Chapter 16

Frederick walked, arm in arm with Miss Fairley, finding himself filled with nothing but delight. The way that she had accepted his offer of courtship without hesitation had thrilled him entirely and now, as he looked down at her, taking in her copper curls, the gentleness of her hazel eyes, and the light smile on her soft lips, he found his heart swelling with a tender affection.

It was all quite wonderful.

“That ice was delicious.” Miss Fairley let out a small sigh of happiness and then smiled at him as they walked together along the London street, taking in the carriages that went by and nodding to one or two others who walked past them. “I very much enjoyed our conversation also.”

Frederick smiled at her.

“It was nice to talk about things other than your current difficulties,” he agreed, as her cheeks warmed just a little, though her eyes still held fast to his. “I was delighted to hear of your love for poetry and riding. Mayhap one day, we might go for a ride together?”

“I should like that.”

With a nod, Frederick looked back at the road ahead, finding his heart beating rather quickly at the thought of being out for a ride with Miss Fairley. He could already imagine her her eyes flashing with laughter and excitement, her cheeks flushed by the wind, her curls dancing in the breeze.

“Oh, look.” Miss Fairley’s voice softened. “There is Lord Wellbridge, talking with Lord and Lady Pleasance. He was very considerate yesterday, was he not?”

Frederick cleared his throat, finding his stomach tightening just a little at the sight of the gentleman. While Lord Wellbridge had been considerate at yesterday’s meeting, he had begun to wonder at a couple of things that Lord Wellbridge had said. It had not been any sort of truly troubling thing, but only a word or two that had made Frederick’s ears prick up. Thereafter, he had found himself considering them and wondering at them, though he had set that all aside for his time with Miss Fairley.

“Lord Yeatman?”

Frederick looked at her, realizing that she was waiting for him to respond.

“Forgive me, I was lost in my own thoughts,” he said, smiling quickly to reassure her. “Yes, he was very considerate. Though I was sorry to see that your sister appeared to be a little disappointed in his departure.”

Miss Fairley sighed heavily.

“Yes, that is quite true. Martha has been captivated by Lord Wellbridge for some time, though he appears to be interested in her company also. That being said, as I may have said already, he has not yet offered to court her.” Her expression darkened a little, her eyes pulling from his, her lips flattening. “That is something which she is struggling with, I fear.”

“And you think that she ought to consider someone else?”

Looking up at him, Miss Fairley hesitated, then shook her head.

“I do not know. It is hard for me to say, for my sister and I are not dear friends and thus, we have never spoken of such things. That being said,” she continued, “even though we have not spoken of it, I personally do not like that Lord Wellbridge does not make any further steps in continuing with an intimacy with my sister. If he wishes to court her, then he should take steps to do that. Otherwise, she will continue to pine for him and hope that such a thing will soon take place, and thus might miss the opportunity to find another amiable gentleman to court her.”

Frederick’s heart softened all the more as he listened to Miss Fairley. She was speaking with great sympathy and understanding for her sister, even though she was not close to her.

“That must be difficult for your sister.”

“I think that it is.” Miss Fairley sighed again. “She does not speak very kindly to me at times, but I am doing my best to believe that it comes from a place of both disappointment and hope: disappointment that Lord Wellbridge has not yet come to court her but also hope that he soon will do so.”

“I understand.” Frederick was about to continue to say more, wanting to ask another question or two, only for Lord Wellbridge to turn, see them, and immediately hurry towards them. On seeing them, Lord and Lady Pleasance came to join them also – something which Frederick was profoundly grateful for. After yesterday’s conversation and visit, he found himself a little uncertain about Lord Wellbridge and his motivations.

“Good afternoon!” Lord Wellbridge beamed and inclined his head, looking first at Miss Fairley and then glancing at Frederick. “How very fortunate to meet you both this afternoon. I presume that you are out walking together? Ah, yes, I can see your mother a little distance away, Miss Fairley.” He gave no opportunity for either Frederick or Miss Fairley to speak, continuing without hesitation. “It is a fine day for a walk, is it not? I thought to come out for a brief stroll, hoping that I should find excellent company. And see now, I have done so!”

“Good afternoon, Miss Fairley, Lord Yeatman.”

Both Lord and Lady Pleasance smiled as they greeted them, though Frederick caught the flicker in Lord Pleasance’s eyes. It seemed his friend understood that since Frederick was here walking with Miss Fairley, his offer of courtship had been accepted.

“Might I ask you something, Miss Fairley?” Lord Wellbridge threw Frederick an apologetic look. “It would only be for a few moments, and it is of a rather… intimate nature as regards… well, as I have said, it is personal.”

Frederick looked at Miss Fairley, seeing her gaze dart to his. No doubt she was thinking the same as him; that this conversation might well be about Martha, given what they had previously discussed and thus, it came as no surprise to Frederick when Miss Fairley nodded her assent.

