What was it about this family that seemed to attract scandal and problems?He should wash his hands of the whole entire thing and simply walk away slowly without looking back, preferably and possibly leaving the ball altogether so that he would not be around to watch the train wreck or potentially be implicated in whatever scandal could happen.
Not that he was opposed to scandal; rather, scandal was delicious to flirt with.However, he had learned at a young age that things were never what they seemed to be, and he was not about to repeat that lesson.Flirtation was far different than intention.
“Your face says far more than your words ever could.”Henley saluted him with his now empty wineglass.“And I agree with everything that you’re thinking.”
Hawthorne regarded him coolly.“I doubt you’d agree with everything.”He gave a wry grin.“It’s certainly not the safest idea I’ve heard; however, it certainly is bold.And your sister has some courage.I will give her that.”
Henley scoffed.“Or insanity; never ever discount the insanity.”
Hawthorne spoke before he could stop the words.“At least she’s honest.And forthright with you.”The words felt raw in Hawthorne’s throat as they came out, and he quickly schooled his features.
No use talking of the past, no use reliving things that wouldn’t fully die.
He gave a dismissive shrug, leaned into the careful façade he’d created for himself for everyone else’s benefit, and added a rakish grin for effect.“I’m sure she will find many willing subjects.”
Henley glared at him.“That is exactly what I am afraid of.”
“Then stop her.”Hawthorne shrugged.
Henley gave another glare, and Hawthorne was starting to become concerned that his face could no longer make any other expressions.
“That, my friend, is like asking the sun not to shine, the clouds not to rain, and for a Scotsman to give up his whisky.”
Hawthorne chuckled.“That impossible, huh?”
Henley nodded.“Yes, that impossible.You know of my sister, but you do not know my sister.”
“If I may ask?”Hawthorne shifted tactics, not sure why he was even continuing the conversation.
It was none of his affair.He had no reason to ask; however, the annoyingly gentlemanly aspect of his character would not let it lie.“What does your lovely wife have to say about this situation?I’m sure she and her best friend have discussed this at length, unfortunately.”
Henley glared, again, as if he lost the ability to do anything but that expression.“Yes, well, she’s not exactly discouraging, but I will say she’s not encouraging either.We’ve gone over this actually already this evening, and I am quite done with the entire topic.”He stopped short, breathed a huge sigh, and said, “Oh, praise God, the reel is done.Now if I can just get her out of this building before she finds another test subject.”Henley glanced about, as if an exit would magically appear.
Shifting his attention back to the couple in question, Hawthorne watched as Ramsford scanned the room and took Lady Peregrine’s hand and placed it on his arm.He pulled her in a little closer than necessary and gave her a golden smile, one that would certainly be inviting if Lady Peregrine was one of the many merry widows that Ramsford often enjoyed.Hawthorne studied Lady Peregrine’s response.She flushed under the attention, but there was not an awareness of the invitation that Ramsford’s expression offered.
Hawthorne released a little bit of tension in his shoulders.“She’ll be fine, thank God she’s innocent.She doesn’t understand what she’s about.It’ll turn into nothing; just watch.”
Henley regarded him with an expression of cautious optimism.“From your lips to God’s ears.”
Ramsford brought Lady Peregrine to her brother and bowed crisply.Kissing the air above Lady Peregrine’s hand, he thanked her for the dance before nodding to the gentleman beside her and leaving.
Lady Peregrine turned to her brother slightly but did not look in his direction.“Stop glaring or else everyone is going to think that you and Lady Anna are having a spat.”
Hawthorne choked on his laugh and tried to recover with a cough.
Lady Peregrine looked to him, annoyed amusement dancing in her bright eyes.“I’m not wrong.”
“No, you are not, and I would never dare to argue or disagree with a lady.”Hawthorne bowed slightly.
Lady Peregrine nodded to him, then glanced to her brother.“You could learn from your friend,” she said with a daring smile.
Hawthorne bit back another cough and laugh only to have a dowager walk by and pause, studying him as if he were carrying the plague.He apologized, trying to ignore the sour expression on the dowager’s face as she regarded him once more, then dismissed him and carried on.
Lady Peregrine glanced heavenward.“I fear I am surrounded.”
“No one is requiring you to stay here.”Her brother added, “In fact, I think now would be an excellent time to leave…”
Hawthorne decided that now would also be a grand opportunity to depart; however, he found he was greatly amused by the antics between brother and sister.So he decided to stay, against his better judgment, simply for the entertainment of it all.How much of his life could be summed up in such a statement?But after all, life was short; he didn’t know when his last breath would be so he might as well enjoy the time that was given.Even if it was spent in rather shallow ways.
