Page 38 of The Wallflower's Choice
“There is something I should like to discuss with you, however, before you become too inebriated. Might you be able to spare me a few minutes?”
Lord Kingshill frowned.
“If you are going to give me another lecture on how I ought to be doing this or that before I make my announcement, then I have no time nor inclination to listen to it.”
James grinned.
“It is not that, I assure you. Rather, it is something of the opposite, though not entirely.”
His friend’s eyebrows lifted.
“Well, now I am intrigued!” He threw back the rest of his brandy and, smacking his lips, looked at James. “What is it?”
“Well, I should like to talk to you about Lady Prudence.” A knot tied itself in his stomach as he spoke, but he kept his gaze steady. “Something has happened, and I should like to… well, I do not think that you should proceed with your betrothal.”
The grin on his friend’s face began to fade.
“Whatever do you mean by that? Is there something wrong with the lady? Have you discovered something about her which will not suit?”
James shook his head.
“No, no, nothing like that. However, I have considered that, while the match may be suitable for you, it is certainly not suitable for her. Think about this, my dear friend. She wants nothing more than to have by her side a gentleman who cares for her, who will give her the attention and the affection that she so craves. Do you really believe that you can provide that?”
Lord Kingshill scoffed at once.
“Of course not! But then again, I should not even think to do such things as that.”
“So you can see, then, that you are not well matched.”
This brought a heavy line to his friend’s forehead.
“But Lady Prudence will simply have to accept that from me. She will have to understand that there can be no connection between us in the way that she desires, that is all.”
The way his friend spoke, so carelessly and without the least bit of consideration for Lady Prudence, made James’ heart fill with anger, though he forced it to remain in the very depths of him so that it did not express itself either in word or in his expression.
“I do not think that she wishes for that sort of connection, Kingshill. Thus, the attachment cannot continue as anticipated.”
Lord Kingshill blinked, his frown lifting.
“You mean to say that she will not proceed with this betrothal?”
James shook his head.
“No, she will not.”
“But why? It is not as though she is going to be given any other gentleman’s hand, is it? She is a wallflower, has been for some time, and as yet, has not garnered even the least bit of attention from anyone! Why then would she be so bold as to do this?”
The knot in James’ stomach tightened but he did not hold himself back.
“Because she has received a better offer, my friend. An offer from a gentleman who has promised to be considerate, caring, and affectionate, which is just as she deserves.”
Lord Kingshill snorted.
“Then she has received an offer from a pauper, I am sure. No gentleman of good standing would consider a wallflower, no matter how highly she is titled.”
“He is not a pauper.” James swallowed tightly, then lifted his chin. “My friend,Iam the gentleman who has offered such a thing.” His friend blinked furiously, his face paling as James swallowed the nervousness tightening his throat. “I may be just as much of a rogue as you, but I am determined to reform,” he continued, before his friend could speak. “It may be the most astonishing thing you have heard, but I confess that I cannot help but care for the lady. I do not know what it is that has drawn me to her but, the more time that I have spent in her company, the more time I havewantedto spend there. She is a beautiful creature, her character remarkable, and her nature nothing but sweetness.” Putting one hand to his heart, James inclined his head. “I am sorry to have stepped in where I ought not to have done, but as I have said, I could not help it. Ihadto be the one who came to stand by her side.”
Lord Kingshill said nothing for some moments and then, much to James’ astonishment, he began to laugh. The sound was cruel and hard as though he were mocking James for some reason, berating him for what he had chosen to do.
