Chapter Twelve

To James' mind, Lady Temperance looked rather distraught. Her bonnet was slightly askew, her eyes darting here and there and he could not help but notice how she squeezed her hands together and then released them over and over again.

"Are you quite all right, Lady Temperance? Is something the matter?"

He could tell from the way that she bit her lip that she was uncertain as to whether or not to share with him whatever had taken place. Lord Thurston glanced at him and James offered a slight shrug.

"I think I shall take a walk down to the shore," Lord Thurston said, with a small smile in Lady Temperance's direction. "Do excuse me."

"Should you like to join us?" James asked, turning just a little to offer her his arm. "If you like, you would be very welcome to take a short walk and I can promise you I will not ask you any more questions, should you have no desire to speak."

Lady Temperance took his arm with a small smile and James' heart turned over on itself as he walked alongside her. Lord Thurston continued to walk a few steps ahead of them both and as they walked, James heard the long, sorrowful sigh which came from Lady Temperance. He had to clamp his mouth shut for fear that he would begin to do the very thing he had promised he would not do; namely to ask her what the trouble was.

"I want to thank you again for what you did in informing me of Lord Barlington's arrival." Lady Temperance glanced up at him as they approached the steps and the path which would take them down to the shore. "My mother and father are insisting that I speak with him. Indeed, my mother is insisting that I consider him, in fact."

James' eyebrows lifted. "Consider him?" he repeated, as Lady Temperance nodded. "You mean to say that – " Embarrassed at his own lack of control, James clamped his mouth shut and gave her a slight shake of his head. "Forgive me."

"It is quite all right. I would be telling Lady Thurston of it all and, no doubt, you would hear of it soon enough." She sighed again and looked away from him. "My mother is most insistent that I think about engaging myself to Lord Barlington again. She thinks that the best suggestion as regards my future would be to consider marrying the very gentleman who broke my heart by his rejection and betrayal."

"I can imagine that the thought of that is a very displeasing one."

She looked up at him, her face a little flushed, her eyes blinking rapidly. "It is. The reason you find me out walking at this time – and in something of a flustered state – is because my own considerations were not listened to. My mother and father both insist that I am to consider Lord Barlington again, that I have no other choice but to do so. I have protested, I have told them what I feel and why my inclination is set entirely against him but the choice has been taken from me."

Anger began to lick up James' heart but he kept himself steady rather than responding in any way. Why would any parent force such a thing upon their daughter? He himself did not know Lady Temperance very well as yet but even he could see how much she was troubled by this. He could not imagine the pain that she was enduring, having already dealt with a great deal.

"And thus, Lord Barlington is going to call very soon and I will be expected not only to tolerate his presence but also to listen to him as he expresses various sentiments – none of which I want to listen to. It seems that both he and my parents are entirely unaware that I am contented just as I am." Her gaze grew rather wistful as she looked out across the ocean, her expression softening. "The last two years, I have become very happy here. I have found myself free rather than trapped. There is a contentedness within me which I did not expect to find and I do not want to be pulled away from it. My mother may not like that it appears I am to be a spinster but what of my own feelings?"

James' stomach dropped low and he swallowed hard, suddenly a little distressed at hearing the satisfaction of which she spoke. Was she truly happy at being a spinster? Did she not desire anything more?

"I do not think I will be able to express such a thing to Lord Barlington, however," Lady Temperance continued, as James fought to control his own emotions and simply listen to her. "He will be more interested in telling me about his own feelings rather than listen to my own." Her eyes closed tightly and James' heart twisted with sympathy. "I will not be able to say anything to him, I will be forced only to listen. No doubt he will offer a great many words to try and convince me, to almost demand that I accept what he has to say."

"Mayhap I could help?" James saw how her eyebrows lifted, but then pressed on. "If you knew of when he was to call, then mayhap my mother and I might come to call at the very same time? It would mean that he would be interrupted and mayhap, you would not have to endure for so very long?"

After a moment, Lady Temperance smiled and James found himself smiling back as they finally stepped out onto the beach.

"Would you truly do such a thing for me?"

"I would, of course I would. And I am certain that my mother would be very glad to call upon you again and should Lord and Lady Thurston know of this visit also, then I am certain they would join us also! It could be an unexpected visit but it would also show Lord Barlington that you have friends here, that you are well connected and do not require his company."

Lady Temperance's smile grew bigger, though her eyes glistened gently. "That would be quite wonderful. I would not have thought about such a thing myself."

"Then shall we tell Lord Thurston?"

With a nod, Lady Temperance called to Lord Thurston and, turning, the gentleman came to join them again post-haste. Without hesitation, Lady Temperance began to explain what had happened, ending by asking Lord Thurston if he and his wife might join James to call almost at the very same time.

Lord Thurston, just as James had known he would, agreed at once.

"I should be very glad to do so," Lord Thurston said quickly, as James offered him a small smile. "And I know that Penelope will want to do the very same thing."

Lady Temperance let out a slow breath but this time, she was smiling. "This has made me feel a great deal better. Thank you. Thank you both."

