Lady Abigail enjoyed the rest of the week much more then she had expected to. On two more occasions, she came to sit with Lord Gilchrist as they worked to complete the task for the Foundling boys.
The sideways looks from Lady Louisa and the duchess were not lost on her. Both ladies most likely suspected something beyond the simple task occurring between them.
For Lady Abigail’s part, she couldn’t say that she wasn’t enjoying their afternoons together. He seemed so much more relaxed and easy to talk to in the comfort of his own home. Lady Abigail saw how the stress of others’ gossip had weighed on him so much.
It also made her rethink her own love of gossiping. She had always enjoyed finding new tidbits of information and passing them along to others. Now she saw, for the first time, how much words could genuinely hurt another. In a small way, it made Lady Abigail grow more than she even realized she needed to.
She also spent the afternoons sharing with him some of the adventures she would have while not in his company. As she told him of races that she attended or balls and dinners, he too seemed to share in the fun of the events.
For some reason that Lady Abigail couldn’t understand herself, she never seemed to find a way to mention Lord Heshing. Although the lord was present for most of the events that Lady Abigail spoke of, she could never seem to bring herself to vocalize his name to Gilchrist.
In fact, as the week went on, she found herself in Heshing’s company for most of the time she was not in Lord Gilchrist's. It was such an opposite experience. Where Lord Heshing was charming, flirtatious and bold about his desire to court her in earnest, Lord Gilchrist was instead a good friend that she felt at ease and comfortable to be herself around.
It was almost as if the time she spent with each earl was also splitting her person in half. With the Earl of Heshing, on one hand, she had a fun, spirited adventure. In many ways, it felt freeing and exhilarating. Moreover, it was often filled with mixed emotions of trepidation, as Heshing seemed always to be pushing the boundaries of society.
With the Earl of Gilchrist, on the other hand, Lady Abigail was eased into the comfort and peace of his tranquil home. After he had shared his secret with her, they had this unspoken bond where they seemed able to share with the other what otherwise couldn’t be spoken. It was a kinship she had never felt with another.
There was still so much of Lord Gilchrist she didn’t know or understand. He would mention, at times, his inability to control his anger, but could never bring to words to what brought such ranging storms within him.
Lady Abigail took solace in her brother’s words of the past, that the Earl of Gilchrist had seen and experienced much. It would take time for him to sort through these complicated emotions. She was surprised to realize that she wanted to be there to help him through it.
She still had a fear of that deep-seated anger that resided inside of him but, at the same time, she wanted to help him let go of it. Lady Abigail, just a short week earlier, would have never dreamed to think on Gilchrist with more than contempt, and was surprised to find that in such a short time her opinion of him had changed so drastically.
“You seem quite lost in thought,” Heshing said to Lady Abigail, almost waking her from a dream.
They were seated on a blanket amidst friends, having a lovely afternoon picnic in the park. She had been tasting some delicate, early season strawberries when she had been lost in wondering about the Earl of Gilchrist.
“I was just thinking on a friend of mine,” Lady Abigail said, a little embarrassed that she had been so neglectful of her companion.
“And who would that friend be?" Heshing asked, taking his own strawberry from the bowl in front of them.
From his tone, Lady Abigail expected he was hoping she said him. She did care for him genuinely. It was true that she had begun to feel what Lady Abigail could only assume was affection as she had never experienced it before. But she was also not the type of lady to lie, even if it was to appease a gentleman.
“It is the Earl of Gilchrist. My family has very close connections with his. Do you know him well?” Lady Abigail said.
The Earl of Heshing visibly bristled at the mention of the name. “I met him briefly. He seemed to me a horrid fellow. I can’t imagine you being able to stand his garish company long enough to consider him a friend.”
“He is not garish at all,” Lady Abigail said, not pleased by his description.
It was for these exact words that Lord Gilchrist felt the need to imprison himself.
“I must admit, he was very coarse the first few times I met him. Over time, I have seen he is much more than that,” Lady Abigail did her best to explain the feelings she herself didn’t quite understand.
