Chapter Eleven

"Are you ready, Temperance?"

Temperance's stomach was churning so furiously, she felt as though she might cast up her accounts at the slightest provocation. "I do not think I can do this, Aunt."

"I know." Lady Hartford shook her head and then reached to squeeze Temperance's hand. "But be grateful that Lord Barlington himself is not present. You must consider this moment – and the conversation which is sure to follow – as the moment to make it quite plain to both your parents that you have no intention of seeking Lord Barlington's company again."

Temperance trembled violently. The arrival of her parents had been pleasant enough for she had been able to greet them and had spoken with them briefly before her mother and father had chosen to retire to their bedchamber. At breakfast, however, Temperance's mother had made it quite clear that there was something of significance that she wished to discuss with her – and though she had not given any specific statements as to what that might be, Temperance knew in her heart that it was about Lord Barlington. The time had now come for that conversation and try as she might, she could not find a way to escape it.

"Even the thought of speaking of him fills me with dread," she whispered, clutching her aunt's hand as she began to make her way to the drawing room. "I do not want to even mention him!"

"But mention him you must," her aunt replied, firmly. "I have already spoken to my sister. I have told her exactly what I think as regards this notion of hers and have made my feelings very plain indeed… but alas, I do not think that she will listen to me. You must be strong, my dear. You must state quite clearly, that you have no intention of even being in the same room as Lord Barlington."

Temperance nodded, her nerves writhing as she stepped into the drawing room, her aunt close behind her. She managed a faint smile as her mother rose to her feet, coming across the room to take her daughter's hands.

"My dear girl, do come and sit down. Your father and I have been waiting for you." Her eyes flicked to her daughter's cheek and, much to Temperance's embarrassment, she turned her to one side, clearly gazing at the scar on her cheek. "That is still very severe, is it not?"

"It is not inclined to improve, Mama," Temperance answered, her face growing hot as she pulled her hands away from her mother's.

"There must be some creams or perhaps even poultices – "

"Tea, sister?" Lady Hartford stepped forward and gave Temperance a gentle smile, encouraging her to sit down and making her feel grateful that her aunt had interrupted her mother's questions and suggestions. No-one had looked at her scar with such an obvious eye in some time and Temperance recoiled from it, feeling shame bloom in her heart all over again.

"Thank you, Aunt," she murmured, as a cup of tea was set down before her. Daring a glance towards her father, Temperance let out a small sigh, seeing how his head lolled back as his eyes flickered closed. Evidently, he was not exactly eager to take part in this particular conversation. It seemed that this was just as her aunt had suspected; this notion of a healing between Temperance and Lord Barlington had been primarily her mother's idea.

"Now, Temperance." The Duchess smiled across the room at her though Temperance did not respond. "We have come to tell you some wonderful news!"

Temperance lifted her chin but kept her gaze steady. "Is that so?"

"Yes, indeed!" the Duchess exclaimed, before shooting a look towards her husband. Unfortunately, the Duke was now sound asleep and could not hear a single word which was being said to him. "Your father is clearly fatigued so therefore, I shall speak on his behalf. He is just as eager as I to tell you of this news!"

Temperance said nothing and instead, lifted her tea cup to take a sip, hoping that it would fortify her a little.

"The Marquess of Barlington came to call upon us recently," her mother continued, making Temperance tremble visibly. "He is greatly sorrowful about what happened. He regrets stepping away from you as he did and, in that, he now hopes that there can be a reconciliation between you."

Closing her eyes, Temperance shook her head.

"You will struggle to consider that, I understand," her mother continued, quickly, "but think about it practically, Temperance! Lord Barlington is a gentleman with an excellent title, only one under the Dukedom of your father. He has a grand estate and is sure to have an excellent fortune. Why should you refuse to even consider him?"

"In case you have forgotten, Mama, that gentleman broke my heart," Temperance answered, hating that there was a slight tremble in her voice. "He turned away from me. He rejected me – and all because of my appearance. An accident injured me and yet he did not truly care about that. The only thing he desired was his own standing in society and thus, he stepped away from me without considering what I might feel because of that."

Her mother sighed and tutted lightly. "I am not saying that he did well, Temperance. However, he is clearly regretful and surely that is something which should be considered?"

"Considered?" Despite her best efforts, Temperance's anger flared. "Why should I consider him when he did not consider me? I am the one who is injured, I am the one who has been shamed by him and yet you ask me to consider the regret that he feels?"

"It does seem a little short sighted, Mary." Lady Hartford sat down and looked to her sister, her eyes sharp. "I do not know why you would insist upon such a thing."

The Duchess sighed heavily and looked away from Temperance, turning to Lady Hartford instead. "I am sure that you can understand it, should you be willing to try to think of it, my dear sister."