"But of course." James smiled back at her. "Will you write a note to either Lady Thurston or to myself so that we know when to call? "

"I will write to you both," came the reply. "Thank you, Lord Thurston, thank you, Lord Calverton." Her eyes closed briefly, her smile faltering a little. "While this may be a very difficult situation, it is already a little easier knowing that my friends will be there."

James' heart lifted as Lord Thurston responded with encouraging words. Yes, he thought to himself, I am Lady Temperance's friend.

The question which came next made his heart twist, his brows furrowing with uncertainty.

What if he wanted to be something more?

***

"You are not eating, my son."

James looked up at his mother, having been entirely lost in thought. "I am sorry, Mother, I did not hear what you said."

She smiled at him, her eyes twinkling. "I said that you are not eating but evidently, you are not listening to me either!"

A slight heat touched James' cheeks. "I am sorry. My thoughts are… elsewhere."

"Oh?"

The edge of James' lip lifted. "Mother, we are going to call on Lady Hartford and Lady Temperance tomorrow. Though I am not certain what time we are to call as yet."

Light lit up his mother's features. "How wonderful!"

"That is why I am caught up in my thoughts," James explained. "Lady Temperance is in something of a difficulty. Her mother and father have come to reside with Lady Hartford, but they have also brought another guest with them, though he is not residing in the same place."

"And who is this guest?"

James closed his eyes for a moment, still barely able to believe that the Duke and Duchess were so blind to their daughter's suffering. "The Marquess of Barlington intends to come to call upon Lady Temperance, desiring to speak of his regret and sorrow over what he did in separating and ending their engagement."

There was nothing but silence for a few moments. James looked back at his mother, seeing the slight twitch of her lips, noting the darkness which flashed in her eyes and understanding that she now felt the very same way as he.

"How utterly… !" Lady Calverton's expression scrunched into one of anger. "That is ridiculous. That poor girl! How injured she must be knowing that is the gentleman's intention! Whyever would the Duke of Danfield permit that gentleman back into her sphere?"

"I do not know."

"Ah." Lady Calverton closed her eyes, shaking her head. "Of course."

James' eyebrows lifted as he waited for his mother to explain.

"He will think – as will his wife – that no other gentleman would consider her given her injury. And thus, if the Marquess has shown an interest in the lady again, then they will consider it best that their connection is reformed. That way, Lady Temperance would be married and settled and would not be a spinster which, of course, the Duke – or mayhap, the Duchess – might consider something of an embarrassment."

"Lady Temperance's happiness does not seem to matter one whit," James muttered, finding his anger returning. "Mother, I spoke to Lady Temperance about this situation earlier today. We happened upon each other and it was decided that not only the two of us but also Lord and Lady Thurston would all arrive at Lady Hartford's residence at the very same time as Lord Barlington comes to call. Lady Hartford will be made aware of this plan, I am sure, but the Duke and Duchess – and Lord Barlington himself, of course – will not be. You understand our intention, I am sure!"

"To disrupt Lord Barlington's visit with Lady Temperance, thereby bringing her relief," his mother said, with a firm nod. "Of course I understand. I am glad to help."

"Good. I thank you."

"You are aware that your consideration of Lady Temperance is growing, are you not?"

The quiet question made James frown. "It is not something that should be a surprise, I should think. Every gentleman, every lady with a kind heart would see her in the very same way as I."

"Though mayhap without the edge of affection?"

James blinked and then let his brows drop low. "Mother, please. While I am aware that I must marry and preserve the family line, you cannot think that I would then pursue Lady Temperance, someone who has been left broken-hearted and deeply pained by the behaviour of another gentleman? It is clear to me that the young lady requires friendship and support rather than the pursuit of affection."

His mother only smiled and James, a little frustrated that she had been able to see something within his actions which he himself had been unable to hide from her – and evidently, from himself as well – let out a heavy sigh.

"Please, do not make such connections in your thoughts, Mother," he said, firmly. "My only desire is to aid Lady Temperance in any way I can, to make her life a little happier than it is at present."

"And what if your heart begins to hold a little more affection for her than you had expected?" she asked, quietly. "Surely there can be nothing wrong in pursuing a young lady such as she?"

James shook his head. "It is clear from what she said this afternoon that she is more than contented as she is. I believe she stated, quite clearly, that she is happy to be a spinster, to live with her aunt and her uncle and – "

"That is because she believes that no gentleman would ever look at her and consider her as a lady ought to be considered," Lady Calverton interrupted, sharply. "Do you not see that, Calverton?"

James tilted his head. "Mayhap," he remarked, softly. "But for the moment, my only desire is to aid her. That is all that I want."

"Very good." His mother smiled. "Then have no doubt, I will be alongside you in every respect. Lady Temperance will be saved from Lord Barlington… and Lord Barlington will not know what to do with himself by the time I am finished with him!"

Chuckling softly, James lifted a glass in his mother's direction. "I look forward to seeing it, Mother," he replied, seeing her grin. "Until tomorrow, then."