by Emma Evans
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
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The Viscount Forgotten
Lords of London
Book 3
By Emma Evans
Chapter One
“No.”
“Please.”
Lifting his chin, Lord Hector Guthrie shook his head. “I said no. Absolutely not.”
“I think you are being very unreasonable.”
Letting out a long breath, Hector shook his head, remaining steadfast in his refusal. “Whereas I think you are being most presumptuous, Thackery.”
“It is unlike you to be so unfeeling, Guthrie,” replied his friend mildly. “It is not a particularly difficult request, is it? You know Sophia. You know she has no mother to speak of and her father cannot come to London to aid her. Why not help her during the last two months of the Season?”
“Because that is your responsibility!” Hector exclaimed, flinging up his arms. “I am not her guardian, you are.”
Lord Thackery let out a long breath. “Yes, I am aware of that but since circumstances have changed, I am required to take care of my wife and I would not be best pleased to have to put off my honeymoon any longer. After all that Clara has been through, she needs time away from London. Of course, she insists that we remain here for the rest of the Season, but I can tell that she is growing weary and I would not have her tire herself out for Sophia’s sake. Besides,” he continued with a quick grin, “you have an estate in Scotland and Sophia’s father, Baron Musgrove, has an estate there also. If you do not wish to help her during the last couple of months of the Season, then you can simply accompany her home. After all, did you not intend to return home very soon?”
Feeling as though he were being twisted to Thackery’s will, Hector let out a grunt of acknowledgement.
“I will find her a new companion so that you need not so much as see her during the day if you do not wish it,” Thackery continued, as though it all were already in place. “You simply need to take her to balls and the like and be present should there be any requests for courting.”
That brought a kick of pain to Hector’s heart, but he ignored it steadfastly. “I do not want to play chaperone for Sophia,” he said firmly. “You are asking too much of me, Thackery.”
“Am I?”
The knowing look in Lord Thackery’s eyes made Hector tense. His brows furrowed as he narrowed his eyes, looking at his friend with suspicion. “And what does that mean?”
“Nothing,” Lord Thackery replied with a slight shrug. “Tis only that I fear Sophia will be vastly upset to have to return to Scotland when there is still a good few weeks left of the Season—and you know they are the busiest weeks of them all.”
Wishing he could stamp his foot as a child might, Hector shook his head at his friend. “Stop this, Thackery. You need not hurry away on your honeymoon. It is unfair of you to put this pressure on me.”
“Guthrie,” Thackery interrupted, his expression growing dark. “My wife was stabbed.”
That took the wind from Hector’s sails. What Thackery was saying was quite true, for he knew that the new Lady Thackery did require a long time away from London to recover and recuperate, as well as trying to enjoy her newly married state. She had been through a very great deal, as had Sophia and Lord Thackery, yet Hector found that he did not want to do what Thackery had asked out of nothing more than sheer selfishness… and the knowledge that he felt more for Miss Sophia Newton than he should. He was aware that Thackery was asking him for this favor not because he wanted to take his wife away and enjoy their honeymoon, but out of concern for his wife’s wellbeing. Lady Clara Thackery had been through a great ordeal and it was more than understandable that Thackery wanted to get her away from London for a time. His frown deepening, Hector wondered why he was being so stubborn when it was clear his friend needed him. Was it because he was afraid of the murmurings of his own heart when it came to Sophia?
“Can I not convince you?”
The question was asked quietly and respectfully, betraying a tiredness that Thackery had never truly shown before. Hector felt the weight of responsibility settle deep within his soul, his shoulders slumping as he let out a long sigh.
“I suppose when you put it like that, I have very little choice but to agree,” he muttered darkly. “Very well, Thackery. I shall take on your charge and then accompany her back to Scotland when the time comes.”
Lord Thackery’s face split with a wide smile, his eyes lit with a great happiness.
“You shall have to instruct me as to what I am to do, should someone request to court her, or even more than that, request her hand,” Hector continued, shaking his head to himself as if he could not quite believe what he was agreeing to. “I have no experience at this, Thackery.”
Chuckling, Thackery slapped him on the shoulder hard. “Thank you, Guthrie. You have no idea what this means to me.”
Hector snorted. “No, it is clear that I do not. However, I am expecting some recompense from you as regards this. I do hope that her father is quite all right with all this?”
“More than all right,” Thackery replied, making Hector realize that it had already all been arranged before he’d even had a chance to agree or refuse. “He knows you by reputation, of course, since your estate is one of the largest in Scotland, and since he knows you are a friend of mine, he simply could not refuse. No, no, I promise that Baron Musgrove is more than delighted that you are willing to assist in this matter.”
A vision of Sophia floated into Hector’s mind, making him frown. “And Sophia herself? What does she say to this?”
