a truly horrific act for someone who seeks to court a lady of quality.”
“I am very relieved to hear it,” Lady Madeline replied, simpering up at Lord Chesterfield almost at once, pretending to be very glad to hear such sentiments from him. “That is not the sign of a true gentleman, as far as I am concerned.”
“Of course not!” Lord Chesterfield agreed, puffing out his chest. “I do hope that this lifts me a little higher in your estimation, Lady Madeline.”
Bridgette murmured something quietly to Lord Millerton and together, they fell back behind Lord Chesterfield and Lady Madeline.
“I should like to know a little more about you, certainly,” Lady Madeline said, jovially. “Do tell me about your estate and the like, Lord Chesterfield.”
Bridgette pulled Lord Millerton back a little more.
“We must allow Lady Madeline the time she requires to speak to Lord Chesterfield,” she murmured, as Lord Millerton nodded. “I am sure she will be able to find out about his ships.”
Lord Millerton let out a long breath and then, smiling softly at her, reached across and patted her hand. “You are quite right, Lady Callander,” he said, softly. “Lord Chesterfield and I are very well acquainted, you understand — to the point that I consider him my friend — and I find myself greatly troubled to consider that he might well be involved in something so disturbing, to the point that I feel like reaching across and shaking him hard, demanding to know what it is that he is doing.”
“Which is precisely why you cannot,” she told him, firmly. “We will reach the conclusion very soon, I am sure.” Smiling up at him, she felt herself relax just a little more as Lord Millerton smiled back at her. “For the moment, let us simply enjoy the walk together.”
Lord Millerton seemed to feel just as she did, for he began to stroll along beside her, a warm smile on his face and his gaze roving around the scene before them, taking everything in.
“You do know that I meant every word that I said to Lord Chesterfield, I hope?”
His words were quiet, a small gleam in his eye as he looked at her.
“I greatly appreciate that,” she answered, finding it difficult to quell the surge of joy that poured through her at his words. “I do hope that you are aware that I also feel the same?” She caught his gaze and held it, aware of how her cheeks flushed. “I — I have come to have a great regard for you, Lord Millerton.”
He stopped walking then, turning to face her, both hands holding hers. “My heart holds an affection for you, Lady Callander, that will not be denied,” he told her, honestly. “I find you to be the most extraordinary lady. You have such strength, such fortitude and yet such a great kindness within you that I almost revere you!” His smile was like honey on her tongue. “I hope, very soon, that I will be permitted to court you with all the fervor and eagerness that I desire.”
Bridgette made to say something, only to see, out of the corner of her eye, that Lord Chesterfield and Lady Madeline was returning to them. She regretfully pulled one hand from Lord Millerton’s and turned to face them, slipping her other hand through his arm.
“We thought to return,” Lady Madeline said, with a sharp look in her eye
that told Bridgette that she had discovered what she had set out to find. “The sun is very hot and I find myself rather fatigued.”
“But of course,” Lord Millerton said, warmly. “Do come along, Lady Callander.”