“This is quite unusual,” Lord Vining added, tugging at his cravat as if the thing might strangle him. “Quite unusual indeed.”
“What’s unusual,” Phillip replied, keeping his face perfectly blank, “is that my cousin claimed the title so soon after my brother’s death, before verifying mine.”
Lord Vining audibly gulped. His beady eyes watered. “It was announced in the papers. You died in the battle of Morales de Toro.”
“Now, Vining, that’s quite enough,” Lord Hillsdale sternly interjected, frowning openly at the shorter man. “Where are your manners? We must welcome His Grace back to town properly. Care for a drink, Your Grace?”
Phillip completely ignored Hillsdale’s words. He arched a brow and addressed Lord Vining directly. “As you can see, I did not die at Morales de Toro, my lord,” he replied, the barest hint of a smile on his face, “regardless of what the papers printed.” Hmm. This was more amusing than he’d thought it would be. Of course Phillip still didn’t relish the fact that the entire ballroom was talking about him behind their hands, fans, and handkerchiefs, and he’d have to face Sophie again eventually, but flustering this blowhard was nothing but diverting.
“Well, yes. Of course. I can see that now,” Lord Vining choked out. “As Hillsdale said, we’ll just sort it out, er… later.”
“That sounds like a perfect plan,” Clayton replied, smiling tightly at the man.
“What about that drink? May I get you something?” Lord Hillsdale offered again, obsequious smile still firmly in place.
“No, thank you, my lord,” Phillip replied. “Now, if you’ll both excuse us. My friends and I are off to make the rounds.”
“Of course, of course,” Hillsdale replied, stepping aside and splaying out one arm as if to guide Phillip’s course away from him.
Phillip, Clayton, and Thea brushed past Vining and Hillsdale, walked for a bit, and came to a stop in the middle of the ballroom. The entire company still staring at them, Phillip felt like a statue in a square that had just been revealed. Good God. How long would this last? He supposed he owed the ton a good long look. According to Grimaldi and Bell, it was important that everyone saw it was indeed him. Alive and well.
“Vining is a lackwit,” Clayton said under his breath as they pretended to be enjoying themselves. Fortunately, none of the other partygoers had the gumption to approach them, so they were quite safe to talk without being overheard.
Phillip nodded at that pronouncement. “He seemed quite taken aback by my presence.”
“I thought he was going to rip that handkerchief to shreds,” Thea added with a sly smile.
“What about Hillsdale?” Phillip asked.
Clayton lifted his brows. “As I mentioned, it’s his function to ensure titles are inherited appropriately,” the viscount replied. “No doubt he wonders whether he’ll be sacked for this mistake. Not to mention he’s a notorious bootlick to anyone who has a more prestigious title than he does. I’m certain he wants to make fast friends with you.”
Phillip had to chuckle. “That explains why I don’t remember ever meeting him before, when I was merely a second son, but I cannot possibly be the first nobleman to return from the grave.”
“Certainly not,” Clayton replied with a grin. “But you’re probably the first one on Hillsdale’s watch. He’ll be calling on you first thing next week to discuss it further. As I recall, he played a large role in helping your cousin claim the title. He’ll want to put it to rights immediately with as little fanfare as possible.”
“Good. So do I. I look forward to his visit,” Phillip replied. “I only hope he doesn’t bring Vining with him. The man will perspire himself into a puddle all over your carpets, Clayton.”
“Yes, let’s avoid that unpleasant outcome,” Thea added with a laugh.
Phillip glanced around. He was trying not to study the ballroom with too careful an eye. But where had Sophie got off to? Had she left the ball? He wouldn’t blame her if she had. But running away was unlike her. Sophie was headstrong and brave. But he hadn’t mistaken the tears in her eyes that he’d seen just before the crash had stolen his equilibrium. He owed her an explanation. However unsatisfying it might be.
“I suppose we should continue to make the rounds,” Clayton said, glancing about the ballroom in search of their next stop.
“No, actually,” Phillip replied in a firm voice. “I need to speak with Miss Payton alone, and I need your help.”
Chapter Four
The eyes of the entire ballroom were on her. Sophie could feel them boring into her, taking in her every movement. All talking had ceased as she’d made her way back into the ballroom. She’d held her head high and continued to walk on shaky legs as group after group noticed her and fell silent, watching as she and Valentina made their way unerringly back to their small set.
When they arrived, Sophie kept a falsely pleasant look on her face as she pretended to be listening to Valentina’s friends’ conversation, which was conspicuously, yet thankfully, not about Phillip. If it had been about him, she would have had to make her excuses and go, even if every person in the ballroom guessed why she was leaving.
Sophie couldn’t help but let her gaze wander across the ballroom. She couldn’t find Phillip anywhere. Where was he? He couldn’t possibly have left already, could he?
Beside her, she could practically feel Valentina’s uneasiness. Her stepmother had wandered off and was now doing her best to get Lord Hillsdale’s attention, even though the man stood across the room in a group with others. Valentina clearly wanted to speak to him privately, but Lord Hillsdale hadn’t noticed her waving her arm at him. Sophie would laugh at her stepmother’s foolish antics if the whole affair wasn’t still making her own nerves jangle. Where was Phillip? And for that matter, where was Hugh? He should have arrived by now.
A quarter hour had passed by the time Valentina finally got Lord Hillsdale off alone. She’d been forced to go pluck him out of the crowd, while Sophie was left to stare awkwardly about, smiling noncommittally at her stepmother’s boring friends. Normally, Sophie would have a full dance card, but tonight, no one had asked her to dance. Apparently, watching her was more entertaining than dancing with her.
“Miss Payton?” came a bright female voice, interrupting Sophie from her thoughts.
