Page 14 of The Truth about the Viscount
Daniel shook his head.
“You need not fear him, I assure you. I have not seen him since the moment that you announced your betrothal, and Imust hope that he has now left society, given that he has lost the battle for what he desired.”
“I hope so.” Isabella took a breath and then picked up her tea. “Until this evening, then, Hastings.”
“Milthorpe.”Daniel shook his friend’s hand, glancing around the room. “A busy soiree, it seems.”
“It is.” Lord Milthorpe leaned into Daniel’s space a little more. “Lord Newforth is present also, I am afraid.”
Fire roared up Daniel’s chest.
“Lord Newforth?”
“Yes.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I told Isabella that I had not seen him since the announcement of her betrothal and hoped that he had stepped away from society altogether.”
Lord Milthorpe set his jaw.
“It seems that he is determined to linger in society, my friend. Though I am sure that he can do nothing to you or Isabella, not now.” He scowled. “Though he has not come to speak with me, I have caught the many dark glances he has thrown in my direction.”
“It would be best to ignore him,” Daniel stated, firmly. “He seeks to intimidate, mayhap. But he shall not be successful. I will have to warn Isabella so that she is not surprised.”
“I will tell her.” Lord Milthorpe lifted his chin a little, a darkness in his eyes. “I will not permit Lord Newforth to upset her. He has done enough of that already, and it angers me a great deal that nothing of consequence has happened to him, given his dreadful behavior.”
A little surprised, although rather pleased that his friend had expressed himself so firmly over Isabella and his concern for her, Daniel moved so that his back was to the wall, and looked out amongst the crowd. The room was full of guests, though Lord Benford had at least four rooms open for all of his guests to make their way through. At some point, Daniel intended to go to the card room although he hoped that Lord Newforth would not be there also.
“I think that I will go in search of her now, if I might?” Lord Milthorpe put one hand on Daniel’s shoulder for a moment. “She is with your mother, I expect?”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes, she is. Though my mother is quite delighted with that drawing which appeared in The London Chronicle, so be warned that she will, no doubt, speak to you of that and nothing else.”
Lord Milthorpe chuckled quietly.
“Truth be told, I thought that drawing quite wonderful and am also truly delighted with it.” His smile grew just a little. “I think that the look shared between us speaks of what I hope my marriage to Isabella will be, and in that, I will be glad to speak with anyone about it, including Lady Hastings.”
With another smile and a nod, Milthorpe stepped away and left Daniel to stand alone. Folding his arms over his chest, he continued to search the room for any sign of Lord Newforth, wondering what dark intentions the gentleman might have planned. Did he think to say something to upset Daniel or Isabella? Surely, as Lord Milthorpe had said, there was nothing that he could say to do such a thing? It was not as though he could announce that he had tried to force Daniel’s hand, that he had pulled Isabella unwillingly into his arms? Thinking about the drawing in The London Chronicle, Daniel felt a sense of relief pour into him which then molded into gratitude for the artist. Whether they realized it or not, they had helpedto convince thetonof the strength of Isabella’s and Lord Milthorpe’s connection, and that could only be a good thing.
I am not going to ruminate over what Lord Newforth might or might not do,he told himself, firmly.I cannot. It is a waste of my time, when there are a good many other things I can put my mind to.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of someone studying him.
Turning his head fully, he took in a young lady who, like him, was standing to the back of the room and was studying him with a careful eye, though, once she saw him looking at her, she turned her head away in an instant, her cheeks flushing hot.
Daniel frowned. The young lady was now a little embarrassed, given that he had seen her watching him. Her cheeks were a little flushed, her fair hair was pulled back into intricate braids with only a few small curls at her temples and her ears. She caught one lip with the other, biting it gently and Daniel could not help but smile, feeling the need now to put her at ease.
“You are standing alone, much as I am doing.” He lifted one eyebrow just a little, though made no move to step closer to her. “Do you not enjoy a soiree?”
She glanced at him, then turned her gaze away again.
“It is not that I do not enjoy it, sir, but rather that I am waiting for my mother and sister to finish a conversation that I was not a part of. I do not want to interrupt them so, thus, you find me here.”
Turning to face her, Daniel offered her a small smile.
“Do you not have any other acquaintances here, my Lady?”
