Page 21 of The Truth about the Viscount
“Situation?”
His friend nodded.
“You are unwed. You will require a match soon, will you not? You have the heir to produce.” This was a thought that had not come to Daniel’s mind at any point thus far and it gave him pause. “And this manner of yours, where it is noticeable to everyone that you have pulled away from thetonand are now appearing ill-tempered and disagreeable, does that not concern you also, as regards any future connection with a lady of society?”
“I… I had not thought of that.”
“You have not danced a single dance this evening, nor at the last three balls we have attended,” Lord Milthorpe continued, his words seeming to sink into Daniel’s soul, weighing him down. “That has been noticed by society and, even though you say that you do not wish to be a part of thetonany longer – something that I can understand – that does mean that you might be making any future connections a little difficult.”
Daniel chewed the edge of his lip, his brow furrowing.
“That is not something I have considered,” he said, rubbing one hand over his face. “But I cannot say that I wish for a bride at any time soon. It could be that I retreat to my estate and, in some years, return to London to find a bride. I am sure that society will have no interest in me then.”
Lord Milthorpe snorted and rolled his eyes.
“Do you really believe that thetonwill have forgotten? It is a beast with a long memory, my friend. Whispers and rumors can continue for years! Do you not recall Lord and Lady Harrington? When he was to wed, thetonreminded us of just how much of a philanderer his late father was, whispering thathewould, no doubt, take after him in the same way! It did not do his betrothed any good whatsoever, though they did still marry in the end.”
Another reason that I dislike society,Daniel thought to himself, letting out a long breath.
“I cannot bring myself to be contented with all that society has to offer, not now that I have realized just how much difficulty it brings, how much darkness there is in the gossip and the whispers it so often clings to.”
“Then what are you to do?”
“Oh, Lord Hastings! I am sure that you must have seen it, but we are alleagerto know what it is that you think of it!”
A bright, much too loud voice forced Daniel’s attention away from his present conversation and he turned his head, looking straight down into the eyes of Lady Hannah, a lady whom he had been acquainted with, some time ago. She was standing with two other young ladies, one of whom was giggling behind her fan and the other who did not seem to know where to look, given the way her gaze darted about.
He cleared his throat, a trifle irritated.
“I do not know what you mean.”
“The London Chronicle!” Lady Hannah exclaimed, one hand reaching out to touch his arm lightly as her eyes twinkled. “Surely you must have seen it! I thought it a wonderful likeness.”
“Especially since you have been rather… brooding of late,” said the lady with the fan, her words a little muffled but reaching Daniel’s ears, nonetheless. He scowled, turning his head sharply to look into Lord Milthorpe’s face but his friend only shrugged, clearly as lost as Daniel was.
“I do not know of what you speak.”
Lady Hannah giggled, the other two ladies joining her in their teasing laughter.
“Then might I suggest, Lord Hastings, that you find a copy of The London Chronicle and look for yourself?”
Daniel twisted on his heel without a word and strode to the ballroom door. He would, no doubt, be able to find The London Chronicle here in the house, though it would not be in the ballroom. He would be best to find the butler. His stomach twisted sharply as he thought about what might be contained within, beginning to worry that the drawing – for that was what it surely must be – had captured him in a less than kind manner. He did not know who the artist was but, he considered, it must be the same one, who had captured his sister and Lord Milthorpe in such a perfect likeness.
“You there.” Seeing a footman, he held up one hand. “I require a copy of The London Chronicle. At once, if you please.”
“Whatever are you doing?”
Daniel turned, just as the footman scurried off.
“I want to know what those ladies were speaking of.”
Lord Milthorpe shrugged.
“It will just be a drawing of you, as there was of myself and your sister. Why does it matter what it is? You will see it soon enough - does it need to be this evening?”
A curl of worry rose in Daniel’s stomach as he remembered the glitter that had been in Lady Hannah’s eyes.
“There were remarks made,” he muttered, beginning to pace up and down the hallway as Lord Milthorpe rolled his eyes. “One of them said I was brooding.”