“Of course,” Lord Heshing said with a soft smile on his lips. “I have only met him one time and very briefly at that. I am sure once I get to know him better, I will think differently.”
Lady Abigail felt relief to hear Lord Heshing say such word. She didn't know why, but it was necessary to her that Heshing see the good that she had found in Lord Gilchrist.
“And what would give you cause to meet him on a more regular basis?” Lady Abigail asked, wondering the meaning of his words.
For surely Heshing wouldn’t take it upon himself to call on Gilchrist, and she doubted Gilchrist would ever find himself in Heshing’s societ circle.
Where Lord Gilchrist was entombed in his home, Heshing was always out and about with the liveliest lords and ladies. Lady Abigail smiled at the thought that the two could not possibly be more opposite of characters.
“Well, you say he has close connections to your family?”
“Yes. Isabella, the duchess I mean, was basically raised inside the Gilchrist household. Her father was often away and she spent many a holiday and social occasion in their company. She has often referred to him as a brother.”
“Well then, I expect I will see much of him, as I plan to see much of you,” he said, penetrating her with his soft eyes.
Lady Abigail instinctively looked down at her hands as a rosy color came to her cheek. Heshing dipped his head low to keep her gaze.
“Lady Abigail, I mean to ask you,” he started in a soft whisper.
“Heshing!” Miss Mary called from across the blanket. “Stop your incessant whispering in Lady Abigail’s ear so we may all play a little game.”
He gave a huff of frustration at being interrupted when he was, no doubt, about to say something of great importance. Nonetheless, ever the gentleman, he turned to Miss Mary and inquired about the game she had planned for them to play.
“Two truths and one lie,” she informed the two interlopers, who were apparently the only ones not already aware of this plan.
Lady Abigail spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the silly game as each took their turn to tell two truths and a lie while the others guessed which one was the falsehood.
She enjoyed the time she spent with Heshing and this little group of acquaintances. It was with sadness, however, that she couldn't call them more than just that. They were all fun to have around for a good game such as this, but there was no depth to any friendship on that blanket they shared.
If there was a moment that Lady Abigail was in great need, she couldn’t honestly say that she would turn to any of these lords or ladies. Instead, she would turn to the duke and duchess, her family, like Lady Fortuna, or even, she was surprised to admit, the Earl of Gilchrist and his family.
It made her wonder if her time spent here with these simple diversions was really worth it. It was something she had never thought to ask herself before.
Until that moment, she had planned her life just as any other lady might. She would enjoy her season until the time came that she found a proper suitor, then she would marry and begin to take care of her own household.
It was small diversions like this picnic that she thought would bring her joy. She was realizing, however, that instead she was finding more happiness sitting in Gilchrist's drawing room or with the children of the Foundling Hospital.
Those memories had weight and substance to her, whereas moments like this seemed so fleeting.
“Lady Abigail,” Heshing's voice called to her again.
She turned to him, surprised to be off in another place for the second time that afternoon.
“Something must be very distracting for you not to realize it’s your turn,” Miss Mary said with a giggle. “Perhaps you will share his name with the rest of us,” she added.
Lady Abigail looked sideways at Lord Heshing. She could see that he assumed where her thoughts had gone to for the second time that afternoon, and he wasn’t happy about it.
She was sorry to offend him so, for she did care about him sincerely. Assuredly, he had more to him than these simple diversions that they had shared. Perhaps he was only waiting for the invitation to become more, just as she had needed.
Lord Gilchrist had given her the means to see beyond the simple frivolities. She would be happy to share that same knowledge with Heshing. Then, too, she would be able to get to know Heshing on a deeper level. It seemed that her heart was waiting for something of that nature before she could fully accept him as a suitor.
As Lady Abigail retired to her bed that night, she thought over all the new revelations she had experienced over the week. Heshing was a formidable candidate for her hand. Looking through the eyes of society, it was a choice she should not let pass her by.
She was never one for caring what was expected of her, however. She did care for Heshing and found him good company. She needed to know, however, that there was more to him than what she had seen thus far on the surface of things.