by Dawn Brower
“I have to be going,” Katherine replied. “I’ve another appointment.”
“Oh?” Diana lifted a brow. “Are you going to the club?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s a family thing. My brother has requested a meeting. I have no idea what he could possibly wish to discuss.”
“Go. We will talk more later.”
Katherine nodded and exited the library. Diana turned back to Lulia who was eating another scone. “Enjoy the tea and come find me when you’re done. I’ll be in my room writing to Lord Northesk.”
She waved her hand shooing her out. “I’ll be fine. Go send your love note.”
“It’s not…” She stopped and shook her head. There was no arguing with Lulia. Instead she left her friend alone and went to do as she’d said. There was no better time to write it. She had to face the situation with Lord Northesk and stop hiding from it. Lulia’s predictions were rarely wrong and she had said she’d give him the entire fortnight to court her. It would give her time to decipher his motives and see if they could maybe have a future. If she wanted to find happiness and love she’d have to give them both the chance. Maybe if she was lucky she’d find both, but she’d settle for one.
Chapter Seven
The stormy skies had interrupted Luther’s plans, and it irritated him. He’d been looking forward to seeing Lady Diana. Now he had to find another way to spend some time with her. He paced his study as he considered his options. He didn’t have any idea what her plans for the evening consisted of or if she was going to attend anything at all. Balls and soirees weren’t his usual haunts and he’d stopped looking at invitations ages ago. It was a fluke he’d looked at the one for the Silverton ball. He probably should start paying attention to them, but it wouldn’t solve his current dilemma.
“Pardon the interruption, my lord, but you have a caller,” his butler announced from the doorway.
“Oh?” he lifted a brow. “Who is it?” Luther didn’t particularly wish to visit with anyone. He had to find a way to spend time with Lady Diana. In other words—he had better, or rather, more important things on his mind.
“Is that any way to greet a friend?”
Luther couldn’t help the tilt of his lips upward into a smile. Bennett Evans, the Marquess of Holton was one of his closest friends. Him along with Julian Everleigh, the Duke of Ashley had gone to Eton, then Oxford together. His trip around the continent had been with them as well. They were, for the most part, inseparable. He hadn’t seen Holton in ages. “I thought you were rusticating or some nonsense.”
Ashley and Holton had come into their titles while they were all at Eton. It had bonded the two of them together, and sometimes it had seemed as if they’d formed a club of two. Luther had never wanted to lose his father to understand their pain, but it had taken that monumental death for it to fully sink in. They’d had to endure it as boys. At least Luther had longer with his father even if he’d been too blind to see it. Sometimes a mountain had to crash over him for him to see the truth. In some ways that’s how he’d finally come to realize what Diana had meant to him. She’d always been there. All he’d had to do was open his eyes and appreciate her for the person he needed.
“I’ve decided to come to the ton for another purpose.”
“Did you miss us?”
Ashley stayed in town and avoided his ancestral estate at all costs. It had too many memories for him to live with and his mother still resided there. The dowager house was in ruins and he refused to repair it. As he never intended to marry he figured his mother could remain at Ashley Abby indefinitely. Luther couldn’t blame him. They’d all heard the stories about her. She came from a long line of women accused of witchcraft. Some believed she’d been the one to murder the previous duke.
“Ashley visited,” he replied. “Why haven’t you?”
“I’ve been rather busy.” Drinking, gambling, falling in love—or perhaps he’d always loved Diana. He couldn’t be certain. “I’m going out this evening. Are you in town long?”
“I’ll be here for the rest of the season. I hope to find a lady willing to tie herself to me forever.”
Unlike Ashley, Holton had always intended to marry, but he wanted to strengthen his estate first. He rather admired his friend his fortitude. He had always known what he wanted and sought it by any means necessary. Once he decided on a lady he’d pursue her until she agreed to be his. He might feel sorry for this fictitious lady if he didn’t know his friend so well. Holton would never mistreat anyone.
“So you don’t have a special lady in mind?”
“Not particularly. I just need someone of good breeding and who understands what I need from her?”
“A broodmare?” he lifted a brow. “I hope you’re not so blunt as to say that to a woman’s face.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Holton said. “Yes, I require an heir, but we all do. I’d prefer that I actually like my future bride and that we have something in common. Forever is a long time with someone you don’t particularly enjoy being around.”
“Touché,” Luther agreed. “I wish you luck in your endeavors.”
“What are your plans for this evening?”
Luther had hoped Holton wouldn’t ask that particular question because he still didn’t know exactly. He’d been contemplating all of his options before he’d shown up unexpectedly. “I’m courting a lady.”
It was Holton’s turn to lift a brow. “You? I thought you were of a similar mind as Ashley—never marrying and enjoying your bachelorhood for the rest of your days.”
“Is a man not allowed to change his mind?”
Holton’s laughter echoed through the room. “I’m glad you have and I can’t wait to meet this paragon. She must be special to have snared your interest.”
Diana was extraordinary and he hoped to prove to her how much over the next fortnight. Maybe Holton would have an idea that would help him. He was at a loss on how to see her and with each passing moment he grew more desperate. “What are your plans for this evening?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Well I have a dilemma and you might be able to unravel it for me.”
