Page 21 of A Viscount to Conspire (Sherton Sisters 2)

After more coffee and a thorough breakfast, Cam returned to his library to briefly review the notes he had taken the night before. It would seem the estate was in order, but he had some concerns about one of his tenants. He would have to send a message to his steward, but he would mull the matter over before doing so.

A glance at the clock informed him it was time to leave if he was going to encounter the Sherton ladies while they were strolling in the Park.

When he finally found them, Cam tried not to fidget under Hilaria’s sister’s shrewd but amused examination.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, my lord,” Lady Vigilia had replied politely when he greeted them. “I wonder why I’m the only one who seems surprised.”

Cam grinned as Hilaria glared at her sister but couldn’t hide the blush that was staining her cheeks.

“I suppose Sally and I ought to become quite engrossed in conversation,” she added after a bit of polite chatter between the three of them.

“Do you have sisters, my lord?” Hilaria asked before her blush deepened. “I suppose I ought to already know that between Debrett’s and the fact that we’re some sort of family connection, now that my sister has married your cousin.”

“Well we aren’t related by blood, so do not fear that you have forgotten some long lost cousin. And no, I don’t have any siblings, unfortunately.”

Hilaria regarded him steadily before looking back over her shoulder toward her sister. “I cannot decide whether I ought to be envious or solicitous.”

Camden laughed. “Neither. I had the pleasure of sharing Wexford’s childhood. He was generous with the use of his siblings, so I have a fairly good idea what that’s like. I feel as though I grew up with brothers and a sister.”

Hilaria wrinkled her nose at him. “I suppose it was dreadfully quiet when you went home to your own estate after having been with other boys.”

“It most certainly was. But it didn’t happen terribly often. I went from Eton to Cambridge and spent most of my holidays at Wexford.”

“But surely you must have wished for siblings of your own so you could stay at home.”

Cam shrugged. “Home wasn’t terribly appealing, to be honest. I cannot say how I came to love my own estate or even learn all that much about it, since I was so rarely there. I suppose it was because the time spent with my father seemed so special by contrast of not having much of it. And wishing for a sibling did no good. From what I understand, my mother tried many times but couldn’t manage to bring another child to term. I often wonder how I managed to arrive. But that’s part of why I was always at Wexford. They were hoping the quiet would help her.”

“Oh, the poor woman. How tragic for her. Is she terribly sad about the matter?”

“Not that I can tell.” Cam tried not to sound bitter, but he was quite certain he failed. Hilaria’s gaze was penetrating as she searched his face.

“Did you enjoy having so many sisters?”

“It had its good points. We all wished for a brother, though. But we really wanted an older brother, and there was no way to accomplish that, of course.”

Cam was fairly certain she was making light of the situation. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but her tone had changed, and she would no longer meet his gaze.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked next, surprised that his question resulted in a fiery blush.

“Is that not dreadfully personal, my lord?” she asked when he must have appeared puzzled.

“I didn’t think so,” he countered with a laugh. “But I suppose I can see why you might think so. I didn’t get enough sleep myself, so perhaps my mind isn’t functioning at its best.”

“Oh, did you go for further carousing after the ball?” Hilaria’s tone was light but her gaze was back to being watchful.

Cam laughed. “No carousing at all, I’m afraid. Just trouble sleeping.”

“A guilty conscience, perhaps?” she offered, her tone sickly sweet, prompting another laugh from Cam.

“You are determined to be a pestilence, aren’t you?”

She shrugged. “I do it well, you might have noticed.”

“It leads me to wonder why.”

“Most would just tell you I’m cantankerous and not to trouble yourself too mightily on the matter.”

“But I wonder if they would be wrong by saying that,” Cam mused before laughing when she blushed again.

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