“And I understand that, but don’t you think the two ideas might work together? Don’t shut yourself off from the idea of a match simply because it may have been someone your father would have approved of.” The last was said with a pointed look and a raised eyebrow.
How on earth was his uncle still able to read him so easily after more than twenty years apart? It’s true that the last thing he wanted in a partner was to choose someone he knew his father would have thought worthy, as he would have chosen him a wife based only on status, wealth, or connections. If West truly was sincere about wishing to change how his family operated—if he wanted everyone to act in their own interests, and for the benefit of their happiness—then he needed to set the example.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door.
“Enter,” John called. A middle-aged man with silver hair and a bright smile entered the room. “Ah, West, do you remember my friend and business partner, Hugh Stanton? Hugh, this is my nephew, the Marquess of Hampton.”
Stanton strode into the room and firmly shook West’s extended hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lord. I knowyour uncle has been excited to have your family estate under his wing once again.”
West immediately liked the man for not skirting around the awkwardness in his family for the past two decades. “There is no one I would trust with our interests more. Returning the business was the first thing I wanted to do once it was under my control.”
“Excellent,” the lawyer replied with a grin. “I’ll not disturb you, I just needed to grab a file from John.” The men discussed business for a moment before Stanton departed with well wishes to West’s family, leaving him and his uncle alone again to discuss the prospect of marriage.
“I know I will need to marry, but I’m in no rush. I do feel obligated to attend some of the events of the season now that I hold the title. I need to cultivate relationships, as I’m taking up my seat in Parliament. Thus, I’ll be attending the Wrexham’s opening ball tomorrow evening, and I promise to keep an open mind,” West said.
“That’s all I ask,” Uncle John replied. “Now off with you, I’ve work to get back to.”
CHAPTER 4
Taking in the decorations around the ballroom, Priscilla had to give her mother credit where it was due. The woman did know how to throw an event. Everything had been polished and waxed to a shine, and tasteful flower arrangements were placed strategically around the room while gauzy curtains fluttered in the breeze from the open windows.
The orchestra was setting up, and Priscilla knew she would need to step out of the room when they began to tune up for the evening. The first strains of music always caused a rush of emotion to well up in her, often causing her eyes to tear. It was an awkward phenomenon she had suffered from ever since she was a little girl, and rather inconvenient, as she loved music. She was saved this time by her mother hustling her to stand in the receiving line as the first guests arrived.
And what an eye-opening experience the receiving line turned out to be. First, her mother was constantly jabbing her elbow in Priscilla’s ribs whenever an eligible gentleman greeted them. As unwelcome as it was, that had been expected. What was unexpected, though probably shouldn’t have been had she really thought about it, was the amount of attention she was receiving. She lost track of how many times a man held onto herhand just slightly too long in greeting or the way they looked her directly in the eyes with sly smiles. A few bold gentlemen even kissed the back of her hand before moving into the ballroom, much to her mother’s delight as it seemed her worries over Priscilla’s advanced age were for naught.
She supposed it made sense. Now that she was fully out of mourning, it was acceptable for men to pay her attention in ways they could not before without appearing crass. Priscilla had conceptually understood she would be an attractive option as a wealthy woman of status, but her reception so far this evening made the concept feel far more real. It also made her increasingly uncomfortable thinking about all the unwanted attention she feared she was about to receive this season, let alone this evening.
Priscilla hadn’t allowed anyone to sign her dance card in the receiving line, but she could see more than one man’s attention turned to her now that the stream of guests had thinned and the evening was about to formally begin. She breathed a sigh of relief when she recognized one of the last couples entering the room. The Earl and Countess of Weston stepped up to her mother, and Elise sent a smile Priscilla’s way.
After making the necessary polite greetings, Priscilla grabbed Elise by the arm and practically dragged her away.
“Oh, I’m so glad you are here. I need you and Reid to keep me occupied in conversation, so I won’t have to dance with anyone.”
Elise laughed as they entered a reception room, snagging a few glasses of champagne from a passing footman before stopping in front of the fireplace. “Yes, you do seem to be drawing a lot of eyes this evening. You’re quite the desirable woman now that you are fully out of mourning. How do you plan to handle it?” she asked, passing one of the glasses to Priscilla.
“I don’t know yet,” Priscilla sighed. I received much more attention in the receiving line than I was prepared for. I thinkI’ll need to be wary of fortune hunters.” She closed her eyes and rubbed at the bridge of her nose while Elise tutted in sympathy. “It also doesn’t help that my mother thinks I need to marry immediately. She believes I’m getting too old to appeal to men who are looking to sire an heir.”
Elise rolled her eyes. “You’re all of what, twenty-three?” She hummed in agreement as Elise laughed at her expense.
“It’s really not funny, you know. In fact, mother wants me to meet some new marquess this evening, Hampton. Do you know him?”
“A little. Reid’s befriended him as a fellow Whig and has been helping him learn the ropes in Parliament. We had him to dinner once, and he seems like a good man. Speaking of dinner, are you available tomorrow evening?” Elise asked. “We’re having a small gathering to celebrate Angeline and Sidney now that they’ve wed.”
Priscilla’s smile was genuine when she answered in the affirmative, looking forward to the gathering and happy to celebrate the love between new friends.
“Oh, there’s the marquess with Reid now.” Elise inclined her head to the side where her husband had entered the room alongside an attractive, dark-haired gentleman. He was tall, but not overly so, and had a pleasantly sharp jawline.
“Well, he’s certainly not hard to look at, I’ll give my mother that,” Priscilla said as she brought her attention back to Elise. “But I don’t feel particularly inclined to simply please my mother with another high-ranking match should I choose to marry again.” Looking over at the new lord again, he glanced in their direction while listening to Weston and another man who had stopped them. Hampton’s gaze connected with Priscilla’s, but something the earl said put a quizzical look on his face and he absently rubbed at his eyebrow before turning away. That briefmoment of contact caused a spark of excitement to stir in her chest. Odd.
“Shouldyou choose? You don’t wish for a new husband?” Elise inquired.
Taking a deliberate sip of her champagne before answering Elise’s question, Priscilla proceeded to completely shock her friend with her next statement.
“No, I was rather thinking I might enjoy having an affair this season.” Watching Elise’s eyes widen in surprise, Priscilla tipped her head back in laughter. “Oh, you should see your face,” she gasped. “Have I quite appalled you?”
“No, no,” Elise said quickly. “You just startled me is all. What exactly are you thinking?”
“I’m not saying I’ll never want to marry again, I’m just not in any hurry to do so, and it certainly will not be another match to meet my parents’ expectations.” She fiddled with her empty champagne glass, trying to find a way to explain herself.
