Page 29 of The Viscount's Forgery
An answer came to Eugenia’s mind in an instant. “Jealousy?”
“Because Lord Suffolk has a great deal of wealth,” Lady Isobella said, as Eugenia nodded. “It is known that he does like to show his wealth in what he purchases and displays.”
Recalling how his face had flushed when he explained how he feared theton’s judgment of him should they discover he had forgeries, Eugenia could not help but smile ruefully. “That much is certainly true.”
“They could also be impoverished,” Miss Trentworth suggested. “One of his friends, perhaps unbeknownst to him, lacks funds of his own and this is a way to gain some coin? He takes the original and then sells it, giving Lord Suffolk the forgery.”
“Which he does not notice, given that he is not an aficionado of such things.” Lady Isobella smiled at Eugenia. “Unlike you.”
Eugenia smiled back at her. “He has shown more of an interest in the artwork he has in his possession,” she said, as her friends each shared a look with each other, one that Eugenia did her best to ignore. “We have talked about it a great deal.”
“That might well be because he is more interested in you than in the subject at hand,” Lady Rosalyn said, as Lady Isobella and Lady Amelia grinned back at her. “You are aware of that, are you not, Eugenia?”
Dismissing this quickly, despite the fact her face grew hot, Eugenia waved a hand. “We are pulling ourselves away from this mystery.”
Miss Trentworth chuckled softly, but much to Eugenia’s relief, did not continue in such a way. “Very well, my friend,” she said, as Eugenia’s heart clung on to what had been said of Lord Suffolk, even though she tried to push it away from her thoughts. “Well, if we are to go ahead with this plan, you will have to speak to Lord Suffolk and garner his agreement.” Her eyes twinkled. “Do you think you will be able to do such a thing? He will have to rely on us, for he cannot step away from his townhouse but must be there to receive it. I will step into whatever establishment he purchases it from, so that we know everything.”
“I am certain he will agree to it all,” Eugenia said resolutely. “I will speak to him this very afternoon, if you wish? I am sure he is to be at the park.”
Her friends nodded and smiled, and Eugenia, turning her head, began to search the crowd for Lord Suffolk. Her parents and Polly were nearby, she noticed, though her parents were, as usual, focused solely upon Polly and would not notice her absence if she were to step away from them for a few minutes. Her heart began to quicken a little more as she made her way towards the crowd, an excited anticipation coming over her at the thought of being in Lord Suffolk’s company again. It was a sensation that she had tried to diminish, had tried to break apart and throw away but with all that Miss Trentworth had said to her, Eugenia could not help but recognize there was certainly something of interest in her heart when it came to Lord Suffolk… and she was not sure she wanted rid of it any longer.
13
Nicholas shook Lord Marchfield’s hand firmly. “My highest congratulations, my friend.”
“I thank you.” Lord Marchfield glanced around at the small group. “I think you are the last to know of my sister’s engagement! Everyone else here has been aware of it for at least a sennight.”
Uncertain as to whether or not this was meant as a slight or only a general remark, Nicholas chose to stay silent, offering only a small smile in response.
“I hear Lord Huntly is quite delighted with the engagement,” Lord Hewitt said, as the other gentlemen – Lord Greenlaw, Lord Coatbridge, and Lord Rutherford – looked with interest at Lord Marchfield. “A Viscount, is he not?”
“An Earl.” Lord Marchfield, who was a Viscount himself, puffed his chest out just a little. “She is marrying above herself, it seems!”
“That is good.” Nicholas smiled back at his friend, relieved that the gentleman would no longer be sending his sister in Nicholas’ direction. “When will the marriage take place?”
“Within six weeks,” Lord Marchfield replied, with a smile of his own. “I am to have the banns called this Sunday.”
“Does that mean, then, that you will return to your estate?” Lord Greenlaw asked, as Lord Marchfield shook his head no. “You will remain here?”
With a heavy sigh, Lord Marchfield rolled his eyes. “My sister is insistent upon purchasing a good many new gowns, ribbons, gloves, bonnets, and the like before we return home in preparation for the wedding, so we must remain here for a short time, at least.”
Nicholas chuckled at this, seeing – and understanding – the frustration on Lord Marchfield’s face. “You do not want to be dragged around London’s shops, I think.”
“I most certainly do not!” Lord Marchfield exclaimed, with another roll of his eyes. “Alas, my sister is most insistent, and since I am soon to be giving her away to Lord Huntly, I cannot complain, I suppose.”
The conversation continued to flow, and Nicholas watched and listened, saying only a little here and there, only for an approaching figure to catch his attention. His eyes lingered, his heart quickening as he recognized Miss Sherwood, seeing her glance at him, then look away. Her hands clasped in front of her as she came to a stop a short distance away, though her gaze returned to him again.
Nicholas’s whole being began to burn with a sudden anticipation, and without even a second thought to the conversation or his friends beside him, he made his way from them at once, going straight towards her, his mouth pulling into a broad smile.
“Miss Sherwood, good afternoon.” Reaching one hand out and without thought as to what or why he was doing such a thing, Nicholas bowed over her hand. “I do hope that you came over here to speak with me?”
The way she smiled, a blush soon following, told him that she had done precisely that. “You noticed me, then?”
“How could I not?”
The words came out before he could think about what they might mean to her, but Nicholas did not find anything within him giving much consideration to that. He had spoken truthfully and now appeared to be quite glad that he had done so, given the smile that still etched itself across his face.
“I – I have a suggestion that I wanted to share with you,” she told him, the blush still touching her cheeks. “If you would like to hear it, that is?”
