Lady Hastings' Second Season

Chapter Nine

It was not until Amelia was in her bed late at night, chatting to Virginia about Lord Bridge, that she even thought about what she had said to Lady Reading.

"Ginny," Amelia interrupted her cousin, "I may have done something awful and lied to Lady Reading."

"Whatever do you mean?" Virginia looked rather bewildered at the sudden change of conversation. "When were you talking to Lady Reading?"

"Earlier today, she pulled me aside and I may have told her I was engaged to Mr Whitby," She winced, waiting for the stern telling off she was about to receive.

"Oh Amelia! Why on earth would you say such a thing!" Virginia gasped loudly.

"I was panicked! Lady Reading was interrogating me, and I could not think of anything else,"

"Interrogating you?" Confusion was etched on her face.

Amelia sighed, "She believed me to be in love with Edmund when I was only trying to help him!"

"I cannot blame her, for you do seem to be around him an awful lot." Then, with a teasing smile, Virginia asked, "Are you sure you do not truly love him?"

"Ginny! You know I do not! And he has no interest in me."

"I do doubt that, for occasionally he does look at you with longing." In reply to such an outrageous claim, Amelia gave her cousin a glare.

"It has been such a misunderstanding," She flopped back on her pillow. "I do hope she keeps her word and does not tell anyone."

"It would be quite the disaster if she spills your secret," Virginia agreed. "You cannot tell anyone else of this."

"Of course not! I hope she forgets about it when no formal announcement is made by the end of the season."

"Perhaps, but I cannot see Lady Reading forgetting about such an interesting piece of information." Virginia said thoughtfully.

Poor Amelia was really rather naïve to trust Lady Reading.

"I suppose you must be aware of the engagement?" Lady Reading asked casually as she played cards with Edmund.

"I am not sure I am. Would you care to enlighten me?" Edmund replied, paying more attention to the game than to her speech.

"You do not know?" She was genuinely shocked to learn that. "I had thought that because you are so close to them both, you would be the first they tell!"

"Who do you speak of?" By now, Edmund was slightly more interested.

"Why, Mr Whitby and Lady Hastings, of course!"

"Engaged?" Edmund shook his head, "You must be mistaken."

"I can assure you it is true, Lady Hastings told me the news herself." Lady Reading was dismayed that he did not believe her.

"I do not understand why they would not tell me," He mumbled to himself.

"Apparently, they have not yet asked for permission from her father. Lady Hastings asked me to keep her secret but I could not help telling you."

"You have betrayed her trust?" Edmund found himself angry at Lady Reading.

"Well, I did think you would already know of the news," She offered the lacklustre excuse in defence.

"I believe it is your turn," Edmund spoke coldly, motioning to her hands where her cards were held limply. He tried to focus on the game but could not remove the knowledge he now knew out of his mind.

It was much later in the day and Amelia had yet to hear any whispers about her 'engagement' so she believed that her secret was still safe with Lady Reading and promptly forgot about it. Throughout the day as the group went on another long horse ride, she had noticed Edmund looking at her as if he wished to talk but, being the host, he did not have a spare moment. Just before dinner, Amelia received a letter addressed to her, which was most odd considering almost all correspondence could have waited until she returned to London. She took a moment to step into an empty drawing room and eagerly read the message.

My Dear Amelia,

I have arranged for you to accompany Lord Cavendish to the opera this coming Saturday. I expect you to attend for it would cause me great embarrassment if you should not.

Your Father,

Lord George Hastings, Duke of Richmond.

Upon scanning over the letter, Amelia let out a sigh. This was not the first time her father had arranged such situations and she was in no position to say no. She had not entirely listened to her father when he had asked her to find proper suitors this season and so it was entirely reasonable of him to find a man for her. For a moment, Amelia almost considered telling her father she was courting Henry and then she could conveniently break off a relationship at the end of the season, but her mind reasoned that poor Henry would probably not be too happy with that plan. With no option other than to listen to her father, Amelia resigned herself to a probably dull evening at the opera, and went back to join everyone else.

After dinner, when everyone was mingling in the parlour, Amelia was talking to Lord Castor, who had told her to call him and Mr Bancroft their given names of Archie and Thomas, about the riding they had done that day and was rather engrossed in the conversation. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Lady Reading beginning to move through the room towards Henry. Instantly, Amelia's heart began to pound in fear that her lie would be exposed for she had yet to tell Henry. After a hurried apology for ending the conversation so quickly, Amelia left a confused Archie and went to intercept Lady Reading by stealing away Henry.

"Henry, may I speak to you in private? It is rather urgent!" She just about managed to latch onto his elbow, steering him towards the door.

"Is everything quite all right?" Poor Henry was very confused at the suddenness of the situation.

"Oh, yes, it is just that there is something I need to tell you before you hear it from anyone else. And I do apologise in advance," Amelia flashed him a quick smile as they made their way into the hall.

"Now you have me worried!" A concerned frown was appearing on his face.

"It is nothing too serious, but I may have involved you in a small lie," Amelia began explaining once they were alone. "You will laugh once you hear it!"

She was about to confess but she did not get the chance for Edmund appeared, looking at them with narrowed eyes.