Page 21 of A Gentleman to Avoid (Sherton Sisters 3)

“Well, I cannot be private with you, my lord, so if it cannot be here then you’ll have to keep it to yourself.” She paused for a brief thought before adding, “If you think it’s something that concerns me, perhaps you should share it with Lord Crossley, as he has the responsibility for me for the present.”

“No, no, I wouldn’t want to trouble his lordship with this at the moment. I think it’s something you should be made aware of, but you may wish to keep it private.”

Now, Vicky was truly becoming concerned. Obviously, Bertram was trying to ingratiate himself into her good graces. Her stomach clenched with nerves.

“I don’t think there could possibly be anything that you might know that concerns me and ought to remain private,” she began, trying to keep the frown from her face with the desire to not draw attention to their conversation.

“It’s about Northcott.”

Vicky blinked with the effort to keep her gaze from flying in search of Ashford. The wretched viscount was right. She wouldn’t want anyone to know she was having this conversation. Especially not Mr. Ashford Northcott.

“You said that already, but as I told you then, I really don’t think anything to do with Mr. Northcott has any bearing upon me, my lord. Perhaps, you have mistaken me for one of my sisters.”

“I have not,” Bertram insisted in a low, but fierce, voice making Vicky’s skin start to develop a crawling sensation. She should have remained at home with her sisters and parents and the baby viscount.

“It might, then, be best if you share your information with Lord Crossley, as I suggested. I don’t think it’s within my ability to handle whatever you wish to share with me.” She almost choked on the words, as Vicky was quite comfortable with her coping abilities. But she was adamantly opposed to listening to whatever Lord Bertram was hoping to share with her.

“The man’s a traitor and a cheat.”

Vicky abandoned her attempts at self-control, as it was decidedly not her strength. Her head turned so quickly to assess Lord Bertram that she almost hurt her neck. Searching the strange viscount’s face for any sign that he was jesting revealed nothing to her. Suddenly, it became too much, and Vicky let out a peal of laughter.

Blushing, Vicky tried to cover over her blunder. “Oh, my lord, you do tell the most amusing tales,” she said as she waved a hand in front of her face. The curious faces of their fellow guests turned away as they lost interest, much to her relief.

“I’m not jesting, my lady,” Bertram insisted, even more fierce than before. “I can prove it to you.”

“That will not be necessary, my lord. While I do not think your assessment of the gentleman in question is correct, it really matters very little, as he is not a part of my sphere. We are acquaintances and fellow guests under the hospitality of Lord and Lady Crossley. That is all.” When Bertram continued to stare at her expectantly, Vicky sighed and added, “If you truly have concerns about him, I really must insist you speak with Lord Crossley. Or perhaps return to Town and have an audience with His Majesty. I cannot fathom what you hoped to accomplish by telling me.”

Bertram’s face twisted. “The man wishes to court you. I felt you ought to be warned.”

“You are quite mistaken, my lord,” Vicky insisted firmly. “And I think this conversation has veered toward the inappropriate.”

“You must listen to me, my lady, it’s most imperative.”

“You are getting beyond yourself, my lord. You are overstepping what is acceptable behaviour, and if you do not cease, I will have no recourse but to speak to Lord Crossley about having you removed.”

“So, you’re in league with him then, are you?”

Vicky sighed. “Now you’re just being bothersome and ridiculous. Can you not stop this wasteful chatter, my lord?”

He must have taken the lack of heat in her tone to be acquiescence of some sort, for he instantly simmered down but drew even closer, as though all the more earnest. Vicky tried to pull back from his proximity, but due to the subject matter, still hesitated to draw attention to their conversation by truly putting him in his place.

“Just hear me out, Lady Vigilia. It is important. I fear your family could be at risk.”

And just like that, Vicky couldn’t resist listening to what he had to say. His might be the ravings of a lunatic, but if there were even the slightest chance that anything he might have to say could impact any member of her family, Vicky felt impelled to at least give him a listening ear.

“Very well, my lord, tell me what you have to say.”

“I will tell you throughout the party, my lady. It will be too much for you to take in all at once.”

At that, Vicky almost called a complete halt. “Are you questioning my intellect, my lord?”

“No, of course not, my lady,” he replied with, she was sure, feigned sincerity. “It is the softness of your heart that I am concerned about. I do not think you could hear it all at once and not weep over the threat to your family.”

“Tell me at once, Lord Bertram. If there is a risk to anyone in my family, I must put a stop to it immediately.”

“The threat is not imminent. There is time for you to hear me out,” he soothed, causing Vicky to seethe.

“Well, then what can you tell me? You were the one who proposed this conversation. Surely, you intended to do more than tantalize me with veiled suggestions and insinuations.”

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