Chapter Seven

Edmund smiled at Lady Lillian as she came back towards him, the dance having taken them away from each other for a short time. He had been looking forward to this dance all evening, though he had made certain to dance with others also. It would not be right for him to only dance with Dinah and with Lady Lillian for that would bring both her – and him – unwelcome attention from the ton . After a few more steps, the dance came to a close and, aware of the slight disappointment which drifted over him, Edmund bowed and then offered his arm to Lady Lillian so he might lead her from the floor.

"A very pleasant dance, I thank you," he said, smiling down at her and delighting in the happiness which sparkled in her eyes. "Now, shall we take a turn about the room before I return you to your brother? Look, he strolls with Dinah, thus we may pursue their path, and all shall be well." His heart leapt when she nodded, finding himself thrilled to be able to spend a little more time in her company.

"Do you enjoy balls and the like?" Lady Lillian asked, looking around her. "I have not attended many, I confess, though I did come along to some that my brother went to when we were here during his London Seasons. That was before he took on his estate, however."

Edmund hesitated, wondering if he ought to be honest with her or give her the answer that she might otherwise expect. "I – I find that I am not always enamoured with the idea of being in company," he said, after a few moments. "There are times where I very much enjoy my own company and my own thoughts."

She smiled and Edmund's worry that she would think badly of him because of such a remark quickly fled. "I can understand that. My brother would often jest with me because I would prefer to work through my father's ledger rather than go into the village and look at ribbons with the other young ladies." Her smile shattered in a moment, her eyes rounding as she looked up at him again, then dragged her gaze away. "I know that is not what you might expect from a young lady such as myself but – "

"I think that a fine thing," Edmund said quickly, seeing now that her concern came from worrying that he would think her love of such a thing to be improper for a young lady. "Your father must have had a great trust in you to permit you to do such a precious thing as that. You say he gave you his ledger?"

Another darting glance from the lady came towards him, followed by a small nod.

"What did he ask of you?"

She blinked, pressed her lips together and then spoke. "He had me go through the ledgers to see if there were any errors. If there were, then I would correct them."

"Goodness!" Surprise lifted his voice. "That is extraordinary! And you enjoyed this?"

Lady Lillian smiled for the first time since they had begun this part of the conversation. "I was delighted that he asked me the first time and, since then, I have done the ledgers regularly. I greatly enjoy arithmetic especially, though I am interested in all learned things."

"You must be a great boon to your father and mother," Edmund answered, seeing how her smile grew just a little. "That is a gift, Lady Lillian, a gift that I do not possess in the same way. Often times, when I am struggling to find a solution to a problem, I cannot do so because my calculations are wrong. It is only when I have corrected them, through much checking and considering, that I am then able to find the right answer."

"I see." Lady Lillian caught the edge of her lip in between her teeth as though she wanted to ask something but was holding it back. Edmund waited in silence, praying that she would do so for this growing intimacy between them, this trust which he felt improving with every moment, was thrilling him. "Might I ask what sort of calculations you do and for what purpose you do them, Your Grace?"

The smile on Edmund's face crashed to the floor as he frowned. Did he dare tell her about his inventions? About the times that he sat in his study and considered, the experiments and tests that he had undertaken? He did not know what she would make of a gentleman such as he being involved in such things… but, he reminded himself, she had been considerate enough to speak with him about her interest in arithmetic and mathematics, so why could he not do the same also?

"I delight in natural philosophy," he told her, his words coming out in a bit of a rush. "I enjoy trying to find solutions to different problems. It came from my uncle, Lady Dinah's father, who was forever doing such things and, though not everything he did was successful, what he did achieve made a great difference to others. For example, he was able to prevent fields from flooding. He was involved in the improvement of the mines and those who work within them and he also was looking into the preservation of food, particularly for those who struggle with poverty."

Lady Lillian's eyes rounded at the edges. "That is remarkable," she said, making Edmund smile warmly at her, relieved that he had not only chosen to speak honestly but that her response had been so kind. "And you say that you are continuing in that same interest? What are you thinking on at present?"