“Explain,” Holton demanded
Luther took a deep breath and did just that. At the end of his diatribe Holton tilted his head deep in thought. He hoped his friend had an idea because his best intentions kept making a mess of things. He just wanted to fix it all somehow, but he couldn’t figure it out to save his life. Lady Diana was important to him and he had to get it all right.
“You want to spend time with her and you don’t have any means to do it. The rain prevented your outing at Rotten Row. My friend you really should pay more attention to your social calendar,” Holton chastised. “But I may have a solution to your particular problem.”
“I’m listening.”
“The theater.”
He didn’t quite understand what the theater had to do with anything. What was Holton suggesting? Surely, he wasn’t acquainted with Lady Diana’s gypsy friend. That was a ridiculous assumption. He hadn’t even told Holton Lady Diana’s name. How or why would he jump to that conclusion?
“You’ll have to explain a little better,” Luther replied. “I’m not sure what the theater has to do with the situation.”
“I have a box and there is a new play opening tonight. Send a missive to her house and invite her to attend. Tell her to bring a friend to join us.”
“You want to be there too?” It would make more sense for them to share his box. It would look better to society if they weren’t totally alone at the theater. It would be too risky and might ruin her reputation. Luther didn’t want to start a scandal—he wanted love. “Never mind. I realize how absurd that sounded.”
Holton’s lips tilted upward. “It makes perfect sense. Maybe I’ll even meet the lady of my dreams tonight. Besides I was rather looking forward to tonight’s performance.”
“You always did enjoy a good piece of entertainment.” Luther shook his head. “
Give me a minute to pen a note and send it to her house.”
Luther sat down at his desk and wrote a quickly. Then he folded the missive and sealed it with wax and his family crest. He stood up and pulled a nearby bell. A footman came in a few moments later.
“Yes, my lord,” he said with a bow. “How may I be of assistance?”
“Take this to the Bristol townhouse and deliver it to Lady Diana immediately.”
“I’ll see it done,” the footman replied and exited the room.
Now that his task was completed he returned his attention to his friend. Holton was staring out at the stormy skies and a frown on his face. Something else was bothering him, but Luther couldn’t determine what it could be. Holton would tell him when he was ready. No one could force him to open up and spill his secrets. His friend believed in keep things locked up inside of himself. That didn’t mean Luther shouldn’t at the very least try to reach through the wall he’d built up around him.
“How is your cousin?”
“Lenora is fine,” he replied. “Still shy and quiet as a mouse. After I marry I hope that we’ll be able to bring her out in society. I worry for her future.”
“With you as her guardian I’m certain she’ll have a good one. No one cares more for her than you do.”
He’d been taking care of Lady Lenora St. Martin since he was one and twenty. Holton’s mother and hers were twin sisters and they’d grown up as close as siblings. His cousin hadn’t been the same since her parent’s death a few years back. Luther could relate to her pain. He’d gone through a similar experience after his own father’s death. He’d resorted to bad behavior to mask his pain and Lady Lenora had closed herself off from the world.
“Still…” Holton sighed. “She’s not getting any better.”
Luther placed a hand on his friend’s back. He would take away his pain if he could. There wasn’t much he wouldn’t do for either one of his friends, but there wasn’t anything that would help this particular situation. Lady Lenora would either break free from her shell or never emerge again. It was up to her either way. Perhaps another woman around her might help but there was no way to know for certain.
“She’s the reason you want to marry now.” Luther blew out a breath. “It all makes a bit of sense. You always wanted to and now you figure you had better do it sooner rather than later.”
“In some ways that is true,” Holton agreed. “Lenora needs a strong female around her. My mother stopped functioning with my aunt’s death. It’s like a piece of her died with Aunt Winifred.”
They were all surrounded with pain of some sort. None of them could escape it and the harder they tried the more unbearable it became. It was their lot in life to breathe through the pain and keep going. Death was a fact of life even if he hated it. His father hadn’t wanted to leave him. Holton’s aunt and uncle hadn’t wanted to abandon their only child. Ashley’s father would have gladly held on to the dukedom for decades to come. Unfortunately, none of them could decide their own fate. All they could do was keep living and try not to let the unknown terrify them from enjoying it.
“I don’t envy you,” Luther replied. “At least I’m only responsible for myself. I couldn’t imagine if I had someone depending on me. I’ve been a mess for far too long.”
“But you’re improving.” Holton smiled. “That’s something to celebrate. This lady of yours works miracles. If she can make you clean yourself up then there is hope for the rest of us miscreants.”
“I’d hardly call you a scoundrel.” Luther grinned widely. “Though you did have a few wild days before you became so bloody stuffy.”
“We all have some misspent youth we have to live down,” Holton reminded him. “You just took longer than most to remember that you’re not a child anymore.”
Love had some amazing side effects… “Sometimes you find the one thing you always needed in a place you never expected to uncover it. You’ll find your miracle.”
