To read Part 1, click here.
To read Part 2, click here.
Sitting there, still too close to the fire, Rowena struggled to keep from glaring at the provoking man before her. Several moments of infuriating silence passed before she calmly stood.
At least, she hoped that she looked calm because her insides were roiling with fury.
“Lord Wallis,” She began.
The aforementioned man interrupted. “You don’t believe me? Why?”
Rowena took a breath. “It has been years since you have even acknowledged my existence, and never in public. So now, you have summarily decided to enter my life and impose your friendship upon me?”
“Friendship is not what I was speaking to your father about.”
Moving to sit further away, Rowena almost batted at him when he rose and followed her over to the chaise. Luckily, Lord Wallis was still standing when Lady Dalton entered the room in a flurry of apologies.
“Oh Lord Wallis. Do forgive me for being out when you arrived. I hope you do not hold it against me, for I was not told you were coming, else I would have stayed home and been here to greet you personally. I do hope my daughter has been sufficient company to fill your time.”
Lord Wallis quickly bowed. “Lady Dalton. How pleasant it is to be able to spend some time with your family. I was just about to remark to Miss Rowena how it has been far too long since our families caught up.”
“I heard about your father passing, dear. That must have been so trying for your poor family.” Lady Dalton moved to join them, snagging the only nearby chair, thus forcing Lord Wallis to sit on the chaise next to Rowena. She shot him a glance when his leg brushed hers.
Lord Wallis sighed, all of his attention on her mother. “I must confess that my father had been ill for well over a year. We all knew he would be passing soon.”
Lady Dalton nodded amiably. “Then perhaps you have taken this chance to renew your acquaintance with my husband to amend the broken friendship between our two families? Your father was so insistent that I no longer visit with your dear mother, though we were the closest of friends.”
“Indeed. I come to heal the rift and even to offer a dinner invitation to your family so that you may have the chance to become reacquainted with my mother.”
Rowena shivered under the brief but profound scrutiny Lord Wallis’ next glance shot through her.
Another glance seared her core. As she shifted, he took the opportunity to suddenly face her and grasp both her hands in his. She gasped and tried to pull away, looking over at her mother in shock. However her mother had a broad smile on her face and quickly took up a focused scrutiny of her gloves.
“Miss Rowena. I come to you to beseech you to entertain the notion of our being the closest of friends once more.”
Try as she might, she could not extricate her hands from his firm grip without making it obvious that she was trying to escape. She could see the amusement shimmering in his gaze as he continued to look beseechingly into her eyes. “And what would that friendship entail, Lord Wallis? For I would not want to subject you to any gossip upon suddenly appearing in society as my dearest friend. Scandal could ensue. Surely there is a girl upon whom you have set your sights who would not appreciate the talk.”
He nodded. “Your forethought is most commendable.”
She fought the urge to step on his foot at his ingratiating tone. Instead she dug into his hand with one of her nails until he winced.
“However, Miss Rowena, the woman upon whom I intend to shower with my attention will come to no ill will from any friendship I have for you.”
Rowena could only stare. When she finally opened her mouth to speak, her mother cut her off before she managed a sound. Lord Wallis was forced to turn to look at Lady Dalton as she spoke most ardently.
“You know, as a close friend of your family I feel I am able to confess to you that at one time both your mother and I had harbored a hope that the two of you would marry.”
“Mother!” Rowena jumped to her feet, effectively severing any contact with the man who had ignored her for far too long to make this easy of a return into her good graces, though her mother seemed to have already forgotten it. “That is a rather personal thing to say to one whom we have not seen for so many years.”
Lady Dalton waved her daughter off. “Oh pish. You are so young, darling. It has hardly been any time at all. A few scant years, at most.”
Lord Wallis gave a half nod from where he still sat. “You are too kind, Lady Dalton. And I must confess that I have missed our families getting together.”
“We shall have to remedy that.” Lady Dalton rose to her feet, her whole face beaming with pleasure. “In fact, with Hettie in the room I don’t feel that there should be any problem with my leaving the room for a moment to talk to Lord Dalton about renewing our friendships further. I will only be a moment.”
Her mother winked at Rowena on her way out.
As soon as Lady Dalton was out of the room Lord Wallis rose. He easily stepped over to where Rowena stood stiff with stunned shock. In a low voice, so as not to be overheard, Lord Wallis tilted his head toward her. His hand drifted out toward her as if he didn’t realize it was moving. “Rowena. I am in earnest. I want us to be friends. Please believe me.”
Glancing down at where he was now purposefully holding out both of his hands for her to take, Rowena looked up into his face, a slash of confusion slicing at her firm resolve to stay clear of him. “Why?”
A smile hinted at the corner of his mouth as he softly took her hands in his. “Because, Rowena, I am going to marry you. And I want us to be friends when I do; the very best of friends. I’ve been such a fool.”
