“Ladies, pardon this intrusion,” he said, clasping his hands together while he slightly bowed to them. “If you would not mind, I should like a brief word with my sister,” he said, nodding at Lady Catherine Candelstone.
“Of course, Aidan!” his sister said, coming to his side as the other ladies tittered their agreement.
He drew Catherine off a few feet away from the others. “Where is Candelstone?” he asked, as he continued to peruse the room.
“William has gone to the card room with mother and Lady Oakley. I think she means to try to fleece him,” she laughed. “Slight chance of that. Why do you ask?”
Aidan fixed his gaze on her face. “Did you know he arranged for Sir Harry Blessingame to do whatever was needful to end my courtship of Miss Melville?”
“Yes—Oh, not at that time,” she blurted, when she saw fury build in her brother’s face. “I only learned of it—quite accidentally from Candelstone—after Sir Harry’s death. He muttered now he needed to find another handler for Bella.”
“Handler?”
She nodded, unaware of how ominous that word sounded to Aidan. “I queried him on this statement, even if I wasn’t supposed to hear it. Though he was reluctant, I pressed him, and I learned the story. It is astonishing Harry could do that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“What would have been the point? That was over three years ago.”
He sighed as he shook his head. “Catherine, it would have been a kindness to both of us if you had. I have held a hatred for her for three years.”
“Oh no, Aidan, surely not hatred. That is a strong word,” she protested.
“Unfortunately, it is the right word. If you will excuse me, I would speak with him.”
“What are you planning, Aidan?” she asked, now worried.
“I’m not sure yet. If he isn’t with Mother, I will punch him out or challenge him to a duel, or both. Consider him lucky if he is with Mother,” he said as he walked away.
He found Gwinnie speaking to the musicians. Hardly surprising for his musical niece.
“A moment, Gwinnie?” he asked. “Lady Blessington has had a trying evening. I left her in Malmsby’s old study with her brother, whom I ordered not to talk to her. But I think she needs someone with her who is not likely to call forth potent emotions. Can you go to her?”
“What happened? Did you berate her?” she accused, hands on her hips as she glowered at him.
He shook his head. “I wanted to, and tried, but she berated me instead. Rightly so. We have been living in a tangled web created by Lord Candelstone, whom I am looking for right now. He needs to leave her alone.”
Gwinnie relaxed. “I won’t pretend to understand, but I shall certainly go to her. I like Bella.”
“Thank you.”
Satisfied, Aidan quickly descended two flights of stairs to the ground floor and turned right toward the formal parlor. Just beyond that was the sitting room set up as a card room, or a music room, as needed. Only his mother used the ground floor Lady Margaret Parlor across the hall. She’d ordered it closed to guests, and no light leaked around the door frame.
He stood in the card room’s doorway for a moment. It appeared his mother’s table was finishing a set. Judging by her expression, she and Lady Oakley won. Candelstone scowled at the gentleman who sat as his partner. Aidan smiled. His mother could count cards with the best of the card sharks.
He walked toward their table.
“Aidan!” his mother called out when she saw him approach. “Come join us! Mr. Rutherford wants to cry off another game. I’m just getting warmed up.”
“I’ll bet you are,” Aidan said drily. “No, I’m not here to play,” he said, laying a hand on Mr. Rutherford’s shoulder to forestall him getting up. “I’m here to speak to Candelstone,” he said.
Candelstone leaned back in his chair, draping an arm across the low back. “Yes?” he said. “You look like you have eaten something disagreeable, Nowlton.”
“I have a warning for you,” Aidan said. “Leave Lady Blessingame alone.”
Candelstone snorted. “Or what? I have only her best interests at heart.”
Lady Malmsby laughed. “Now that is a bounder.”
