Page 7 of The Viscount's Code
“But—”
Before Hope could finish her sentence, Faith had taken her arm and was practically pulling her out the door. Hope took one look back at the viscount, whose lips were set in a grim line. She had a feeling that this visit was not going to end well. She just had no idea why that would be.
* * *
Dinner seemed to take hours,but it was likely only because they all spent the entirety of it eating in silence – except for Lady Embury. For Lady Embury talked. And talked. And talked some more. Anthony wondered how she managed to eat at all, as her mouth never seemed to be free for a bite.
At least his mother seemed happy. As much as Lady Embury could be a trial, his mother had always enjoyed her company – perhaps because his mother so abhorred silence herself, even though she seemed to have lost the ability to fill it. He supposed they were a perfect match as friends, and he told himself that if nothing else, he was glad to bring his mother some peace.
After dinner, the women retired to the drawing room, and Lord Embury begrudgingly offered him a drink when they remained seated at the table. Anthony accepted, primarily because he could see no better opportunity to speak with Lord Embury about the book.
“Tell me, Whitehall,” Lord Embury said, leaning back in his chair, his thick white eyebrows lowering over his eyes, “Why did you accompany your mother here to Newfield Manor?”
Anthony chose his words carefully. “My mother has been... fragile since the passing of my father,” he said. “She was most excited about this visit, but I thought it best that she not come alone.”
“I see,” Lord Embury said, steepling his fingers together. “And this has nothing to do with my daughters?”
Did he know of their quest?
“I am not sure what you mean.”
“You are not interested in making a match with one of them?”
“No.”
Now the earl’s eyebrows shot up to the top of his forehead. “And why not? Do you find fault with them?”
Anthony had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes at the man. Just what was he after?
“No. I am not interested in marrying.”
Not until he had cleared his family’s name.
“That is an odd statement.”
Anthony shrugged. He had nothing to prove to the viscount.
“I do not know what your aim is here, Whitehall, but you must know one thing.”
Anthony waited.
“Stay away from my daughters.”
Anthony mocked the man – although he likely didn’t even realize what he was doing – by winging up one eyebrow himself in question.
“They are good girls,” Lord Embury said with pride, “and I am looking to make a strong match for both of them.”
“I am a viscount,” Anthony said, riling the man, waiting for him to say what Anthony knew he was thinking – that he may be a viscount but that he was from a tainted line.
“Thought you weren’t interested.”
“I’m not.”
Now they were going around in circles. Time to get on with it.
“I do have a question for you,” Anthony began, leaning forward.
“Here we are. What is it?”
