Page 13 of The Viscount's Forgery
“Indeed. I must, as a gentleman of theton, hold some marvelous occasion whereby some of my friends and acquaintances can come and drink all of my good brandy and make a mess of my townhouse, but at the very same time, I am also aware of your sister’s distress and Lord Bothwell’s confusion. I did share with him all that you had said, but I cannot tell you whether or not it has made any particular difference to his heart. If there is more that I can do, however, then I would be willing to do it. He is my friend, and I do not like to see him so unlike himself.”
Eugenia clasped her hands at her heart, sympathy and compassion settling there. “I quite agree, though I have no thought as to what might be put in place by way of encouraging their connection.” She sighed and dropped her gaze. “Sometimes, I think it would be best for them both to pretend as though none of this had happened, as though they were near to strangers to each other.”
Lord Suffolk’s eyebrows lifted. “You think that would help?”
“I do not know.” With a twist of her lips, she lifted her shoulders. “I do not have any personal experience of the present state of their hearts, but to my mind, it seems to me as though all that has passed between them has complicated matters. Lord Bothwell is confused over what he knows of her and what hethinkshe knows of her, and my sister is fighting against nothing but fear, meaning that she has not even considered her own heart!” Her shoulders dropped. “If they pretended as if they were newly acquainted, setting aside the past and instead imagining themselves as just considering courtship and nothing more, I do wonder if it might bring some clarity to the situation.”
Lord Suffolk said nothing for a few moments, only to then nod slowly. “It is an interesting suggestion, I suppose. I can give no other advice nor thought, for as you have said, my heart has no experience of the present situation.” He smiled. “But what Icando is host a soiree and bring them both to it, so there might be an opportunity for connection and conversation.”
Hearing this, happiness burned up in Eugenia’s chest, spreading into her heart. “That would be very much appreciated, Lord Suffolk.”
“Then I shall do it,” he stated, making her think all the better of him given his instant determination. “And I shall do it very soon indeed.”
5
“Iam fully aware of what it is you are doing, my friend.”
Nicholas opened his eyes wide as Lord Bothwell strode into the library, coming to stand directly beside him. “Whatever do you mean?”
“You have thrown this wonderful soiree, have you not?” Lord Bothwell said, gesturing to the open door of the library; the hallway filled with guests. “But you did not inform me that you had invited Miss Sherwood and her family to be present, did you?”
Nicholas shrugged lightly. “I did not think I needed to do so. You know very well that a gentleman must do these things, do you not? A soiree is better than a ball, although I do think that I shall still host a ball also. It is good for me to share my home with theton.”
“You are changing the subject,” Lord Bothwell stated, his eyes fixing to Nicholas. “Yes, I am very well aware that you have a beautiful townhouse with beautiful things – just as your manor house is – and that you like to show off just how many fine things you have within it and yes, I know that a gentleman must throw some sort of occasion during the Season but that isnotwhat I am speaking of. That was not your first intention, I am quite sure of it.”
Nicholas cleared his throat and tried to appear as nonchalant as possible. “My friend, I invited the family and did not think it would matter a great deal.”
“Of course it matters!” Lord Bothwell threw up his hands, drawing the attention of one or two of the other guests in the room. “You know very well that I have not had more than two conversations with her, and neither of them has drawn me towards a conclusion.” Dropping his head, he ran one hand over his eyes, sighing loudly. “I was surprised when you threw this soiree with such haste. It was only five days since mentioning it that it has taken place, but it is because ofthis, was it not?”
“This?” Nicholas asked, doing his best to appear as innocent as possible despite the awareness that his friend knew and understood all. “Whatever are you talking about?”
“This,” Lord Bothwell stated, his eyes narrowing just a fraction. “This entire soiree – though it is very good and all – was done solely so I might be in prolonged company with Miss Sherwood, yes?”
Nicholas spread out his hands. “I will not pretend that I did not have something of that in mind, but please, do not think for a moment that it was my sole intention.”
Lord Bothwell grimaced. “I do not know whether to be irritated with you or thankful.”
“Thankful, I think,” Nicholas said, with a grin. “My friend, you do remember what I shared with you regarding the younger Miss Sherwood’s remarks about her sister?” He had spoken with Lord Bothwell not long after Miss Eugenia Sherwood had begged of him to share what she had said of her sister’s heart, but Lord Bothwell had not responded to it with anything more than a nod. “If there is any hope for a salvaged connection between you, then I will encourage it, of course.”
Lord Bothwell took in a breath and nodded, looking away. “I do appreciate that, my friend, even if I do not show it.”
Taking a moment, Nicholas tilted his head. “If I might give you a little advice, I would say that – ”
“Pray, do not tell me that you are to give me advice about my heart.” Lord Bothwell’s lip curled though his eyes twinkled. “You, who have never once felt anything for any young lady and who have said, repeatedly, that you do not think that you should ever fall in love. I believe you even stated that when it came to matrimony, you would simply find the mostsuitableyoung lady, rather than having any interest in affection or the like.”
Nicholas chuckled, tipping his head. “Do you not think that I can still give advice, regardless?”
With a heavy sigh, albeit the gleam of good humor in his eye all the same, Lord Bothwell spread out his hands. “Very well. What is it that you wish to say?”
“Mysageadvice, my friend, would be to imagine yourself as courting the lady again.”
This made Lord Bothwell’s smile disappear in an instant.
“I know that you will tell me you have already courted her and were thinking of matrimony, but mayhap, if you imagined that you did not already know her and pretended that this was near to your first meeting, you might find yourself a little clearer in your own mind as to what you desire from the connection.” It was not his advice, Nicholas knew, but he did not think to mention Miss Eugenia Sherwood. It might be a little displeasing to Lord Bothwell to hear that he had been speaking at length with the lady about the situation between himself and the elder Miss Sherwood.
“I suppose it could be helpful,” Lord Bothwell mused, no longer appearing as agitated as before. “In truth, Suffolk, I still feel as lost as before. Though that might well be my own foolishness in refusing to push forward with my connection tothe lady. I do not seek her out for conversation and I have not let myself consider my own feelings. These last few days, I have found my heart in agony, roaring over what it feels for her and what I witnessed of her harsh speech towards her sister. It still cannot decide whether the lady it loves is truly who it knew her to be.”
“Then why not try what I suggested? I would not, however, tell the lady that you are doing such a thing for fear that it might confuse her.” Nicholas spoke as gently as he could, rather than becoming frustrated with his friend’s continued struggle. “It may do something, it may do nothing, but is it not better than this confusion?”
