Chapter Twenty-Two

"Your Grace. Thank you for seeing me." James inclined his head as the Duke of Danfield nodded. "I presume you know why I have come to speak with you?"

"I do, though I must tell you that something has transpired." Without saying anything more, the Duke of Danfield handed James a glass with brandy in it, a suggestion, mayhap, that James would require such sustenance soon enough.

"I see." James took the seat to which the Duke gestured and, his stomach beginning to churn suddenly, looked back at the Duke in question. He did not understand what could have gone wrong. It had only been two days since the ball and, given that Lady Temperance had already agreed to his courtship – and had, no doubt, spoken to her father about it – he did not understand why there would be anything of concern. "Please, what it is?"

The Duke of Danfield shook his head and sighed, looking away from James. "Two days ago, Lord Calverton, I had my daughter coming to speak with me about you. She told me that you had expressed an interest in courting her and that she would very much like to accept you."

James smiled, remembering that wonderful moment. "Yes, it was at the ball. I know that I should have spoken to you beforehand but – "

"No, no, do not concern yourself with that." The Duke's frown lingered as he sat forward, looking at James with sharp eyes. "My daughter was nothing but delighted, Lord Calverton. I gave her my consent, telling her that I was truly thrilled to hear of your desire and she practically danced out of the room."

James' smile grew wider. "I am very glad to hear it, Your Grace."

"However," the Duke continued, seeming not to hear James, "yesterday, I was informed that Lord Barlington's proposal to my daughter has been accepted."

All of his breath left his body in one moment. James could barely take a breath, everything in him growing suddenly cold.

"I do not know what to make of it, if I am truthful," the Duke continued, quietly. "Lord Calverton, I am mayhap speaking a little out of turn but given that you seem to care for my daughter, I shall tell you honestly. There is something about this that does not seem right to me."

James, blinking, threw back his brandy and let the heat of it steal away some of the cold in his chest. He could not quite take in everything the Duke was saying, struggling to comprehend all that was being told to him.

"My daughter has been white faced and sorrowful ever since I was informed of this engagement." The Duke leaned forward in his chair, his eyes fixed to James. "I do not believe that she has accepted him willingly and though I have asked her about it, she simply says that it is just as she wants."

"I cannot believe that," James replied, hoarsely. "I will not believe it."

"Good." The Duke slapped his knee, making James start in surprise at the noise. "Mayhap she will speak with you."

"Do you know where she might be?" James asked, a sudden desperation coursing through him. "I must see her. I must speak with her, I do not understand why… " Dropping his head forward, he pushed his fingers through his hair. "I do not understand."

The Duke let out a long breath. "It is most grievous a thing for me to see. My wife – " He stopped short as James looked up, his eyes a little rounded. With another sigh, he continued. "My wife has long been insistent that the Marquess of Barlington is the best choice for our daughter. She was not particularly pleased to hear that you had decided to pursue Temperance, nor that Temperance had been eager to accept!"

"I presume then, without speaking out of turn, that she is pleased at this engagement?"

The Duke nodded, not appearing to be at all upset in hearing James speak so. "Yes, she is thrilled. I, however, see my daughter's sorrow and find my heart filled with worry for her. As I have said, I have tried speaking with her and she has not told me a single thing."

"Then I will do my best to find out the truth," James said quickly, getting to his feet. "I cannot fathom the reasoning behind her desire to accept him! Lord Barlington, from what I knew, was practically loathed by her, though I do not want to speak out of turn. "

The Duke scowled. "You do not speak out of turn, Lord Calverton. The reason I asked my daughter to reconsider him was truly because I was concerned for her. I did not want her to sit here, in this place, and feel herself entirely alone for years and years without end. I did not know if she was happy here, if the situation would be one of joy for her – and then, I thought that if Lord Barlington was sincere, then that might offer her a fresh start, a chance to be settled and have a family of her own. Do not for a moment think that I was at all delighted by Lord Barlington's return! I found his manner arrogant, his expression of interest towards my daughter to be less than sincere and yet, with my wife's eager encouragement, I found myself willing to give Temperance the opportunity to hear the gentleman's apology, at the very least."

"You do not need to explain yourself to me, Your Grace," James replied his heart still pounding rather furiously. "I quite understand – though I am glad that you feel the very same way about Lord Barlington as I!"

"Then go to her," came the Duke's fervent response. "See if you can find a way to convince her to step away from Lord Barlington once and for all."

"I shall." James dropped into a bow, panic beginning to tighten around his chest. "Good afternoon, Your Grace. I hope I shall return with good news."

"As do I."

***

"Lady Hartford?" James caught the arm of the lady, making her turn towards him. "Lady Hartford, I must ask if you know where Lady Temperance has gone."

"Oh, Lord Calverton." Lady Hartford's eyes swelled with tears though she blinked them back quickly. "You must know by now that – "

"I know everything but I do not believe that she has consented to this willingly."

Lady Hartford's throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. "She was greatly distraught," she whispered, her eyes closing for a moment. "I came into the room only a few minutes after Lord Barlington had taken his leave and she was nothing but tears. She sobbed and could not be comforted – and yet when I asked her about what had happened, she would say nothing."

"Nothing at all?"

Lady Hartford shook her head. "Nothing," she said again, her voice wobbling. "You must understand, Lord Calverton, my niece and I have shared a great many things since she first arrived here. The fact that she will not speak to me about anything, that she will not say a single word about what took place between Lord Barlington and herself breaks my heart!"

"I want to speak with her," James told the lady, as she grasped his hand and pressed it tightly. "I must know what has taken place. We were to be courting, you understand, and now, only two days after she gave me her consent, I find her engaged to Lord Barlington? It does not make sense."

"Especially since she despises the gentleman," Lady Hartford muttered, darkly. "He has done something to her, I know of it. I just do not know what it is."

"He is an unscrupulous fellow," James agreed. "But I will find her and I will speak with her. I can only hope that she will tell me the truth so that we can aid her in bringing this to an end."

Lady Hartford nodded, her eyes glistening. "I know that you want her happiness," she whispered, her voice breaking. "As do I. I think she is at the shore, Lord Calverton."

"Then I will go there at once." Releasing her hand, he nodded to her. "Pray that all will be well, Lady Hartford. For I have nothing else but that."