Chapter Three

"Remarkable."

"That is the fourth time you have said that." Edmund's mother sniffed as she reached for the teapot. "I do not think that a young lady such as she ought to have been permitted to be out in the storm."

"That young lady helped us free the carriage wheel," Edmund answered, as his mother poured a little milk into her tea. "I do not think I have ever seen the like before!"

Again, his mother sniffed. "Young ladies do not need to be as learned as gentlemen. There is simply no need!"

"And yet, we must be grateful that her intelligence brought the Duke back to us, must we not?" Dinah glanced at Edmund, offered him a small smile of obvious support and then looked to the Duchess. "I would be very glad to make her acquaintance, I think."

After a moment, the Duchess sagged a little in her chair and her expression softened. "Her mother was very kind, I must say. She came to find us directly, told us all that had happened and reassured me when my nerves were already terribly fraught."

Edmund smiled. "A very genteel lady, then."

His mother finally smiled. "Yes, my dear, she was very genteel indeed. I should not have been so averse to the young lady coming to help you, it is only that I am very fatigued after yesterday and, I confess, a little out of sorts."

Edmund smiled at her sympathetically. "Given that you had to walk a long distance in the rain and the wind and, thereafter, wait for some time to hear news, I can understand that you are weary today. We do not have to continue our travels to London today, if you do not wish. We could wait until tomorrow."

The Duchess shook her head and Dinah looked relieved, glad, it seemed, that they were not to delay.

"We cannot delay," his mother told him, firmly. "Dinah must make her introductions to the royal family and there is much to be done before that time comes. Now, do not be so foolish as to suggest such a thing again. Tired though I am, I am still able to make my way to London today. Though," she continued, her brow furrowing, "are you quite certain that the carriage is prepared?"

"Yes, and it is more than able to take us to London," Edmund answered, with a smile as he recalled how Lady Lillian had assisted them the previous evening. He had managed to come up with a way for the carriage wheel to be released but had been unable to ascertain the angle at which it ought to be done. He had feared, in addition, that doing so incorrectly would result in the wheel being broken and thus, had been unable to move forward with his idea. At the time of Lord and Lady Galesbury's arrival, he had been thinking hard, attempting to come up with another solution that would help sort out the situation. When Lord Galesbury had suggested that his daughter might be able to assist, Edmund had immediately frowned at the idea, struggling to imagine what a young lady might be able to offer though he had not refused the gentleman outright. What a blessing she had been to them all! With amazement, Edmund had watched as she had not only listened but understood the problem he faced as well as his attempts to fix it thus far. When she had been able to come up with the answer, assuring him that her calculations had been correct, Edmund had only been able to stare at her for some moments in utter astonishment. Lord Galesbury had nothing but belief in his daughter's recommendations and had encouraged both Edmund and his driver to do as Lady Lillian had suggested – and the wheel had come free without too great a difficulty and had not suffered any real damage either.

How thankful he had been for her – and how glad they had all been to make their way to the inn, cold and shivering and yet delighted in how it had all turned out.

"Have you seen Lord Galesbury this morning?"

His mother's question interrupted Edmund's considerations and he shook his head. "No, not as yet. I assume they are in the other private parlor, however, as we are."

His mother nodded slowly. "All the same, I should like to be introduced to Lord Galesbury and his daughter, I think. I wish to convey my heartfelt gratitude to them both."

"Of course." Edmund's heart lifted as he thought of speaking to Lady Lillian again. "I will send one of the footmen to enquire as to whether or not they have time to take tea with us before they set out for London. And if we cannot meet them here, then I will make certain that we have dinner together once we all return to London."

"Very good." His mother smiled and even Dinah looked contented. Settling back in his chair, Edmund picked up his own cup and sipped from it, delighted in how everything had turned out and, on top of all of that, how intrigued he was by the remarkable Lady Lillian.

"I must express my gratitude to each and every one of you."

Edmund watched as his mother grasped Lord Galesbury's hand for a moment and then turned to Lady Galesbury to do the very same. The family were due to make their way to London within the hour but as the carriage was being prepared for them, they had been able to come together in the dining room of the inn, which had been set aside just for their own use for a time. Lady Lillian, as yet, had not arrived but Edmund had been assured that she would be ready to join them very soon.

"But of course." Lady Galesbury smiled warmly and then looked to Edmund. "I am simply glad that you all returned safely to the inn. My heart was filled with a great deal of concern, I can assure you." Her gaze returned to the Duchess. "Though it would have been nothing compared to yours, I am sure."

Edmund's mother sighed and put one hand to her heart. "I was greatly frightened when the wheel became stuck. I was quite sure that something dreadful was going to happen! Though I confess that when I was told I would have to walk to the inn in the midst of that storm, I found myself all the more upset! It was bitterly cold in the wind, though the footman was very good and walked in front of me so that I was shielded from it as best he could."

Edmund, who had not known this, silently reminded himself to give his servant an extra few coins by way of gratitude for being so considerate. The young man had not been instructed to do such a thing but had shown consideration without any sort of directive and Edmund appreciated that loyalty and concern.

"The inn was warm, at least," his mother continued, just as the door to Edmund's left opened. "And we had fires stoked within a few minutes, warm clothes – though they were not mine, of course, but did for a time – and piping hot tea served to us which did warm me through very quickly. But yes, as you yourself said, Lady Galesbury, I was deeply concerned for my son and what was happening with the carriage. To know that he had others with him was a great relief to me so I do thank you for coming to inform me of it rather than waiting at the carriage."

