Page 25 of The Truth about the Rogue
“Oh?”
His friend laughed and sat back in his chair, stretching out his legs in front of him and crossing them at the ankle.
“Why, it is to make certain that you are not going to turn around and decidenotto attend after all,” he said, making Andrew grimace. “I should not like you to change your mind, you see, so I think I shall wait until you are quite ready so that we might depart together, as we intended.”
There was nothing for Andrew to do but walk out of his study and make his way to his bed-chamber, ringing for his valet the moment he arrived. His thoughts and considerations had come to nothing, and wereworthnothing. At the end of it all, he was still tied to Miss Hawick, still forced into a position that he had never desired to be in, but now could not escape from.
I will have to marry her,he thought to himself, scowling.My life, as I know it, has come completely to an end – and it is all my own fault.
“Good evening.”Andrew inclined his head to his host, mumbled a thank you to him for the invitation, and then made his way a little further into the room, just as he usually did. There was no confidence about him this time, however, no sense of expectancy that he would find some wonderful connections present this evening, and might have some enjoyment of his own with them. Instead, he felt himself a little fearful and, hating that sensation, scowled hard and lifted his chin, setting his shoulders straight as he looked about the room.
“She is not here as yet, though she and her family have accepted the invitations to attend,” said a voice in his ear as Andrew glanced back at his friend, seeing Lord Glenfield smile. “Yes, you may wonder how I discovered this, but know that it was through speaking quietly to one of the footmen. Now,” he continued, “you need to stop looking so fearful. It is quite clear to me that you are concerned about what will be said and done this evening, but worrying about it is of no purpose.”
Andrew snorted.
“That is easy enough for you to say, my friend. You are not the one who must seek out the lady’s father and beg for her hand, even when you do not truly wish to do so.”
His friend shrugged.
“I am afraid that you will not find me with any sympathy. I think you foolish for what you did, and the consequences are quite fair, though I do hope that the young lady herself is quite contented with it.”
Andrew’s jaw tightened as the memory of seeing Miss Hawick in tears threw itself back at him.
“Miss Hawick is not at all delighted with our betrothal. Her sister is, however.”
“Her sister?”
Andrew nodded.
“It was she who determined that I had to become betrothed to Miss Charlotte Hawick. I do believe that Miss Charlotte would have been more than contented to step away from me, to leave things just as they were.”
“As you would have been also.”
Andrew nodded.
“Precisely.” Again, the image of the lady crying as she waited for her carriage hit him and he licked his lips. “However, thanks to Miss Lillian Hawick’s insistence, I now must court the lady. I must consider betrothal and matrimony.”
“It may be that she cares for her sister and wants what is best for her,” Lord Glenfield replied, a little gently. “I know that you are upset, and frustrated that this has all come about, but I can see the purpose in Miss Lillian’s actions.” His gaze went over Andrew’s shoulder. “Ah, I can see that they have now all arrived.”
“They have?” Andrew spun around, only to turn back again just as swiftly as he caught Miss Charlotte Hawick’s eye. “Goodness, so she has.” His heart slammed hard into his chest. “And I am going to have to go and speak with her father very soon.”
“No doubt either the lady herself, or her sister, has spoken to him on your behalf already,” his friend remarked, tilting his head just a little. “I must say, Miss Lillian Hawick is rather pretty this evening, is she not?”
Groaning, Andrew closed his eyes.
“Please, do not make such remarks as that! I am well aware that Miss Hawick – both of the Misses Hawick, in fact – are very pretty, but that does not make me feel any better. I think–”
“Do excuse me, will you?”
Andrew blinked in surprise, his eyes following his friend as Lord Glenfield made his way directly towards Miss Lillian Hawick, taking her aside from her mother and speaking warmly to her, making the lady smile. Andrew did not know what to think, utterly astonished that not only had Lord Glenfield found Miss Lillian Hawick pretty enough to go and speak with directly, but that he had also willingly abandoned Andrew, apparently without so much as a thought! It was as though Andrew’s present circumstances were not of any real consideration and that, in itself, frustrated Andrew more than a little.
His stomach clenching, Andrew made his way directly towards Lord Morton, his chin lifting as he fought to steady both his gaze and his heart. It was clamoring furiously, knowing that with these next few words, he would be determining his future without any ability to step aside.
“Lord Morton.” Andrew cleared his throat as he bowed his head, tension rippling through him. “I am afraid we have not been introduced but–”
“You must be Lord Kentmore!” Much to Andrew’s surprise, the gentleman beamed at him as though he were some long-lost friend and, thereafter, clapped Andrew on the shoulder. “You are the gentleman who is interested in courting Charlotte, I believe?”
Still rather stunned, it took Andrew a few moments to answer, his throat rasping as he nodded.