“From your lips to whatever being decides our fate,” Holton said and looked upward at the gloomy sky. “I need a bright spot to see me through the dark days I’m sure are ahead.”
He didn’t question Holton on why he believed that. His friend had already shared far more than he usually did. Some things should be left alone. For now they had plans for the evening ahead of them. “Well,” Luther said nonchalantly. “Maybe you’ll meet your paragon tonight. I’ll meet you at your box with guests in tow.”
“Until tonight then,” Holton replied absentmindedly. “I’ll take your leave.”
With those words his enigmatic friend exited the room leaving Luther alone with his thoughts. He should think of a gift for his lady love. Something she could take home with her to remind her of him. The question was what…
Chapter Eight
The note that Lord Northesk had sent around shouldn’t have surprised Diana but it had. He’d wanted to court her and he’d had to discern a way to spend time with her. Their original plans had been thwarted by the rain, but he’d found another way for them to see each other. The problem was she had made other plans. She had to go to the club and make arrangements for the next fencing match. Lulia would be disappointed when she failed to make an appearance. Katherine had agreed to accompany her to the theater. At least she wouldn’t be completely alone with Lord Northesk. She wasn’t entirely sure what she was feeling anymore or what she actually wanted. Her emotions were all over the place.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Katherine interrupted her thoughts.
“There’s nothing to discuss.” Diana shrugged. “The normal niceties seem rather unnecessary at the moment.”
“You’re anxious,” she stated nonchalantly. “Admit it.”
It was rather ridiculous really. Why should she fret at all? She’d known Lord Northesk since she was a girl. Maybe she wasn’t as familiar with him as she’d like, but he wasn’t unfamiliar either. That was the point of courtship. At its core it gave two people the chance to see if they might be compatible, and determine if they should be together forever. If they saw this through to the end he’d ask her to marry him, and then she’d have a decision to make. That was the root of her anxiety. Did she want to spend the rest of her days by his side? What would that be like and what kind of person would she be as his wife?
“It’s nothing to concern yourself with,” Diana answered. “It’ll be fine.” One way or the other…
“What do you think the program will be at the theater tonight?”
Diana shrugged. She could care less what they’d decided to perform. Most people didn’t go to the theater to see the show. It was more about seeing and being seen than anything. No one really paid attention to anything else. It was one of the reasons she generally hated going. There was nothing fun about the theater. “Probably something by the bard.” William Shakespeare’s work was popular in the theater set. Sometimes she wondered if they knew of anything else. There was a time she’d enjoyed a good performance, but that was when it was simple. She’d met Lulia after she had enacted a scene during the summer fair near her home. Those simplistic performances were what she liked to watch—not the overdone ignored variety.
“You’re probably right, but it still begs the question—which one?”
“I wouldn’t presume to have the answer.”
Where was Lord Northesk? Shouldn’t he have arrived already? Perhaps she was more anxious than she’d originally thought. She twisted her fingers together on her lap and tapped her foot against the floor in an attempt to calm her nervousness. She couldn’t help thinking again that he was late. Then again everyone did show up late to the theater. Most people in society considered the start time a suggestion.
“My lady,” the butler said. “Lord Northesk has arrived. Do you wish for me to show him in here?”
“No,” Diana said and hopped to her feet. “I’m ready to leave now. We will meet him in the foyer.”
“Are you certain?” Katherine asked. “There’s no need to rush to the theater. I d
oubt there will be many people there yet. We can have some refreshments before we go. The ones provided will most likely be terrible.”
Why did she have to make sense? “You’re right.” She turned back to the butler and said, “Show him in and have cook send in some tea and cakes.”
“Very well, my lady,” he replied and then exited the room.
Not long after Lord Northesk stepped into the room. He looked quite dashing in his evening attire. He was dressed almost entirely in black with a stark white cravat and waistcoat. Diana had to restrain herself from moving to his side and rubbing her hands over his chest. The need to touch him and ensure he was really there filled her. She couldn’t be certain where the urge came from.
“Lord Northesk,” she greeted him. “It was good of you to invite us to the theater.” She wished she didn’t hate the theater so much, but at least she was excited to see him. That was the one positive thing she could discern from their situation. “Lady Katherine was wondering what they will be performing?”
“I have no clue,” he said. “It was Lord Holton’s idea to attend. We will be sitting in his box.”
“Lord Holton?” Katherine lifted a brow. “As in the Marquess of Holton?”
“The very same,” Lord Northesk replied. “Are you acquainted with him?”
“No,” she replied. Katherine tilted her head to the side thoughtfully. “I’ve never been introduced to him, but I have heard the name. There are some debutantes that desire to meet him. I wonder if they realize he is in town.”
“They will after he arrives at the theater since he’s joining us tonight.” Lord Northesk turned to Diana. He met her gaze and held it for several moments. “It’s good to see you. I trust you’re well.”
She cleared her throat. “Of course.” Could things get any more uncomfortable? She hated small talk as much as she did the theater. It irritated her to not know what to say. In some ways it was easier when they were fighting with each other. She didn’t have time to think about what she should say and just reacted when necessary. This awkward silence was torture. “I ordered refreshments.”