“It is a good plan!” his brother protested, as Rupert grimaced. “Lady Eleanor will sit in her carriage and watch whattakes place. Thereafter, she will return to the ballroom and tell us all.”
“Unless,” Rupert replied, worry biting at his heart, “unless she decides to do something very foolish indeed… which I pray she will not.”
Preston frowned. “Foolish? By that you mean…?”
“That she will follow whoever takes the money,” Rupert answered, as they stepped inside. “And will come to harm because of it.”
“Cousin, there you are.”Rupert tried to smile as he shook his cousin’s hand and then looked to the lady beside him. “Good evening, cousin Emma. Might I say that you look quite resplendent this evening.” This was not the conversation Rupert wanted to have, but given that he had not yet spent long in the company of his cousins, he felt obliged to speak with them both. “You are dancing this evening, yes?”
“I am. My dance card is entirely taken up this evening!” Emma smiled at him, although Rupert caught the slight grimace that appeared on Lord Howerton’s face. “In fact, you must excuse me, for I am now to dance with Lord Helensburgh and I can see him approach.”
“But of course.” A little relieved, Rupert waited for her to take her leave and then turned back to Howerton. “It is good to have you alone for a few minutes. My brother and I were hoping to speak with you this evening.”
“Oh?” Glancing from Rupert to Lord Preston, Lord Howerton frowned. “Is there something wrong?”
“No, no.” Rupert, aware that his voice sounded strange in its overly light-hearted tone, looked to Preston. “Nothing at all.”
Preston rolled his eyes, conveying to Rupert that he had gone a little too far in his attempt to be delicate about this particular situation. “You must forgive Finchley. He is a little… well, truth be told, we are both a little concerned about a particular matter. Might we ask you something?”
“Of course.” Lord Howerton’s frown deepened. “I do hope there is nothing overly concerning.”
“Do you have anyone against you, Howerton?” Rupert leaned closer so as not to be overheard. “Is there anyone against any of you?”
“Against us?” Another familiar voice had Rupert turning, seeing Baron Wishart, brother to Lord Howerton, standing behind him. “Goodness, whatever is this about?”
Rupert stepped back and welcomed his cousin into the conversation. “Good evening, Wishart. I was asking your brother – and now yourself also – if you know of anyone who might wish to cause you or this family harm in some way.”
Lord Wishart’s eyes flared. “Harm? No, indeed not.”
Lord Howerton shook his head as Rupert looked back at him. His own shoulders slumped as he let out a heavy breath. There was no answer here, then, for they had both just informed him that there was none they knew who might wish them harm. That meant that the perpetrator remained just as much encased in mist and shadow as before.
“Why do you ask?” Lord Howerton wanted to know. “You are concerned about something, as Lord Preston has just said.”
Rupert, choosing not to go into any particular detail, shrugged lightly. “It is nothing of consequence, truly.” He did not want to speak honestly about the situation, thinking it best to make certain as few people as possible knew the truth. “How do things fare with your sister? She clearly has done well thus far, given her dance card is so very full!”
Changing the subject seemed to bring a fresh light to Lord Howerton’s eyes, though Lord Wishart scowled. “She is doing very well, I must say. She has many suitors and – ”
“Though she favors one she ought not to,” Lord Wishart added, the reason for his scowl now apparent. “I have told her many a time, but she will not be dissuaded.”
“I shall not permit the match, of course,” Lord Howerton said, with a shrug. “But Wishart is quite correct; her insistence upon that particular gentleman is somewhat frustrating, especially when she has so many other suitors!”
Lord Preston chuckled. “I am very glad that I do not have a sister to marry off, given that our own dear sister is now happily married and quite settled.”
“It was not a match of her choosing, but it has done her very well. Lord Nottingham is an excellent fellow and cares for her dearly. I think she is quite contented, truth be told.”
“I have told Emma that,” Lord Howerton replied, with a heavy sigh. “I believe that your sister and mine have been exchanging the occasional letter, as cousins do, so Emma is well aware of Rebecca’s contentedness. All the same, however, she seems quite determined to accept the attentions of this Lord Wigton.”
Rupert frowned. “I do not know him.”
“That is because he is a gentleman who has not only a poor fortune but poor judgment,” Lord Wishart told him. “He bears the title of Viscount, but his behavior does not resemble that of a gentleman. He has become fixed upon Emma solely because she thinks him very handsome and returns his attentions when many others do not! They know that he is foolish with his money, that he gambles much too frequently and does nothing by way of caring for his estate or his family.”
A frown tugged at Rupert’s eyebrows. “Why, then, does she think so well of him?”
Lord Howerton rolled his eyes. “She believes herself in love with him. I am sure there have been one or two stolen kisses when myself or my brother were absent from her side for a few moments. I dislike the gentleman greatly and have informed him that I will never accept his offer of courtship, but all the same, he continues to draw near her.”
Rupert grimaced. “That is unfortunate.”
“You will have to take care she does not elope!” Lord Preston’s words had Lord Wishart and Lord Howerton exchanging a quick glance. “I have heard that those who think themselves in love can be quite determined with it, refusing to listen to reason and the like.”
