Page 85 of A Well-Trained Lady

“That is ridiculous.”

“Is it? Then why have you rejected every man who has offered for you?”

I swallowed. “That is not your concern.”

“Considering I am now one of those men, I believe it is.”

I skimmed the room, deciding what I could say to appease him without revealing the truth—none of the others were him. And yet, I did not deserve him. I lifted a casual shoulder. “When the time came to accept, it simply never felt right.”

A muscle in his jaw flexed. “Not even with me?”

My heart ached, and I could not force the lie from my lips. “This is not the time to discuss such a thing.”

“It seems with you there is never a good time to discuss the difficult topics.”

I knew he was referring to Mother and concealing my stay at Fairhaven from her, but what good would it do to acknowledge it or explain to him my reasonings? The sooner he realized the kind of person I was, the sooner he’d let me go.

“And who is this handsome gentleman?” Lady Beatrice stepped to my side with Miss Browning in her wake. “I am certain we have not been introduced.”

With every last bit of will power, I forced a smile to my lips. “Mr. Brundage is an old friend of mine.”

“He seems very much worth mentioning, yet I don’t recall you telling me of him.” Lady Beatrice assessed him with far too much pleasure. “Will you not provide an introduction, Miss Godwin?”

My body trembled from suppressing too many emotions, but I glanced back toward Augustus. “Mr. Brundage, this is Lady Beatrice and Miss Browning.”

Augustus bowed. “It is a pleasure.”

Lady Beatrice gave a generous crack of her fan to open it before moving it in an amorous flutter. “I assure you, the pleasure is mine.”

My stomach clenched at her brazen display, though I was thankful Augustus had missed my discussion with Ruth and Sarah on what the swift movement of her fan indicated.

“So, how is it you know one another?” Lady Beatrice took a step nearer Augustus.

“As Miss Godwin stated, we are just old friends. Nothing more.”

I swallowed. “His cousin was my neighbor in Bath. She will be down after dinner, though I have already introduced you both to her at Lord and Lady Brimhall’s ball three weeks past.”

Lady Beatrice and Miss Browning shared a questioning glance.

“A Miss Ruth Seton?”

Lady Beatrice’s eyes lit with recognition. “Oh, yes. Your neighbor.”

I gave a nod, hoping they would consider the connection and therefore decide to leave Augustus alone.

“She was a delightful girl.” Lady Beatrice smiled sweetly at Augustus with not even a hint of the repulsion she’d displayed that night. “With lovely brown eyes and hair to match, if I recall correctly.”

Augustus nodded. “Yes.”

Lady Beatrice closed her fan and tapped Augustus on the arm with it. “So tell us. What was Miss Godwin like when she was younger? Did she collect as many unwanted hearts in Bath as she has managed to collect in London?”

His forlorn gaze slid to me. “Not that I’m aware of. But then I don’t believe she was set upon collecting hearts when I knew her.”

Despite the touch of benevolence in his voice, Lady Beatrice giggled, her lips parting as though he had dealt me a great blow.

“Oh, look.” In an attempt to prevent Lady Beatrice from offering any more of her opinions on the matter, I directed the others’ notice to Lady Thorton. “I believe it is time to walk in to dinner.” And to my great relief, the women truly were beginning to arrange themselves discreetly in order of highest rank. Lady Beatrice sent Augustus a small pout. “I suppose we shall have to continue our conversation after dinner.”

“Yes, you shall.” I smiled, never so grateful that Augustus did not hold a title, for he would not be seated anywhere near Lady Beatrice.