The smile faded slightly from Thackery’s face. “Well,” he began, clearing his throat gruffly. “As to that, we have not yet informed her of the change in circumstances. I am quite sure she will be more than happy with all that will occur.”
Hector felt a laugh rattle from his chest. Knowing Sophia as he did, he was quite sure that she would be somewhat surprised over what had been arranged without her knowledge. There would be a spurt of anger on her part, he was sure, for the girl did not like being kept in the dark when it came to certain arrangements about her own future.
Not that he should call her a girl, of course. She was a beautiful young woman with more than enough charm and charisma to capture a handsome, titled and wealthy gentleman should she be allowed the opportunity. It was meant to be her Season this year, of course, but with all that had happened with Clara—the lady who had come to be her companion—she had barely had the opportunity to develop any kind of acquaintance with any such gentleman. Now it would be up to Hector to ensure that this occurred for her.
“I will tell her this very afternoon,” Thackery declared, walking over to where Hector kept his b
randy and pouring himself a glass. Hector accepted one from him, sitting down in a chair by the fire and feeling rather weary. He had gone from thinking himself finished with London for this year to now changing his plans entirely, to the point where he would now remain in London for at least two months longer before returning home to Scotland. Scotland was his home, his heritage, and in his heart, and after some time in London, his heart filled with a longing to return there. He wondered if Sophia felt the same as he, if there would be a chance that they might return there sooner than the two months, but then the thought dashed from his mind as he recalled the delight in her eyes when he had last seen her at a ball. No, Sophia would not wish to return home any sooner than planned. She would dance at every ball, sing at every recital and marvel at every theatrical performance until the very last day of the Season whilst he would continue to struggle with his own heart.
“Something on your mind?”
Thackery sat down opposite him, an easy smile on his face which Hector did not return.
“You mean, apart from the fact that you have hoisted your charge on me for the last few months of the Season?” Hector replied dryly. “No, Thackery, I have nothing else on my mind.”
“Mayhap you will enjoy the time as much as she,” Thackery replied with a slight shrug of his shoulders. “After all, you are to find a bride at some point, are you not?”
“No,” Hector said firmly, with a swipe of his hand. “You know better than to ask me that, Thackery.”
His friend blinked, evidently surprised.
“I have no need to marry,” Hector continued, his words spiking out of his mouth. “Not after the disastrous first attempt.”
Lord Thackery frowned, his eyes tinged with sadness. “That was hardly your fault, Guthrie. The woman was… not all you thought her to be.”
“Violet was everything I thought she was,” Hector countered, shaking his head. “It was my own clouded judgment that did not allow me to see her as she really was. I’d hoped that marriage would bring us together, that she would stop looking at these gentlemen with such an alluring eye—and she promised me over and over that she was only ever truly in love with me and would never desert me. How foolish I was.”
“That hardly means that you must turn your back on every other person of the female persuasion,” Thackery said with a slight shrug of his shoulders. “You cannot wish to spend the rest of your life alone, can you?”
“I have thought that it appeared to be quite a wonderful outlook, actually,” Hector muttered, before lifting the glass to his lips and draining it. The liquor spread through his limbs, making him draw in a sharp breath and tugging his melancholy thoughts away. “And you are not to tell Sophia anything about it, do you understand? In time, it may become somewhat pertinent to explain why society as a whole turns its face from me, but I do not wish it to be the first thing that she learns about me.”
“I will not press you on the matter,” Thackery murmured, evidently seeing his friend’s morose look. “However, I will say that I am truly grateful to you for being willing to take Sophia on for the remainder of the Season. It will do myself and Clara the world of good to be away from London for a time and Sophia will be delighted that she is to remain. I truly mean it when I offer you my thanks, Guthrie.”
Hector nodded mutely and got up to refill his glass. He was not quite sure about the whole situation, although there was a certain amount of gladness within him that he was able to assist Thackery and help Clara, even if it was twined with reluctance.
“I had best go and tell Clara so that we might begin to make some arrangements,” Thackery said, when Hector said nothing. “Good afternoon, Guthrie. And thank you. I’ll ensure you get all the details very soon.”
Grunting, Hector watched as his friend left the room, feeling a sudden, sharp weight of responsibility fall onto his shoulders. Very soon, he would be the sole chaperone of Miss Sophia Newton, helping her through society in order to secure a suitable husband while he continued to battle the tormented feelings that were slowly beginning to entwine his heart.
The very idea made him shudder.
Chapter Two
Miss Sophia Newton, daughter of Baron Musgrove, hummed to herself as she twirled around the bedchamber, making sure that her gown flared just so. It was a stunning creation, given to her by Clara on the day after Clara’s marriage to Lord Thackery. With glints of gold and shimmering red running all through the cream silk gown, Sophia felt as though she would be bound to catch the eye of various gentlemen who were sure to be present this evening. This was, after all, her chance to shine.