Temperance closed her eyes, already aware of what it was her mother was attempting to suggest. This was, as her aunt had thought, all about matrimony and Temperance's future. Clearly, her mother did not want to have a daughter unmarried, a daughter left to be a spinster, and thus, she thought that the only way forward was for her to return again to Lord Barlington's embrace.

The thought horrified her.

"My niece is happy here," Lady Hartford said, softly. "I am happy for her to remain here – to live here – for as long as she pleases."

"I am happy here," Temperance added, there was a slight wobble to her voice. "I do not think that anything needs to change. I am more than contented here. I have been able to recover from what happened, I have begun to heal from my emotional turmoil and I have been able to paint as often as I please. My dear Mama, surely you must be able to see that I am happy here… as happy as I can be. I do not want to even set eyes upon Lord Barlington! The thought has already distressed me a great deal."

Her mother clicked her tongue in obvious disappointment. "I think that is a great shame, Temperance."

A slight wave of relief washed over Temperance as she looked away from her mother. Was this to be the end of the conversation? Was it that she could be free from the suggestion that Lord Barlington be brought back into her life? Perhaps she had misjudged her mother. Mayhap she was going to listen to everything that she had said and choose not to press forward with this matter.

"I shall tell you something, Temperance, that may change your mind," the Duchess said, sitting forward in her chair and offering her daughter a warm smile which immediately pulled away the relief that had washed through Temperance only a moment ago. "Lord Barlington, in his regret and his sorrow, has chosen to come to join us here."

Temperance closed her eyes, letting out a slow breath. "Yes, Mama. I am aware that he has chosen to come to this area."

"He has eschewed society in order to come and be in company with you!" The Duchess exclaimed, her eyes flaring wide, her hands flinging either side. "Do you not understand? He has given up a great deal in order to come to see you, simply to express his regret and his deep sadness over what he has done!"

With a heaviness in her heart, Temperance shook her head. "That makes no difference to me."

"Well, it should!" her mother exclaimed, her eyes still wide. "He is a marquess ! He is a gentleman who is eager to see you again despite what happened to you!"

Temperance's heart began to break all over again as her mother spoke. The lack of sympathy, of understanding and the clear push towards Lord Barlington made her want to either scream or cry, such was the pain within her. Her mother did not seem to care about what she thought. The only thing she wanted was for her daughter to become a married lady and the only way that she could do that was to press her back towards the very gentleman who had caused her an unspeakable amount of pain.

"I think that you should listen to your mother. "

Blinking back fresh tears, Temperance looked to her father who, having seemingly been asleep, now shifted in his chair and cracked open one eye to look at her.

"I have spoken to Lord Barlington at length and I understand that he is truly sorry for his actions. You must understand, my dear girl, that I was not at all inclined towards hearing a word he had to say but, after your mother came to me with her thoughts on the matter, I decided that I should listen to him. That is all we are asking of you at present, Temperance. We are not stating that you must accept his offer of courtship, when it is given, nor are we saying that you should begin to consider matrimony. All we are asking is that you let him speak to you. Is that truly so much to ask?"

"Yes," Temperance whispered, only for her mother to interject.

"Then it is settled! Temperance, you know very well that it is expected of you to do as your father states. Therefore, I will send a note to Lord Barlington and tell him to come to call tomorrow afternoon – or at his earliest convenience."

Yet again, tears sprang into Temperance's eyes but rather than let them fall, rather than let them dash down to her cheeks and let her mother see her in such a state of upset, she simply rose to her feet, excused herself and quit the room.

Within a few minutes, she was outside, walking hurriedly along the path to the clifftops, her tears now flowing furiously and yet being whipped away by the wind. Her heart was so painful, it was almost too difficult to breathe, her hands curling into fists as she fought to keep ahold of herself.

I am going to have to see him again, she realized, her chest tight with sadness and anger. I am going to have to endure him speaking with me, hearing him telling me of his regret and his upset. I will have to look him in the eye and see my mother's encouraging smile just behind him. And I will feel myself broken all over again.

"Lady Temperance?"

Temperance dashed her tears with the back of her hand, seeing two figures come towards her. The first she recognized as Lord Thurston, the gentleman calling her name, and the other with him was Lord Calverton. Her heart leapt suddenly though she quickly forced it quiet. Somehow, seeing him made her difficulty with Lord Barlington seem a little less.

"Good afternoon." She offered a small smile but didn't quite manage to meet their gaze, wondering if her eyes were a little red. "Are you enjoying your walk?"

Lord Calverton nodded. "Yes, we are." There was a hint of concern in his voice as he took a small step closer. "Are you quite all right, Lady Temperance? Is something the matter?"

She did not know what to say. She looked up into his eyes, holding his gaze steadily. Dare she tell both Lord Thurston and himself the truth about her present feelings? Or would it be best to keep all of this to herself?