Without another word, he escorted her to the door.
He left her with a brief farewell, and she stood there to watch him drive away, puzzled by the change in him. Something musthave transpired to alter his attitude toward her, but she had no idea what it might be. Daring to call her by her given name surprised and confused her. He must realize how impossible it was for them to be together? Hadn’t she tried to keep her distance from him for his sake? She wished she could convince herself that there really was no future for her with him. Lords married into wealthy families, or noble ones. And she came from neither. She struggled to imagine what future she could see for herself with this horrid rumor hanging over her head. A rumor which threatened to grow into a scandal, which would paint her as a terrible fraud and banish her from London for all time.
Glum, Lucy walked indoors, contemplating her situation. Mr. Nash still pursued her, as well as several other gentlemen, but troubled as she was, she could not conceive of spending her life with any of them. That was because of Lord Dorchester. It was foolish to deny it.
Aunt Mary met her in the hall. “Mr. Nash called earlier and left his card. He wished to take you up in his carriage for a ride to the park.”
“Did he?” Lucy struggled to ponder his reason to drive with her again so soon, her thoughts still on Lord Dorchester.
“He said he will call again tomorrow.” Aunt Mary smiled. “You have become popular, Lucy. And here you were thinking you would not take to the Season.”
Had Lucy thought that? Or had it been her aunt’s fear? Should she still fear it? Deep in thought that night in her bedroom, Lucy heard someone knock at the door. She opened it and greeted Jane. Glad of the distraction, Lucy welcomed her cousin with a warm hug. “Shall we go down and have some tea?” she asked Jane.
“Not yet. I have something to tell you, which I don’t want Mama to hear,” Jane said, her eyes grave and her forehead creased with concern.
Alarmed, Lucy patted the bed beside her. “What is it?”
“Anabel told me she has taken a lover.” Jane groaned and scrubbed her face with her hands. “If Mama hears of it, there will be a terrible fuss! And if Anabel’s husband does, I fear for her future.”
“Doesn’t Anabel’s husband know?”
Jane shook her head.
“Won’t he suspect it?”
“As Howe’s seldom at home, he might not learn of it for a while. At least not until the gossip reaches him.” Jane shrugged, her eyes sad. “Or Anabel tells him. She is very cavalier about it. She said what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. It’s almost as if she doesn’t care.”
“Why would she feel that way?”
“She is doing it out of spite. To teach him a lesson.”
“Oh.” Lucy thought it extremely foolish of her. Men could get away with so much more. If Howe learned about his wife’s infidelity, it would cause upheaval and pain for her and her family. Even divorce, as Howe was a powerful, wealthy man. “Point out to Anabel how reckless she is being. Tell her to be discreet. If she continues with this, and Howe discovers he is cuckolded, he is unlikely to forgive her.”
Jane nodded. “How sensible you are, Lucy.”
With other people’s problems, perhaps. But what about her own?
“Come and have tea.” Lucy rubbed Jane’s back as they walked along the landing. “It is not unheard of for couples to face problems, but they stay married. Look at Lady Caroline Lamb and her husband, for instance.”
Jane groaned. “Lady Caroline is completely shameful. I hope it’s not her influence that causes Anabel to behave in this manner.” She looked thoughtful. “But divorce is not somethingHowe would welcome. It would tarnish his reputation and might affect his career.”
“Then we must wait and hope the matter is resolved one way or the other.”
“And before my mother hears of it,” Jane said miserably.
Lucy nodded. Aunt Mary was so proud of her girls, she would be greatly distressed to hear about this. And she feared that if Anabel’s foolishness continued, the news of it would reach Aunt Mary’s ears.
*
The drive homein the phaeton had passed without Hugh taking much notice of the scene, his mind still occupied with Lucy. Whether it was her upbringing or inherently who she was, Lucy had the kind of fundamental honesty that made her take responsibility for her own actions. And he supposed that included him. She seemed determined he should not become involved in her problems. He’d wanted to say it was nonsense, and much more, to wrap his arms around her and ease her worries, but he was committed to keeping his silence by his promise to Isabel’s father. Isabel’s wedding might not go ahead. Would her father finally step in and stop it? To keep his daughter in England? Best Hugh left the city for a spell. When he’d told Lucy, it had been a desperate, last-minute decision to put some distance between him until he could call on her as a free man. He could return before any firm commitment was made by another suitor. If it came to that, he’d have weeks while the banns were read to change her mind. And he had been confident for some time that Lucy felt as he did. He only hoped she wouldn’t be pressured by her aunt, although… He smiled. He couldn’t see Lucy bowing to pressure.
His accountant had advised him of an investment of his father’s. A steelworks in Newcastle, which wasn’t doing as well as it should have been, so Hugh needed to look at the company’s books and discuss the matter with the manager.
His last evening spent in London. He was restless, and therefore grateful for Luke’s invitation to dinner at White’s. As they sat drinking wine over a leisurely meal, Hugh noticed his friend seemed as distracted as he was himself.
“I have no title, Hugh,” Luke said, over his third glass of claret. His blunt statement came like a bolt of lightning from a clear blue sky. Hugh gazed at him in surprise, struggling to understand the reason for it. Luke looked a little desperate.
“I am aware of that, my friend. What of it?”