Lord Franks cleared his throat gruffly, whilst Lady Callander looked from Carolyn to Lord Franks and back again, clearly rather overwhelmed by Carolyn’s forwardness and therefore finding it very difficult to know what to say.
“Forgive me.”
Carolyn inclined her head graciously. “But of course, Lord Franks,” she said, a little relieved that he had taken her words seriously. “Again, if you wish to see my brother, I am sure that –”
“Please, forgive me for my foolishness,” Lord Franks said quickly, not looking at her but keeping his gaze now low to the ground. “It is nothing of importance. A matter of insignificance, I assure you.” His smile was a little awkward. “A debt that I owe him after a game of cards.”
“I see.” Carolyn could understand this, she decided. A debt might weigh on a gentleman’s mind and, he might very well want to make a good impression on Lord Hamilton so therefore, sought to pay his debt just as soon as he could. “I quite understand and will inform my brother when he returns that you would like to see him.”
Lord Franks shook his head. “Pray, do not,” he said, with a sligh
tly pleading look. “It would be something I would prefer to deal with myself, truly.”
Carolyn shrugged but granted him his request. “Very well,” she said, noting the look of relief on his face. “Now, might you tell me where exactly in Scotland your estate is?” Her knowledge of Scotland was somewhat lacking, but that did not mean she could not show some interest. The conversation flowed pleasantly enough and soon, all confusion and surprise over his initial remarks were gone from her mind.
“I must now take my leave.”
Carolyn smiled and rose to her feet, noting that Lord Franks had stayed a little longer than the time usually set for gentlemen to call upon a young lady. “But of course,” she said, rising to her feet and curtsying. “Thank you for calling on me, Lord Franks. I hope you found our conversation as enjoyable as I.”
His eyes glittered unexpectedly and Carolyn felt a swooping fear catch her heart and pull it out from her chest and up into the sky. She could not explain it, wondering at the sudden thundering of her heart and finding herself lost in the sudden darkness of his hazel eyes.
“I should like to call upon you again, Miss Hemmingway.”
She blinked rapidly, unable to prevent her heart from slamming furiously into her chest and wondering if he could hear it. When he extended his hand towards her, it took her a moment to realize that he was seeking to bow over it, although she did oblige him, even if it was rather tentative.
“Would you be willing to have me call upon you again, Miss Hemmingway?” he asked, his head lifting from where he had bent over her hand. “I promise I shall be much improved in my conversation should you grant me another opportunity.”
She tried to laugh, seeing that his eyes no longer glittered with the same darkness as she had first seen. “But of course,” she replied, her throat constricting just a little. “I thank you, Lord Franks.”
He smiled at her, seeming to be quite delighted at her acceptance. “Wonderful,” he said, quietly, still holding her hand as he looked into her eyes. “Then might we say tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow afternoon?” she repeated, as though this was a little too soon for her liking. Catching a look from Lady Callander, Carolyn made sure to speak with enthusiasm. “I suppose…. well, yes, of course, Lord Franks. That would be more than suitable.”
“Excellent,” he murmured, finally letting go of her hand and bowing towards Lady Callander so that he might take his leave. Carolyn watched as he quit the room, feeling herself both confused and a little concerned over his strange actions.
“I thank you, Bridgette,” she muttered, heavily, sinking down into nearby chair and looking at her friend. “Thank you for being here with me this afternoon. I confess, I do not think that went very well at all.”
Lady Callander pressed her hands to her mouth, her eyes shining as she looked back at Carolyn. “You do not understand, do you?” she whispered, her words muffled behind her hands. “You do not even think of what this might mean!”
Thoroughly confused, Carolyn stared back at her friend, seeing the light in her expression and wondering at it.
“Do you not see?” Lady Callander asked, her hands back down at her lap now.” Do you not wonder why he is so eager to speak to your brother?”
“Because of a gambling debt,” Carolyn said, slowly, looking at her friend and seeing her shake her head. “But that must be so for that is what he said!”
Lady Callander shook her head, holding Carolyn’s gaze. “And tell me, do you always mean everything you say?”
Carolyn frowned. “No, I do not,” she admitted, without hesitation. “But what does Lord Franks want?”
Sighing heavily, as though Carolyn were nothing more than a foolish child who did not understand the ways of the world, Lady Callander attempted to explain.
“Lord Franks came here with the sole intention of seeing your brother,” she said, firmly. “I do not believe he came to call upon you but rather to call upon your brother.”
“But my brother wasn’t home.”
Shrugging, Lady Callander’s smile tipped. “But mayhap he expected him to be. This ‘debt’ that he spoke of I believe is quite false. I think instead that he has other intentions.”
“Intentions?” Carolyn still remained quite at a loss as to what was being spoken of. “I do not understand.”