“Do excuse me for a few minutes,” she smiled, nodding to Lord and Lady Pleasance, and then smiling at Frederick. “I will only be a few steps away.”

Turning his head, Frederick wondered whether he ought to say something to Lady Follet, given that she had been chaperoning her daughter from a distance, but the lady herself was in conversation with an acquaintance and did not so much as glance at her daughter.

“So, I see that your offer of courtship has been accepted?”

Frederick grinned as Lord and Lady Pleasance shared a look.

“Yes, it has, and I am delighted,” he said honestly, seeing no reason to pretend otherwise. “It is a joy. I had to first ask Lord Follet, of course, and I was afraid that he would refuse me!”

“Why should you think that?”

“Because he gave all manner of excuses,” Frederick explained, “though it quickly became clear that he thought I was speaking of the elder daughter. Once I explained it was Miss Emma Fairley that I wished to court, he could not have given his consent more quickly!”

“That is a good thing, however,” Lady Pleasance added, her voice quiet, though her smile grew quickly as Frederick looked back at her. “It means that when you seek out his consent to betrothe yourself to Miss Fairley, you can be fully assured of the answer!”

Frederick made to say at once that he was not thinking of such a thing as yet, only to stop himself as Lady Pleasance laughed softly, perhaps seeing his reaction. If their courtship went as well as their acquaintance had done thus far, why should he not consider betrothal and marriage? Miss Fairley had quite captured him, every moment with her was a joy, and the thought of ending their acquaintance brought such pain to him, he could not even let himself think of it for more than a moment or two.

“I think that you have chosen a very fine young lady.” Lady Pleasance glanced around, though her smile began to fade. “I did hear from Lord Pleasance of what you have gleaned about her situation, however. That does seem rather troubling.”

Frederick nodded.

“It has been, though I confess, we have not given that much thought these last few days! It will have to be considered all the more, however, for–”

“Where did Miss Fairley go?” Lady Pleasance took a step closer to Frederick, one hand going to his arm. “I do not see her.”

Turning around, Frederick searched for either the young lady in question or Lord Wellbridge, but to his astonishment – and horror – found that he could not locate her. She had said that she would only be a few steps away but instead, she had disappeared entirely.

“Lord Wellbridge’s carriage is not here,” Lord Pleasance growled, turning his head and looking back at Frederick. “It was there just a moment ago.”

“But why would Miss Fairley sit in Lord Wellbridge’s carriage?” Lady Pleasance asked, her voice a little hoarse with clear concern. “I do not understand.”

“Because,” Frederick gritted out, his concern about Lord Wellbridge’s words previously coming back to him, “I imagine that he has a dark intention which he has not yet shared with anyone.” Turning his head, he looked to Lady Follet, but she was still not looking at him, laughing at something her companion had said. “Yesterday afternoon, Lord Wellbridge said two things which made me wonder at his intentions. I considered them at length, in fact, but told myself they were of no concern.”

“What was it that he said?” Lady Pleasance asked as Frederick ran one hand over his eyes, trying to work out what he ought now to do. “What concerned you?”

Letting out a hiss of breath, Frederick shook his head.

“He expressed surprise – his own surprise – that I had asked to court Miss Fairley, though to my ears, it sounded as though it held a little regret. Thereafter, when Lady Follet told her daughter that she would not have received any other offers of courtship, Lord Wellbridge shook his head and stated that he would not agree with that statement.”

“As though he had intentions of courting the lady,” Lord Pleasance said slowly, as Frederick nodded. “But why would he have refrained? Why would he have held himself back for so long?”

“I do not know. That is not important at present. What is important is that I find Miss Fairley.”

“I would quite agree. But where will you look?” Lord Pleasance hurried forward. “Do you think he has taken her to his townhouse?”

Frederick closed his eyes as panic ran through him, his heart thundering furiously in his chest as he tried to keep himself calm and think clearly.

“I have no notion of where he has taken her – or why! I do not know what he means by this. I have never once imagined that he would do such an irresponsible thing as this – nor do I understand why.”

“Take my carriage,” Lord Pleasance urged him, gesturing to it and catching the driver’s attention. “Hurry now. We will go and speak with Lady Follet and keep her distracted for as long as we can.”

“I thank you.” Without asking what it was they intended to do, or to say to Lady Follet to keep her in one place, Frederick rushed across the street to the carriage and climbed in, hailing the driver and telling him where he wished to go. Sitting back, he closed his eyes as sweat broke out across his forehead, panic still surging through him. The carriage moved forward – though not as quickly as Frederick wished – and soon was on its way to Lord Wellbridge’s townhouse.

What is it that Lord Wellbridge wants with her? His heart clamoring with questions and concerns, Frederick ran one hand over his face, turning his eyes to the window. And what will I find when I reach his townhouse?