Chapter Nine

"Temperance? Might you be able to join me for a cup of tea?"

Tilting her head to study her current work, Temperance paused and then nodded. "Yes, Aunt. I will join you in a few moments."

"Excellent. I – I have had another note from your mother, sent the day before she and your father left their home to travel here."

Hearing the note of concern in her aunt's voice, Temperance turned her head to look back at her. "They have not changed their plans, have they?"

Her aunt shook her head. "No, though… well, it does not matter. I will talk to you about the letter over tea." She withdrew and Temperance's frown lingered as she turned back to her painting. She did not know why but her fingers had itched to paint a single, solitary figure on the shoreline – though it was not herself that she drew. It was a gentleman, broad shouldered with a fine hat upon his head… and Temperance knew all too well that she had been thinking of Lord Calverton as she had drawn it. Quite why she had drawn him standing on the shore, she did not know but without his presence there, the painting had felt incomplete.

Smiling a little ruefully to herself, Temperance turned and, setting her paintbrush down, made her way to the drawing room where her aunt would be waiting. It was just as well she did not show her work to anyone save her aunt, for what would Lady Calverton or even Lord Calverton himself say, should he see it? Would he recognize himself? And if he did, what would he think of her painting him into the scene? Flushing with embarrassment at the very thought, Temperance stepped into the parlor, only to come to a sudden stop.

The very same gentleman she had only just been thinking of was seated beside her aunt and, as Temperance came into the room, he rose to greet her, bowing at the waist.

"Lord Calverton." Temperance blinked and then came to sit down, her heart quickening. "I was not expecting you. My aunt did not say that you had come to take tea with us; I can only apologise for my tardiness."

"No, not at all. I came unexpectedly, in the hope that I might speak with you."

"With me?" Temperance repeated, just as the tea tray was brought in. "On any specific matter?" For a moment, she feared that he was to ask her about her paintings, might beg to see some of them and she would have no other choice but to bring him into the parlor where she painted, leaving him to see the figure standing on the shoreline.

"Yes. I was out riding this afternoon after a somewhat prolonged excursion around the village and the shops there, when I met Lord Thurston."

Temperance set out the tea cups in front of them all, then sat back down so she might take a sip of her own cup. "I see." She did not understand why he should want to tell her of such a thing but, with a smile, Temperance waited for him to continue.

Lord Calverton's serious gaze soon chased that smile away.

"A carriage came rattling around the corner and would have run both Lord Thurston and myself off the road, had we not pulled our horses into the side. I was almost in the hedge myself and thought very poorly of the driver and the occupant within the carriage, for they ought not to drive in such a way! The carriage soon stopped and the gentleman within stepped out, making to apologise."

Temperance shared a look with her aunt, though, to her surprise, her aunt looked just as severe in her expression as Lord Calverton did. Whatever was the matter?

"This gentleman did apologise and, after a few minutes of conversation, stated that he was to stay in Lord Grayson's manor house, since he has gone to London for the Season."

"Lord Grayson resides some four miles away from here," her aunt told Temperance as though that was somehow significant. "It is a short distance on horseback."

Temperance frowned, looking to her aunt and then to Lord Calverton. "Is there something about this gentleman that I ought to know?"

"I think there is, yes. I was going to speak with you this evening but I did not want the soiree to be ruined for you. Therefore, despite my promise to the gentleman that I would not speak of his presence here, I think it best that I tell you his name."

"I do not want you to break your word to him, however," Temperance exclaimed, before he could say another word. "There is surely no need. It is imperative that a gentleman is known to be able to keep his word." A vision of Lord Barlington came back to her mind, for he was certainly not a gentleman who did as he had promised. For some reason, she felt that Lord Calverton would be betraying himself if he did such a thing, wanted him to be as good a gentleman as she believed him to be. "Why did he want you to keep his presence a secret?"

"Listen to Lord Calverton, my dear," her aunt interjected. "I am aware of what he has to tell you and it is for a good purpose."

Lord Calverton's jaw tightened. "This gentleman desired that his presence be kept from everyone because, as he told Lord Thurston and myself, it is to be a surprise for the person he is coming to see. That person, I believe, is you, Lady Temperance."

Shock rifled through her chest. "Me?"

The gentleman nodded. "Lord Barlington has come to reside here, Lady Temperance."

If Temperance had not been sitting down, she would have collapsed such was the weakness which ran through her. She could not take her eyes from Lord Calverton, her breathing ragged and her chest tight.

