The Lady’s Torn Heart (Faces of Love Series #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

man never really recovered from that,” Gaffton finally said.
    “Understandably,” Mary quipped.
    “I think you are the first lady that brought a smile back to his face,” Gaffton said to me. “I don't mean to pressure you, or make your life more confusing. I think even if you just went for a lovely time at the auction, it would be a good thing for the both of you. You could get some perspective and Fitzwilliam could learn to be happy again.”
    I thought about it for a bit. He was a good friend to me. He was also a very kind and gentle man. If anyone deserved to find happiness, it was he. If my going on this trip would help him open up his heart to opportunities, I would be more than willing to do that for a friend. “Do you think it is too late to write and tell him?” I asked.
    Gaffton gave a big satisfactory smile at this. “Not at all. I’ll have Daniels take it over to him right now.” Gaffton got up to find the butler.
    Mary waited until he’d left the room and then leaned in to whisper something to me. “You should know too; James isn’t here.”
    “How do you know?”
    “Josie told me while she was helping me change for dinner. She said that he and Lady Heather left to visit a friend for a few weeks.”
    “And how would Josie know this?” I asked with a raised golden eyebrow.
    “Oh, you know how servants all talk with each other. Gossip travels quickly around the market in the morning.”
    “Yes, but how would Josie know to pick up this information about James and share it with you? Please do not tell me that you are having the servants glean gossip on my behalf.”
    She waved me off impatiently. “It was just something Josie heard, and she thought I might want to know. I just wanted to put your mind at ease. You don't have to worry about offending James by taking this trip with another man.”
    I opened my mouth to deny her right assumption. She simply waved me off before I could.
    “All I am saying is, he won't be here. He wouldn’t even be back before you return. You could go, have an enjoyable time, and no one would be the wiser.”
    “You make it sound deceitful,” I said with a skeptical frown.
    “Not deceitful. Just aware of your actions. A lesson I think we can both agree would be an important one to learn.”
    I scrunched my nose at her scolding tone. She was right though.

CHAPTER 10

    UNDERSTANDING OPEN THE HEART

“I do not dislike him. I consider him, on the contrary, as a very respectable man, who has everybody's good word and nobody's notice…” - Jane Austen

    * * *
    F itzwilliam arrived the next morning just after breakfast. He was again dressed casually in a dark navy-colored jacket and tan pants with the stylish hessians. He did look handsome in his uniform, but I think I was beginning to prefer this more casual looking man in front of me. He seemed more relaxed, less rigid by the rules of conformity.
    His sister was also with him. She shared the same black hair and stunning blue eyes. She had the most delicate skin. She was quite a beauty to behold. If her looks weren’t enough, the energetic light she radiated was enough to brighten the saddest of days.
    I wished the Duke and Duchess farewell, making sure to give Juliette extra kisses so as not to forget me.
    The colonel said the trip would take a few hours, so I had settled for wearing my comfortable brown linen traveling dress. Josie had insisted on weaving some blue ribbon through my hair and wrapping another length around the middle of my dress. She also seemed to have the idea that more could come of this trip.
    “You look very lovely today,” Fitzwilliam said as we rode along in the carriage.
    “Thank you,” I answered sweetly. After last night's talk with Gaffton, I saw Fitzwilliam in a completely new light. I suppose, on some level, I knew he had more attraction to me than I did for him. Nevertheless, after what had been said the night before, every look and word had a new meaning.
    “Oh look, Henry, you