"But of course," Lady Galesbury murmured, turning just as the young lady came to join her. "Your Grace, might I present my daughter, Lady Lillian?"

Edmund tilted his head just a fraction, taking in the young lady as she curtsied to his mother. She was willowy in her figure, her brown chestnut curls bouncing gently as she rose from her curtsy. Her lips were curved into a small, seemingly genuine smile and when she looked to him, her brown eyes were warm.

"I am delighted to make your acquaintance formally, Lady Lillian," he found himself saying, before his mother had a chance to even speak. "We do owe you a great deal, of course, for without your help, the carriage might never have made it to the inn."

Lady Lillian did not blush nor look away as he might have expected. Instead, her smile grew just a little and, after a moment, her gaze went to Dinah, curiosity coming into her expression instead.

"Forgive me, I have not introduced my cousin," Edmund said, quickly. "Lady Lillian, Lord and Lady Galesbury, this is my cousin, Lady Dinah. Her father was the Earl of Fullerton and her brother is, at present, out on his Great Adventure! Though I am more than contented to be her chaperone for the Season – both my mother and I, you understand." Feeling a little flustered and wondering why he had said as much, Edmund clamped his mouth shut and let the bows, curtsies and other formalities continue on without his interference. Some kind words were shared between them all, with both his mother and Dinah thanking Lady Lillian for her assistance though, Edmund noted, she did not say much about that in any way whatsoever. Instead, Lady Lillian only smiled and inclined her head a little, as though somehow, she was a little embarrassed by what she had done.

Though there is no need for that, Edmund considered, remembering what his mother had said earlier when they were in private. I do not consider a learned young lady to be in any way improper, even though my mother might think so. "I think it remarkable how quickly you were able to calculate all that was required for me to free the wheel," he said, as Lady Lillian's gaze went quickly to his. "I know we did not say much last evening as we travelled to the inn – "

"We were all much too cold for conversation, were we not?" Lord Galesbury interrupted, as Lady Lillian laughed and then winced as if the memory of how they had all shivered had quickly come back to her.

"Yes, indeed!" Edmund agreed, his smile warming as Lady Lillian looked back at him. "But I should like you to be aware, Lady Lillian, that I found your work to be of the highest standard and, indeed, I find myself a little jealous that I cannot think through such things as quickly as you can!"

Lady Lillian did not immediately smile and nor did she respond. Instead, she looked back at him for a few moments, her eyes a little sharper than before, only for her expression to then change into one of happiness rather than of scrutiny.

"You are very kind," she said, making Edmund believe that the silence and the searching of his expression had been to ascertain whether or not he spoke genuinely or not. "I was glad to be able to help you, Your Grace. I presume that your carriage is quite able to take you all to London without difficulty or concern?"

"You are quite right. There is nothing that worries me and the driver has also assured me that all will be well. We shall be in London by this evening, I think and I shall be very glad indeed to be there!"

Lady Lillian looked away but said nothing more, her hands clasped lightly in front of her but her gaze on the floor ahead of her. It was not as though she were being rude but simply that she had nothing further to add to the conversation which, Edmund considered, might be just what a young lady was taught to do in such situations as this.

"I presume that you are also making your way to London for the Season?" he asked, directing his question towards Lady Lillian who, after a moment, glanced at him and then nodded. "To make your debut?"

"Yes, that is quite right."

"Then it is all the more wonderful that we have met, for Dinah is due to make her come out also and I know is rather concerned about it all." He gestured to his cousin whilst inwardly delighting in the chance to further their acquaintance. "Is that not so, Dinah?"

"It is," Dinah said quietly, though she smiled at Lady Lillian. "Might I hope that we could be close to one another during our first ball? I confess that my nervousness is stealing some of the excitement from my heart!"

"But of course! I should be delighted," Lady Lillian answered, as the Duchess moved forward to speak to Lord and Lady Galesbury, leaving the young ladies to chat together. Edmund himself said nothing, taking in the conversations and quietly contented in how it had all come about. Lady Lillian was certainly intriguing and if she and Dinah could strike up a friendship, then all the better!

Though you first have a responsibility to Lady Vivianne , his conscience suddenly reminded him. You cannot let yourself start thinking about another young lady when matters have not yet been clarified with her.

Recognizing that, Edmund kept his smile in place but then moved to speak to Lord and Lady Galesbury instead. All the same, however, his thoughts and his interest continued to linger on Lady Lillian and, when it came time to take their leave, Edmund's heart quickened with a sudden sense of concern.

"Might you wish to come to dinner with us once we are all settled in London?" he asked Lord Galesbury, knowing full well that his interest in such a thing came solely from his desire to see Lady Lillian again. "And, of course, if Lady Lillian would be willing to draw near Dinah during the first ball of the Season, I know that my cousin would appreciate it."

"But of course." Lord Galesbury beamed at Edmund, clearly delighted at the connection the two families were building. "I know that Lillian would be very glad to do such a thing. She is a very amiable young lady and always willing to be of help where she can."

"Capital." Edmund inclined his head, his concerns fading away. "Then might I wish you safe travels to London, Lord Galesbury, and I look forward to seeing you and your family there again very soon."