Becoming Lady Rodworth by Lim Iris

Author:Lim, Iris
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Iris Lim
Published: 2022-12-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

“To think, after all this time, that Lord Beckham settles for Miss Inglethorpe instead!” Mama shook her head, a stern frown on her brow, as their carriage drew close to Nottingham House. The familiar creak of the wheel as it turned the final corner indicated that they would arrive within a matter of minutes. “One would think that after you have so publicly shunned Lord Cunningham that Lord Beckham would consider his odds for your hand to have increased rather than decreased.”

Violet bit her lip. This was the third time Mama had routed their conversation back towards Miss Inglethorpe’s surprise engagement, despite Violet’s repeated attempts to speak of anything but that.

Having to learn of Lord Beckham’s change in affection in such a public manner tonight had been slightly jarring. Had he not been calling at Nottingham House a mere two weeks ago? But there never had been a formal courtship between them, and no degree of pride could have blinded Violet from the way Lord Beckham and Miss Inglethorpe had regarded each other tonight as Lord Inglethorpe made the announcement beside the happy couple.

Regardless of the nature of Lord Beckham’s initial intentions, his calls had clearly taken a more familial, friendly tone of late. Violet, or Mama, hardly had the right to blame the man for his perceived slight when he had only ever appeared interested in and not truly attached to Violet.

“It is a love match, I believe,” Violet said softly as their horses began to slow. The familiar shadow of their grand town home stretched over their carriage. “I do say I am happy for them.”

“But for Lord Beckham to have used you so ill!” Mama lamented, looking far more offended than Violet felt.

Violet offered a small smile. “I don’t think I would ever have chosen to marry him anyway. Perhaps it is well and good that he understands that earlier rather than later.”

“But he could at least have tried to offer.”

A small bubble of amusement poked at Violet’s ribs amidst her other conflicting emotions. “I don’t think most men find it palatable to offer their hand when they know their offer would only be declined, Mama.”

Mama, to her credit, appeared slightly chastised. She tugged on her gloves as their carriage halted. Violet closed her fan and gathered her skirts. Her sisters would no doubt have more questions for her tonight—questions that Violet would much rather not answer.

How would she explain, after all, the strange emotion that had surged within her as she watched Lord Beckham smile endearingly at a plain but ecstatic Miss Inglethorpe, their hands clasped together as if they were about to undertake life’s greatest adventure as one? How would she describe the intangible thrill of the moments she had shared with Lord Rodworth—from the entrancing, playful tenderness of their waltz to that second at the terrace when he had stood so very near that she felt the throbbing of his heart in the air?

Her own pulse had hardly done better. And after having

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