Edmund considered. "Well, my mother has insisted that I set aside such thoughts for the time being given that I am in London but I have not promised her that I shall give it up entirely," he told the lady, seeing her smile. "At present, I am considering which plants might bring the best to the crops during the harvest, using crop rotation. I do not know if you are aware of that practice – many are not – but I have studied the evidence and think it might well be an excellent idea."

"I do know of it, yes," Lady Lillian answered. "It is a four year system instead of a three year system."

"Yes, that is exactly right!" Edmund exclaimed, thinking to himself just how remarkable the young lady was. "I am also considering whether planting crops in a particular fashion might provide better results rather than simply flinging the seeds out into the field. There are many others who are involved in these things but we are writing to one another and considering the findings that each of us come up with." He laughed a little wryly, shaking his head. "To some, it may not have any real interest but for me, I can assure you that I find it utterly fascinating."

Lady Lillian laughed along with him, her eyes dancing. "I can assure you that I understand that feeling entirely, for it is exactly as I feel as regards my interests."

"Though you, mayhap, all the more so given that you are a lady and such interests are generally not tolerated within our society," Edmund said, as she nodded. "I can assure you that I do not think lesser of you for such a thing, Lady Lillian. Instead, I positively encourage it!"

She smiled at him and opened her mouth to say more, only for someone to touch Edmund's elbow and, with a murmur of apology, he turned to see a gentleman he did not recognize standing to one side, a lady on his arm. Edmund blinked, looking to the lady and then to the gentleman again, waiting for something to come to him, something which would remind him of the gentleman's name but nothing did.

"Your Grace?"

Edmund nodded, Lady Lillian still on his arm.

"You do not recall being acquainted," the gentleman said, inclining his head. "That does not matter, it was some time ago."

"I must apologise for that, then," Edmund answered, quickly, not wanting to be in the least bit rude. "I am introduced to so many people within society, it can be rather difficult to recall everyone." He smiled at the lady but her blue eyes were cold, her thin lips flattened and her fair hair adding to the sense of cold which emanated from her.

Edmund frowned. Had he done something wrong to this family and was now upsetting them all the more by his forgetfulness?

"I am Lord Kent," the gentleman said, bowing low. "Formally Lord Jedburgh. We were known to each other at Eton for a time."

At that name, Edmund's heart slammed hard into his chest just as his stomach lurched, making him feel a little nauseated. He wanted to drop Lady Lillian's arm and tell her to take her leave of him but he could not, not without appearing to be dreadfully rude.

"Lord Jedburgh," he said, a little hoarsely, bowing now. "Of course. It has been many years and I must apologise for forgetting you."

"It is quite understandable," the gentleman answered, gesturing to the lady next to him – the one that Edmund presumed was his sister. "Now, might I present to you my sister, Lady Vivianne?"

Edmund bowed again, his heart pounding now, his mouth going dry as he wondered as to the purpose of their eagerness to come in search of him. "Lady Vivianne. A pleasure to be introduced to you. Might I also introduce my acquaintance, Lady Lillian?" As the introductions and pleasantries were exchanged, Edmund took a moment to gather himself, his whole body burning with a nervous energy. Again, he wondered if he could step away from Lady Lillian or ask her brother to, somehow, take her from his arm but there was no feasible way for him to do so. Whatever Lord Jedburgh had come to say, Lady Lillian was going to hear it also. Edmund could only pray that the gentleman was going to be discreet.

"Your Grace." Lord Jedburgh cleared his throat and lifted his chin a notch, being a little shorter than Edmund. "I do hope that you will ask my sister to dance? There is a connection between our families which I pray that you are already aware of?"

"I know that my father was close friends with yours," Edmund answered, quickly. "In that regard, I should be very glad to dance with you, Lady Vivianne."

"No, not only in that." Lord Jedburgh stepped closer and looked directly at Edmund, his determination to speak clearly blazing in his eyes. "Your Grace, it was expected – both by my father and now by me – that you will, very soon, engage yourself to my sister and, in doing so, connect our families forever."