Forgive me for this hastily written missive, but I have just received an urgent message from my business partner. An emergency has arisen that requires my immediate attention, and I must leave London without delay. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I should return within a few weeks. I hope that you will truly consider tonight as the beginning of our courtship, one that I hope to continue upon my return. Indeed, I fully intend to meet with your father and ask his permission to court you.
I shall count the minutes, hours, and days until I behold your lovely face again. Time cannot pass soon enough.
Eternally yours,
Thomas
Folding the missive, he drizzled hot wax to seal it. Removing his signet ring, he pressed it into the wax. “Please deliver this note directly to Miss Frankie Wickersham and not to anyone else.” He withdrew a crown from his pocket and handed it to the retainer.
“Yes, my lord.” The footman bobbed his head and exited the room.
Mercer’s note had informed him that Lord Slade Mason, one of Thomas’ best friends and business partners, was in dire need of their help.
Thomas quit the Duke of Clarence’s mansion with as much haste as possible short of breaking into a run. His heart was thundering in his chest at the news he’d just received, and he had to act quickly.
Mason’s older brother, Lord Graham Mason, and his father, the Duke of Newcastle, had been in a suspicious carriage accident that had claimed the duke’s life and had left his brother in critical condition. Their shipping business, the Eastern Star Shipping Company, had an important voyage scheduled to leave in a few days, but the death of the duke and the probable death of Mason’s brother, the duke’s heir, sparked an immediate investigation. Thomas and Mercer could be in danger as well. Because of recent suspicious events having to do with their biggest competitor, the East India Company, which included the sinking of one of the Eastern Star’s ships. They needed to take swift action to make certain their cargo arrived safely. Thomas and Bobby would also work closely with the investigators Mason had hired to determine if the duke’s demise had any connection to their competitor.
Thomas hated to leave Frankie without explaining the reason face-to-face, but she would at least have his note, hastily written though it had been. Thomas’ heart swelled knowing that Frankie was as honorable as she was beautiful. He felt certain she would wait, and they could resume their courtship. Thomas already knew in his heart that he wanted to marry Frankie. And he was almost certain Frankie felt the same.
* * *
Lady Endora Deville had, at last, spotted her chance! She’d noticed Viscount Thomas Latham leave Lady Frankie with her family and head toward the games room. Hoping for another opportunity to offer herself up for a mutually delightful dalliance, she’d decided to follow him when a footman stopped the viscount and handed him a note. Stepping behind a large potted plant, she’d watched Thomas follow the footman into a room down the hall.
It didn’t take long for the footman to reappear holding another missive.
I’m sure I know who that note is for.
“Excuse me,” she said, hastily stepping in front of the harried young footman. “Is that note for Miss Frankie Wickersham?”
His eyes regarded her with confusion. “I am not sure I should—”
“I realize how busy you are seeing to so many guests,” she interrupted. “But I believe Lord Latham wanted Miss Wickersham to receive that note tonight.” She tapped his arm for good measure. “Allow me to explain. Miss Wickersham is my goddaughter you see, and her mother is my dearest friend from childhood.” Endora placed her hand on her heart, smiling inwardly, as the young man’s eyes strayed to her heaving bosom. “I was on my way to tell Lord Latham that dear Miss Wickersham had taken ill and had just left with her aunt and uncle. And here I see Lord Latham had to rush off as well, entrusting you with a note meant for Miss Wickersham.” She leaned in closer, pressing her chest against his arm. “I am quite worried about her—she is so dear to me, you see. Therefore, I must insist on delivering this missive to Miss Wickersham personally and without haste. Otherwise, she will never know what Lord Latham intended to tell her.” Endora could see the young man was wavering.
Just a little more urging. She reached into the top of her bodice and withdrew two crowns, tucking the coins into his pocket. “There now. Rest assured that you have been rewarded this evening for your efforts. I will be happy to deliver that note, and you can tend to your myriad of other duties.”
His gaze swung left and right as though checking to see if anyone was watching them, then with a beleaguered shrug, he handed her the note.
“Well, done. I will see the message gets delivered.”
As he walked away, she stepped once again, behind the large potted plant and broke open the seal. Looking up, she watched as Miss Frankie Wickersham was led onto the dance floor by a tall, fair-haired gentleman. Rereading the note, she smiled and murmured, “Yes, I will be very pleased to deliver this message.”
CHAPTER1
October 1823
London, England
The Duke of Clarence’s Ball
Astrange sense ofdéjà vuthreatened to turn Thomas around as he climbed the steps of Clarence Mansion, where he’d promised to meet his mother, sister, aunt, and cousin. The Duke and Duchess of Clarence’s ball was atonfavorite and always a crush. Everyone who was anyone would be here. He would prefer to be anywhere else…except here. He had avoided it for the past five years, and had he not promised to escort his family, Thomas would have avoided it for a sixth year as well. Paula’s father…his uncle Edward…had recently passed, and their son, David, was still at Eton and too young to serve as an escort.
With his aunt’s family staying with his mother and sister at his family’s townhouse, he found another reason to applaud the purchase of his townhouse on Berkley Square upon his return to London after five years away. It had become his refuge, a place where he could escape the constant whirl of social goings-on at his family’s home.
The last time Thomas had attended the Clarence ball he’d had such high hopes. It was the night he’d fallen head over heels for a fairy princess with sky-blue eyes and a crown of golden curls. And then everything changed in the blink of an eye when he’d gotten the note about Slade Mason’s brother and father, and he had to rush off for three weeks to deal with the crisis only to return to find out the woman of his dreams had married another. Heartbroken, he’d up and left once more, staying away for five years, working, and traveling with his shipping company, taking himself as far away from London as possible.
He was shocked that Frankie had never contacted him—no note,nothing.Frankie Wickersham knew he’d planned to ask her father for permission to court her—it was in the note he’d written to her. Never would he understandwhyshe had disappeared from his life and married another.
Even when his mother and sister mentioned it in their letters, he’d asked them not to probe. Katie did eventually tell him that Frankie had moved to Westmoreland after the wedding. Just thinking about it pierced his gut. Frankie…his Frankie…had married the Earl of Gallwey, a man twenty-five years her senior. He’d heard Gallwey had passed away last year at their country estate in Westmoreland, a considerable distance from London. He doubted she’d be coming to town any time soon. In any case, it didn’t matter whether Frankie returned to London or not. It had nothing to do with him.
