Page 4 of The Truth about the Viscount
Turning a little too quickly, Daniel blinked to clear his vision.
“Ah, Lady Winters.”
He wobbled just a little, one hand reaching out to hold onto the chair beside him though, somehow, it seemed to evade his grasp.
“Have you seen my daughter?” Lady Winters’ eyes were wide with concern and Daniel quickly forced his smile away. “She was dancing with Lord Beauford and now I cannot see her anywhere!”
“I am sure that she is quite all right,” Daniel answered, setting his brandy down rather than taking another sip, seeing that Lady Winters required his full attention. “She mayhap was dancing the cotillion, yes? And that dance has only just been announced.”
Lady Winters wrung her hands.
“No, no, I am sure that she did not accept that dance from anyone! I do not know where she has gone and yet now, I fear that her reputation might well be in danger if I do not find her soon.”
Daniel turned quickly and grasped the arm of his friend.
“Lord Milthorpe, come for a moment. It appears that Lady Winters requires our aid.”
“And your discretion!” Lady Winters exclaimed as Daniel threw a glance at the glass of very fine French brandy that he might otherwise have been enjoying. “I came to speak with you, Lord Hastings, because I know that you are not in theleastbit inclined towards gossip and are a fine, upstanding gentleman.”
Her eyes glittered with evident tears as Daniel nodded, his chest puffed out a little with pride at the compliments the lady had offered him.
“You can be quite assured that we will not say a single thing, Lady Winters,” he said firmly, feeling the effects of the liquor slowly beginning to fade, though it still slung to him quite firmly, loosening its grip bit by bit. “We must find Lady…”
A heavy frown pulled at his forehead as he struggled to recall the name of the young lady, although he was well able to picture her face. Lady Winter scowled.
“Lady Madeline.”
“Yes, yes, of course.” Daniel shook his head, flushed with embarrassment. “Forgive me, it is only that there are so many names and those eager to dance that I quite forgot for a moment.”
He smiled as warmly as he could, and Lady Winters gave him a brief nod before wringing her hands again.
“Oh, where could she be?” Her eyes flared suddenly. “Wait! Might she be with your sister?”
Daniel blinked quickly.
“My sister?” Again, heat poured into his chest as he realized that he had not seen sight nor sound of Isabella for some time. “Yes, mayhap. I know that they are acquainted, but I did not think that they would consider one another a friend.”
“Oh, but they do!” Lady Winters exclaimed, her eyes darting from Daniel to Lord Milthorpe and then back again. “Last Season, they were often in conversation, and I am sure that letters have been exchanged since then also.”
“I see.”
Daniel cleared his throat, reaching for his brandy only to set it back again. He had not known this and though he realized that, mayhap, he did not know his sister as well as he ought, he certainly had neverseenIsabella in conversation with Lady Madeline.
“Might I ask where your sister is, Lord Hastings?” Lady Winters came closer to him, one hand on his arm. “We might go and find them together!”
Daniel glanced around the room, trying to find an answer to Lady Winters’ question.
“I think…” Realizing that he had failed in his duty to his sister, he drew himself up and nodded vaguely in the direction of the center of the ballroom. “She was dancing, Lady Winters. I think she will be in the middle of the cotillion at present.”
“Oh.” Lady Winters let out a long sigh. “Then she will not be with my dear daughter.” Squeezing Daniel’s arm again, she caught his full attention. “Might you still be willing to seek out Madeline with me?”
Daniel cleared his throat but smiled.
“Yes, of course. I am honored that you would ask me.” He looked at his friend. “Lord Milthorpe?”
“Oh, I do not think that your friend needs to be troubled.” Lady Winters smiled, but put one hand out toward Lord Milthorpe. “Please, do not think that you must join us. I should not like to impose.”
A trifle confused as to why Lady Winters would not want as much help and assistance as she could get, Daniel threw a look at his friend again.