“Sophia?”
Turning around, in full display of all her party things, Sophia was glad to see her chaperone looking so happy. There had been so much for her to manage, so much for her to cope with, and yet she had never lost any of her loving, gentle care towards Sophia.
“My dear Sophia, you look quite wonderful.”
Twirling around yet again, Sophie let out a shy, girlish laugh, her mind filled with thoughts of what might occur this evening. “Thank you, Clara. I confess that I am more than a little excited!”
Her chaperone laughed. “So, I can see. However, there is something of note that I need to speak to you about.”
The smile faded from Sophia’s face, seeing the steady look in Clara’s eyes. Her frown was one of worry and concern, trying not to allow any kind of fear to spring up within her.
“You need not look so concerned,” Clara said, evidently seeing Sophia’s worried expression. “It is nothing that you will be upset by, I am sure. Just a little change in circumstances.” She gestured for Sophia to sit down by the fireplace, which held only a few glowing coals since it was still a rather warm summer’s evening. Sophia did as she was asked at once, her eyes fixed on Clara as she looked at her carefully, wondering what change of circumstances this might be.
“Thackery wrote to your father last week and received a reply today,” Clara began, settling her hands in her lap. “There is nothing wrong with him or the rest of your family, so put that thought from your mind at once.”
Sophia gave her a quick smile. “I am glad to hear it.”
“However,” Clara continued, gently, “Thackery has decided that it is time for us to go on our honeymoon.” There was a short pause as Sophia took this news in, her happiness slowly fading. “This means, of course, that we will be leaving London.”
“Oh,” Sophia replied, trying her best to keep a smile on her face and a happy tone to her voice despite the pain that was growing within her heart. “Of course. I quite understand.” She did not want to be selfish and consider only herself, especially after Clara had been forced to endure weeks of what had been a torturous situation.
However, much to Sophia’s surprise, Clara laughed and shook her head. “You are putting on a very brave face, are you not, and I am glad for it. However, arrangements have been made for you to remain in London until the end of the Season, just as you were promised.” She sat back with a contented look on her face, practically beaming at Sophia. “Now, what do you say to that?”
Sophia, who had gone from disappointment to delight in the space of only a few seconds, found herself caught between laughter and confusion.
“I am very happy to be remaining in London, of course,” she said, her smile slowly beginning to spread across her face as she drew in a breath to settle herself again. “Although I shall miss you, of course. Who is to chaperone me if Thackery is leaving London? Is my father to return here?” She could not imagine that the Baron would be altogether willing to return to London since he lived in Scotland and had a great deal of business to deal with there—as well as the fact that he truly did not like the hustle and bustle of town, but she could not imagine who else it might be.
Clara’s smile grew all the more. “I can hardly believe it myself, but it appears that Lord Guthrie is willing to chaperone you to various events. You are going to be allowed to remain here in Thackery’s townhouse, of course, a
nd another suitable companion will be found for you, but in all other matters, Lord Guthrie is the one who you should look to.”
Blinking furiously, Sophia felt her heart pause for a moment, as though taking in what Clara had to say before deciding to resume its beating. She was not quite sure what to make of this news, finding the idea of Lord Guthrie attending her to be something of a… surprise.
A good surprise, perhaps?
“You and he have become quite well acquainted these last few weeks, have you not?” Clara continued, with slight confusion in her gaze. “I do hope you are not upset by this news, Sophia. I will, of course, ensure that we remain in London until Season’s end.”
“No, no, of course you must not postpone your honeymoon any more than you already have,” Sophia protested at once, trying to hide the blush in her cheeks. “Indeed, I am a little surprised, but I do like Lord Guthrie exceedingly and I am sure that he will be an excellent chaperone.”
A look of relief covered Clara’s face and she let out a long breath as an expression of happiness settled in her expression. “Good, I am very glad to hear it. Now, we will introduce you to your new companions tomorrow—they are an older couple, of course, and the lady will accompany you to all outings and recitals.” A mischievous twinkle appeared in her eye. “I believe the gentleman prefers to remain at home, spending his days and evenings in the library or enjoying a glass of port. Regardless, they are well known to Lord Thackery and I am sure you will grow to like them.”
“What are their names?” Sophia asked, a little perturbed that she would soon be left with a couple she had never met before.
“The honorable Captain John Drake and his wife, Edwina Drake. A decorated officer and second son of an earl, I believe.” She waved her hand and shrugged. “You will meet them properly tomorrow. The only reason I wished to speak to you about the new arrangements before the ball this evening is that Lord Guthrie is to be in attendance.”