“Amelia!” their mother exclaimed, turning in her chair to look at her daughter, her upset now all the more evident. “You told me that you were entirely unaware of Lord Telford’s unsuitability and that it was quite by chance that you were in his company once more. In fact,” she continued, her voice rising higher and higher, “you stated that it was your friend, Miss Newington, who drew you towards him.”
At this, Amelia dropped her head, no longer any trace of defiance about her.
“I have already warned you, Amelia, about your conduct,” Charles continued, a little more gently. “First of all, you purchase items without even asking me whether or not such a thing is permitted, and now you throw aside my company and mama’s companionship in order to escape to another part of the room, so that you might be in the company of a gentleman who wants nothing more from you than the dowry you would bring to the wedding.”
Lady Amelia lifted her head sharply.
“That is not true,” she stated, angrily. “Lord Telford was most attentive. He –”
“He is practically insolvent!” Lady Barrington interrupted, before Charles could speak. “Do you not understand, you foolish girl?” She slammed one fist down on the table, making the crockery tremble and her daughter stare at her, wide-eyed. “I believed you when you stated your meeting was entirely accidental - and now, I discover that you have told me untruths!”
“I – I just wanted to speak to him!” Lady Amelia stammered, looking from her mother to Charles and back again. “There is nothing wrong with that desire, surely?”
“There is when you are forced to practically run away from your brother!” Lady Barrington exclaimed, her anger and upset still clearly visible in her words and her expression. “I trusted your words, Amelia, only to now realize just how foolish I have been!”
Charles found his heart filling with relief as he saw the way that his mother now spoke to his sister. He had believed that Lady Barrington would present herself before him with the intention of defending Lady Amelia’s actions, only to now see that his mother was very upset indeed. He was not glad for her upset, of course, but he was certainly relieved that she was not attempting to defend Amelia’s actions. Evidently, she was fully aware of the sort of gentleman Lord Telford was, and could see the danger that had been so very close to Amelia.
“You did find them in time, I hope?” his mother asked, turning wide eyes towards Charles, her voice filled with desperation. “There were not any others who noticed him speaking to my daughter unattended?”
“They might well have done, had it not been for Lady Selina Forrest and Lady Hayward,” Charles replied, solemnly. “When I approached, it was with such relief and gladness to see them both standing with Amelia. Lord Telford took his leave the moment he saw me approach, which is yet another reason for you to realize just how unsuitable he is, Amelia!”
“I did not ask for her company,” Lady Amelia replied, ungratefully. “I knew Lady Selina had seen us, but I did not think she would bring Lady Hayward to join us. We were simply having a conversation, Barrington!” Her head lifted slowly and she looked back at him, a flicker of resentment growing in her eyes. “I thought it a little rude that they both forced their company upon us!”
“Then you are even more of a fool than I first thought,” he responded swiftly, as their mother shook her head, closing her eyes for a long moment. “Can you not see just what Lady Selina and Lady Hayward did for you, Amelia? By having Lady Hayward’s company, she made the gathering quite respectable. No doubt she would have lingered beside you until I or Mama came in search of you. You cannot know just how grateful I am to them both.”
“Nor I,” Lady Barrington added, passing one hand over her eyes before she pushed herself up from the table, her desire to eat evidently gone entirely. “Barrington, I have thought you too harsh with your threat to return Amelia to the estate, should she continue on with such silliness,” she continued, standing behind her chair now and looking at him. “But now that I have heard the truth of this, now that I have come to realize just how much of a fool I have become in trusting my daughter’s words, I no longer think you too severe.”
“Mama!” Lady Amelia gasped, turning her head to look at her mother, but Lady Barrington remained firm.
“If such a thing should happen again, Amelia, I will personally put you in the carriage myself and have us both driven back to the estate,” Lady Barrington said, glaring at her daughter. “Your brother can remain here, if he so wishes, for there is no need for him to forgo the rest of the Season on your account!” She looked back at Charles, who nodded his head, appreciating her determination and her willingness to now come alongside him in encouraging Amelia to behave properly. With a deep breath, she delivered the last part of her proclamation. “This is your only warning, Amelia. Anything more and I shall have our bags packed and your Season will be at an end.”
“Thank you, Mama,” Charles said quietly.
Lady Amelia rose from her chair, one hand balling up her napkin as tears flooded her eyes. She made to say something, opening and closing her mouth many times before, finally, with a strangled sob, she rushed from the room.
“I do not mean to upset her so,” Charles said, softly as Lady Barrington made her way to the door. “But you must understand that it is for the best, Mama.”
She looked back at him, her face set and her coloring still rather pale.
“Have no fear,” she replied, shaking her head. “I understand everything now, Barrington. Your sister made a very severe mistake last evening.”
“Are you
