Page 4 of The Viscount's Diamond Bride
“Well, I would be dead, Mother, so I’m sure I wouldn’t mind. Besides, I’m barely eight and twenty, I’m hardly on the cusp of death.”
His mother waved her fork at him. “Accidents happen.”
“A cheerful thought,” he agreed. “Mother, please, let’s just enjoy our luncheon. While I didn’t promise to find a bride, Ididpromise to attend the Season, and so I shall. The marriage mart is such an archaic way of finding a spouse in any case.”
Margaret scoffed. “I’m sure you’d rather find a bride between the pages of a novel.”
Clenching his jaw again, Graham applied his attention to his tea. The Dowager Viscountess Sinclair had a knack for finding a person’s weak spots, and she’d had a lifetime to study her son. It appeared that she had an uncanny talent for undoing someone’s confidence.
At that very moment, with impeccable timing, Graham’s valet stepped through the door.
“Your lordship,” he said, his voice smooth and even with barely a hint of his native Scottish accent, “Lord Hartwell is here to see you.”
Graham brightened. “Jonathan is here? That’s marvellous news.”
“He is in the library, Lord Sinclair.”
“Excellent. Thank you, Morrison.”
Glad for an excuse to leave, Graham got to his feet at once.
“Run away, then,” Margaret muttered sourly. “You always manage to avoid uncomfortable conversations. This one, my boy, will not be going away anytime soon.”
Trying not to listen, Graham strode out of the breakfast-room, allowing himself a sigh of relief once he was outside and out of the way.
Lord Jonathan Hartwell was a man that fortune had smiled upon. He ought to have been dead a hundred times over by his current age of nine and twenty, having served in the military for many years and nearly dying by a sabre cut five years ago. He still bore the scar, climbing up his neck and nicking the edge of his jaw.
His appearance didn’t properly tie in with his history. He was round-faced, with round brown eyes, a wide smile, and a headful of curly blond locks. He was not tall, and a little plumper than he had been once. Still, Graham had known a few men to take a swing at him while in their cups, and they’d regretted it. Swiftly.
Jonathan was busy perusing a shelf of newer volumes when Graham entered the library. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled at his friend.
“Hello, there. I thought I’d stop by and tell you about this fascinating new first edition I chanced upon. It’s a…” he paused. “Wait a moment. You look positively green. What’s the matter?”
With a sigh, Graham dropped heavily onto the nearest sofa.
“It’s Mother. She’s gotten it into her head that I shall be wedded this Season and won’t take no for an answer. She wants me to enter into matrimony with Lady Annabella. She’s practically got the wedding invitations written out already.”
Jonathan grimaced. “Ah. I see. Well, Lady Annabella is remarkably pretty. She’s accomplished, too.”
“I have no doubt that she’s a very worthy sort of woman, but I don’t wish to wed her.”
Jonathan settled himself onto the sofa beside his friend, and they sat there in silence for a moment or two.
“Speaking only for myself,” Jonathan began carefully, “I should very much like to be wedded, but I despair of finding the right woman. If youcanfind the right woman, Graham, you should seize the opportunity. If it isn’t Lady Annabella, then find out who itis. You’re handsome, young, rich, and titled. You could have just about any woman in Society.”
Graham snorted. “I think not. I’m hardly anything to look at. I’m entirely too tall, rather thinner than I would like, and I have dark brown hair and grey eyes. My face is a boring one, to be candid.”
Jonathan chuckled. “You’re too hard on yourself.”
“Perhaps so, but I’m afraid…” he broke off, not quite sure that he wanted to voice his suspicions aloud. Jonathan glanced at him, raising his eyebrows.
“You can confide in me, old friend.”
He sighed. “I’m afraid that Mother will put me in a situation where Icannotavoid entering into matrimony with a woman of her choice.”
“And how would she do that? She’s can’t compel you to wed according to her wishes.”
Graham gave a grim smile. “Can’t she? Don’t you recall the scandal last Season, where Miss Emmott’s parents insisted that she’d been alone with Captain Humming, and that he’d damaged her reputation? He had to wed her at once. Any gentleman would.”