"The note I received from your mother confirms this," Lady Hartford said, softly. "That was why I wanted to speak with you. It seems that Lord Barlington came to beg forgiveness from both your father and your mother, with the sole intention of seeking you out again so that you might marry. Your mother, I believe, encouraged him to make his way here, so he might join them on their visit."

Temperance put one hand to her chest, her vision blurring as she tried to breathe but found it almost impossible to do so.

"Temperance, my dear." Her aunt rose and came across the room to sit with her, her hand going to her niece's cold one. "Are you all right? This must have come as a great shock, I understand, but it is good that Lord Calverton came to inform you of Lord Barlington's arrival."

Squeezing her eyes closed, Temperance let out a slow breath as she fought for relief, her whole body filled with a chill which seemed to seep down into her very bones. "I cannot believe he has come here," she whispered, opening her eyes to look at her aunt again. "To know that he is here, that he is nearby… what can my mother and father be thinking in encouraging his arrival?"

"Your mother is doing what she does," came the reply as Lady Hartford lifted and then dropped her shoulders. "She clearly believes that a reconciliation between the two of you is the very best thing."

A tear slid down Temperance's cheek. "But she does not understand my pain."

"No, she does not," Lady Hartford agreed, as Lord Calverton rose to his feet. "I am sorry to say that there is nothing that I can do to prevent this. If he arrives at the house and if your parents are both present and willing to receive him, then I will not be able to do anything to stop that."

Another tear fell to Temperance's cheek. "Then I will have to be in company with him?" she whispered, as her aunt nodded slowly. "I will have to speak with him?"

"I am sorry, Temperance." There came a slight tremble in her aunt's voice and Temperance's heart squeezed. Her aunt understood, wanted to do all she could to aid her but what could she do in this circumstance? It was clear that Lady Hartford wanted to be of aid to her and that was a comfort to Temperance all the same.

"I should take my leave." Lord Calverton inclined his head, his hands behind his back, his expression still serious. "I am sorry that I had such difficult news to impart, Lady Temperance."

Dashing one hand across her eyes to chase her tears away, Temperance rose quickly and reached out one hand to him, catching his fingers. "Please, do not apologise. I am truly grateful to you for coming to me and telling me of this. It means a great deal. To be told that this… this gentleman is going to be present here makes me both horrified and deeply saddened but had you not told me of it, had I been uninformed, then the shock would have been a good deal greater." She pressed his hand and then made to release it, only for Lord Calverton to press her fingers with his own again, and then bowed over her hand.

"I truly am a gentleman who keeps my word," he told her, standing tall and then releasing her hand. "Except in such circumstances as these, when I am not in the least bit inclined to do so!"

"I am grateful that you chose to do such a thing." Stepping back, Temperance felt herself wobble and chose to sit down again, albeit a little heavily. "Thank you, Lord Calverton."

He nodded, his eyes grave. "Will I see you this evening?"

Taking in a deep breath, Temperance lifted her chin and nodded. "Oh yes, Lord Calverton. I have no intention of permitting this news to prevent me from enjoying an evening in good company, particularly if it is going to be one of my last evenings to enjoy such company." Her voice faltered but she kept her gaze steady. "I will join you all as expected."

The smile which spread across Lord Calverton's face made her heart lift a little from the despair which pulled it low. "I am glad to hear that, Lady Temperance. Until this evening." He bowed and then turned to take his leave, just as Temperance turned to her aunt.

"I cannot quite take in what my mother thinks she is doing in hoping for a connection between Lord Barlington and myself," she said, as fresh tears burned in her eyes. "Surely she must understand how much pain that gentleman has brought to me!"

Her aunt shook her head. "I think, to be frank, that your mother supposes there is no-one else present who might marry you," she said, gently. "Therefore, she will push him towards you in the hope that he will propose and you will accept."

Temperance sighed heavily, managing to blink back her tears. "I daresay that elucidates the matter quite well," she said, heavily. "For what other gentleman would look at me? Who would consider someone as scarred and as broken as I?"

Her aunt's eyes flared wide. "Surely you do not mean to suggest that you will accept him?"

Immediately, Temperance shook her head. "No, of course not, Aunt. I only mean to say that I can now understand as to why my mother might think of such a thing. But no, I dread seeing him and I certainly shall not even consider accepting his attentions again." With a small sigh, she closed her eyes again. "What dreadful news this has been."