Edward closed his eyes and tugged his hand away from Miss Wells, knowing that he could not be found holding her hand when her sister arrived.
“Oh, Titania!” Miss Merry Wells practically flung herself at her sister, her expression filled with worry. “Miss Smythe says a gentleman attempted to coerce you away from your friends.”
Getting to his feet, Edward gave them both a small bow. “Your sister showed great courage, Miss Wells,” he said, directing his comment towards Miss Merry Wells. “She will be quite all right, but may I suggest that she always remains within your sight for the rest of the evening?”
Miss Merry Wells nodded fervently, grasping Miss Titania Wells’ arm as she rose to stand beside her. “But of course, Lord Carroway,” she agreed, not even looking at him. “Come now, Titania. We must return inside. We can take the carriage and return home if you wish it?”
To Edward’s surprise, Miss Titania Wells laughed softly, as though the suggestion was nothing more than absurd. “I do not think so, Merry,” he heard her say, falling into step behind them both. “I shall be quite safe. I know that you will be watching me closely, and I am certain that no one dare approach me in such a way when you are present.” This was said with a quick glance over her shoulder towards Edward, who found himself nodding in response. Miss Wells gave him a small, quick smile before turning her head back and climbing the stairs that led to the door of the ballroom.
Edward drew back but continued to watch Miss Wells closely, allowing her sister to lead her to a quieter corner of the ballroom before following after them. He stayed some distance away but was still able to see her clearly, glad that she was sitting in a chair and drinking something that her sister pressed into her hand. The color was slowly returning to her face and her smile remained, as she looked up at her sister. He knew full well that when she had been speaking to her sister and stating that she was certain that she would be safe if she was kept within Merry’s gaze, she had been speaking to him. His nod had been to reassure her that he would continue to watch over her as the ball came to a close, to make certain that no one approached her and that nothing further occurred thereafter. There was a new understanding between them, he realized, seeing her glance towards him. Yes, she did not understand everything, and yes, he would have to speak to her with a good deal of honesty, but at least now she knew that there was a danger that enveloped her, given what she had witnessed. He had to pray that he would be able to find a way to protect her from Ravel, and that, mayhap, she would know what it was that the man wanted from her. If she knew that, then perhaps this difficult circumstance might be brought to an end.
Although, Edward realized, smiling softly back at her, he knew now that the last thing he wanted was to bring his acquaintance with Miss Wells to an end. If anything, he only wanted to further it so that they would grow closer than ever before.
Chapter Ten
“This has been a wonderful afternoon, has it not?”
Titania did not immediately respond, t
hinking to herself that Lord Huckleby was, as Merry had stated only yesterday, more than a little arrogant. The fashionable hour was a time to be seen, a time when the high society of London came out as one, simply to look and to be acknowledged by others. Titania had not cared much for it, although there had always been something of a delight in being acknowledged by the many gentlemen that walked about the park.
This afternoon, however, she had found herself trailing alongside Lord Huckleby as she had made her way through the park. Lord Huckleby had not appeared to be interested in any way in regards to Titania. He had not talked to her a great deal but had, instead, spent most of his time greeting various acquaintances and murmuring to her about how he knew this person or the next.
Titania had not enjoyed herself at all.
“I should return you now, of course,” Lord Huckleby continued when Titania said nothing. “The carriage is waiting for us, as you see.”
“I thank you,” Titania murmured, accepting his hand and climbing into the carriage where her cousin, Dinah, waited patiently. Dinah had been encouraged to attend with Titania by Lady Whitehaven but had only agreed to go on the understanding that she would not have to attend the soiree with Lady Whitehaven this evening. Titania was doing her best to be grateful for Dinah’s company, even though her cousin was steadfastly looking out of the window of the carriage and did not even acknowledge Titania as she took her seat.
Lord Huckleby chuckled to himself, taking one last look out across the park before climbing into the carriage himself. The door was shut, and the carriage began to roll away. Titania let out a long breath, filled with relief that she would not have to endure much more of Lord Huckleby’s company. How odd it was to have been so desperate for his attention, only to realize, on closer acquaintance, that he was not at all interested in her in any way; nor did she feel interested in him. If he sought to court her, sought even to marry her, then she would be nothing more than a delicate decoration on his arm. Most likely, he would consider her vapid and uninteresting and would continually seek out the company of others so that they might fawn over him in the way he so desired.
It was not a life that she would even allow herself to consider, realizing now that Lord Huckleby was not the desirable gentleman she had thought him to be.
“What say you, Miss Wells?” Lord Huckleby said, drawing her attention back to himself yet again. “I say that we make a very fine pair. Shall we take another stroll tomorrow afternoon?”
Titania hesitated, before pasting a large, false smile on her face. “I fear that I cannot, Lord Huckleby,” she lied. “I am already engaged tomorrow afternoon.”
“Oh?” To Titania’s surprise, Lord Huckleby’s expression had grown rather dark, his smile fading very quickly and his brows lowering down. She tried to smile, lifting one shoulder in a delicate shrug.
“I am afraid that I am to go to the bookshop with Lord Carroway,” she said, praying that Lord Carroway would not mind doing such a thing. “He asked me to walk with him this afternoon but, of course, I could not, given that I had already agreed to stroll with you.”
Lord Huckleby shook his head, one hand held up in apparent protest. “I hardly think that is wise, Miss Wells,” he stated, as though he had rule over her. “You cannot go out with someone such as Lord Carroway. The rumors about him are rife, and you must know that your reputation will suffer for it.”
Titania stiffened, irritated by the way Lord Huckleby was speaking to her.
“No, indeed, I cannot permit you to risk such a thing as your reputation for someone like Lord Carroway!” Lord Huckleby continued, as though he had the right to demand that she obey him. “You will step out with me instead of with him. I insist upon it.” He beamed at her, as though this was truly a wonderful idea and as though she ought to be grateful for his interference, but Titania felt nothing but frustration.
“I hardly think that you have the right to step in with such a strong hand as this, Lord Huckleby,” she said sternly, not wanting him to have the impression that she would be acquiescing to his demands in any way. “I have already agreed to walk with Lord Carroway tomorrow afternoon, and I shall do just that.”
Lord Huckleby’s brows rose, as if he were astonished at her response. “But surely you can see that my company is preferable to that of a rake,” he said, looking mildly offended. “Wisdom should tell you that–”
“Lord Huckleby,” Titania stated firmly, aware of Dinah looking at them both now with a flicker of interest. “I am truly appreciative of your concern for me, but I will not go back on my word. I have promised Lord Carroway that I will walk with him tomorrow to the bookshop and that is precisely what I intend to do. Thereafter, if you wish to call upon me or arrange another time, I would be glad to do so.” She did not flinch from his angry gaze but held it calmly, looking back at him without any sense of fear. Titania was not about to let a gentleman she was barely acquainted with dictate whether or not she was allowed to go walking with another gentleman, especially when she believed that the rumors about Lord Carroway did not hold any truth. Her brow furrowed as she realized that Lord Huckleby had been the one to tell her of these rumors in the first place, wondering if there was something about Lord Carroway that he did not like and was, therefore, ensuring that all of society thought ill of him.
It was a strange thought, and Titania dismissed it quickly enough, aware of just how cold the atmosphere had suddenly become. Dinah must have felt it also, for she cleared her throat and gestured to something outside.
“It seems we are almost home,” she said, her voice neither cheerful nor dull. “Did you enjoy your walk about the park, Titania?”
Titania, surprised by her cousin’s sudden change of character, nodded. “I did,” she lied, seeing Lord Huckleby’s jaw work for a moment before he, too, looked out of the window. “Ah yes, I see we have arrived home.”