“Itell you, Preston, I am not at all certain what I ought to do!”
His brother shrugged his shoulders as they sat in Whites. “If I were you, I would simply marry her.”
Rupert blinked rapidly, then frowned at his brother. “You and I are not speaking in the same terms, I do not think.”
“No?”
“No,” Rupert replied emphatically. “I speak of the matter at hand.Youspeak of – ” Glancing around, he lowered his voice. “You speak of Lady Eleanor.”
Lord Preston grinned. “I do indeed. I understand why you seek to hold yourself back, but I can assure you that, to continue to do so, will bring you nothing but pain and regret.”
Reaching for his whiskey, Rupert took a small sip of the fiery liquid. “You know that I do this for her best interest, and yet you criticize me for it?”
“Oh, I do not criticize,” Preston replied, with his grin still firmly fixed in place, “but I do state the truth, do I not? You will be quite miserable – for the rest of your days, I am sure – if you do not marry her.”
“You know I cannot.”
With a shake of his head, his brother looked away, out across the room at Whites. “My dear brother, you do well to think of her honor and respectability, but let me ask you something.” Tilting his head, he returned his attention to Rupert. “Do you think that she will be in any way contented with the likes of Lord Ashworth?”
“Lord Ashworth?” Rupert nearly spat the word out of his mouth, grimacing as he did so. “Lord Ashworth could garner the attention of any young lady he wished; he does not have to focus upon Eleanor.”
“And yet he is, given that he danced the waltz with heragainlast evening.”
Rupert, who had not known such a thing had taken place, scowled.
“She does not want Lord Ashworth’s interest, as you well know,” his brother continued, albeit with more gentleness this time. “Nor does she want his marriage proposal. The only person she cares about is you. Why would you turn from that?”
Throwing back the rest of his drink, Rupert slammed the glass down on the table. “You know very well why!”
“Because of the censure that might follow?” Lord Preston leaned forward in his chair, his smile gone now. “Let me ask you this, then. Do you truly think that both you and Lady Eleanor will be happy set apart from each other, but without any whispers surrounding either of you? Or would there be greater and better happiness if you were to be together but allowed the potential gossip to do what it will?”
It was not a question that Rupert appreciated. He knew very well that he would be much happier indeed if he could have Eleanor by his side, as his wife, but at the same time, he was eager to protect her from the severe damage that gossip could do to a lady. “I must think of every possibility.”
“But you could be very happy at your estate!” Lord Preston exclaimed, as Rupert hushed him quickly. “The two of you, alone together… is that not a wonderful future even in and of itself?”
Rupert had to admit that it was, but he did not share his thoughts with Preston. He could not, not when he was confused and troubled in so many ways. “I want only to protect her as best I can.”
“She and Lady Catherine did very well last evening,” Lord Preston admitted, with a smile. “You thought well of it all?”
“I did, even if my heart wished she had not taken such a risk.” Rupert finished his whisky and then snapped his fingers for another. “If I had – ”
“Pardon me, Lord Finchley. This was set upon our table, but it is for you, I think.”
Rupert looked up at Lord Chamberlain, shock slamming him hard in the chest at the note the gentleman held out in his hand. “Lord Chamberlain, I thank you. Did you see - ?”
“I do not know where it came from, I confess!” Lord Chamberlain swayed lightly on his feet, a slightly dulled grin on his face. “Forgive me, it was not I who noticed it, but Lord Guthrie, and since I am acquainted with you, I volunteered to walk the long stretch to bring it to you!”
Getting to his feet, Rupert looked across the room. “Where are you seated, Lord Chamberlain?”
“Oh, through in the adjoining room.” Lord Chamberlain waved a hand in Rupert’s direction. “You need not accompany me, I am quite well able to walk on my own. I have not had enough liquor as yet to make me stumble!” This, said with a loud and grating laugh, was enough to make Rupert grimace. Lord Chamberlain moved away slowly, and Rupert sat back down, the note in his hand burning his skin.
“That did not take long,” Lord Preston muttered, as the footman brought over two more drinks. “The ball was only earlier this evening!”
“Whoever this is, they are clearly upset that they did not get the money,” Rupert muttered, unfolding the note and then glancing over his shoulder. “Preston, might you look about us as I read this? I want to know if anyone is taking a particular interest in what I am doing.”
His brother nodded and began to look about him whilst Rupert focused solely on the note in his hand. The lines were short and brief, displaying both anger and a determination to take what he felt was owed him.
‘My man was interrupted this evening by two ridiculous ladies. The money is still demanded, however for I will not be set aside from my path. You will leave it in a hackney set just outside Whites and will not follow it to its destination. Your brother needs to stand with you, for I will not have him skulking in the shadows. The driver is named Matthew. Go. Now.’
