Page 37 of A Viscount to Conspire (Sherton Sisters 2)

Chapter Eleven

Sitting on a chair with a plate of food she didn’t want, Hilaria tried to swallow a couple of bites, but her mouth was too dry and her stomach too tight. Eastwood’s mother was more of a nightmare than she ever would have thought possible. And from the woman’s reaction to her, Hilaria realized that perhaps Eastwood had been right in his assessment of how his mother would react to his courtship of her.

It didn’t even offend her, since it was so outrageous. If Lady Eastwood was going to reject her out of hand, it obviously wasn’t really personal. She hadn’t even looked at her nor exchanged words. Which made her feel all the sorrier for the viscount. Hilaria couldn’t even imagine growing up in such an environment. She knew she had her own concerns and issues, even though she had grown up in a family where she was well cared for. Poor Eastwood had grown up without siblings and with a very strange mother. And yet, he seemed to fit into their world quite well. She was rather impressed when she gave it a bit of thought.

Perhaps she ought to give some thought to finding him a nice wife. Even her sister might be a good match for him, she thought for a moment, before recalling that the entire reason for their scheme was because he didn’t wish to wed at this time.

Hilaria sighed and put her plate down on a table before it was quickly whisked away by an attentive servant.

Eastwood must have sensed her attention for his gaze ensnared hers, and she smiled. He looked a little harried but he was hiding it well. Hilaria didn’t wish to admire the man. He didn’t want to wed, and she wanted to wed a duke. She couldn’t give him her heart or her hand. Not that he wanted either.

Looking around the room, Hilaria suddenly felt very alone even though there were crowds of people. She wished she were home on their estate and none of this Season business was necessary. She wished she had been born a boy and she could be home running the estate. Even if she were a boy, she would have still needed to marry, but it would be an entirely different scenario. With another sigh she got to her feet. These were not productive thoughts. She had worn them out entirely over time.

She would wed a duke and be done with it. If only she could hurry it along. Her gaze returned to Eastwood. She was doing all she could to hurry her future. Lifting her chin, she walked toward him.

“Are you ready to return to the music room?”

Hilaria didn’t bother to answer. She just tucked her hand into his elbow and ignored the indignant expression on his mother’s face.

“Sorry about my mother,” he murmured as they walked away.

“You have nothing to apologize for. Although, I must say, I’m surprised you turned out to be as polite as you are. Your father must have been lovely.”

Hilaria was surprised and pleased when he threw back his head and laughed loudly, drawing more attention than usual. He didn’t bother saying anything else in reply.

“Besides,” she continued, “you did warn me. The fault is on me for not believing you when you said your mother would reject me. It was a novel experience. But still, not your fault.”

“You’re surprisingly accepting of the situation,” he remarked, causing her to shrug.

“Perhaps the rest of the plan will fall into place.”

“You mean where other gentlemen will express their concern for you?”

“Yes. Since you were so correct about your mother, I am eager to see how your predictions play out on that score as well.”

Eastwood laughed again but kept it quieter this time.

“I quite expected you to be fiercely angry about Mother.”

“It’s amusing rather than anything else, to be honest,” she said with a shrug. “I’ve never had anyone look down on my birth before. It was certainly original, to say the least.” Hilaria paused again, hesitating to say what was really on her mind. “Do you think perhaps she’s unhinged? I don’t mean to be disrespectful toward your mother, but she didn’t strike me as the usual sort of meddlesome mother.”

Hilaria felt her stomach pitch at the thought of saying something so harsh about someone’s mother, but she was relieved when Eastwood smiled slightly and even shrugged.

“It’s entirely possible. But this is nothing new. She’s been this way all my life.”

She didn’t really want to feel sympathy for the man, but Hilaria wondered if most of what had bothered her about him upon their first introduction could be attributed to his unusual upbringing. But it couldn’t be helped. She was forced to feel compassion for the nobleman. And that was going to be a very bad thing, Hilaria was afraid.

By the time she had realized the direction of her thoughts, they were seated again and the music had begun. Despite how well the musicians played, Hilaria couldn’t sink into their performance the way that she had during the first set. And somehow, Eastwood must have been able to tell. Hilaria couldn’t fathom how, as she kept her face and gaze trained in the correct direction and didn’t so much as twitch, despite the anxiety-inducing train of her thoughts. But still, she could feel his gaze upon her periodically. Finally, he leaned close and whispered.

“What is troubling you?”

As attuned as she was to his presence at her side, she shouldn’t have jumped when he spoke, but it still startled her, even though he kept his voice barely above a breath. She could sense his concern and feel his hand hovering nearby as though he wanted to touch her but restrained himself for propriety’s sake.

“Nothing, I’m fine, I thank you.”

“Liar,” he returned instantly, making her face heat even as she was filled with amusement. She so enjoyed the fact that he didn’t wander around social niceties with her. He was the only person not related to her that she could trust to tell her truths. It was refreshing. Not that she wanted there to be anything more appealing about the man.

Of course, she couldn’t tell him any of her current thoughts. And she didn’t think she could lie her way out of it either. He seemed to have an uncanny ability to see right through her. She never took her eyes off the musicians and ignored his heated stare. Finally he, too, returned his attention to the quartet, but Hilaria could sense his disquiet.

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