Page 23 of Enamored with a Brooding Earl
James shrugged again. “Be that as it may – and no, you need not lift your eyebrows at me like that for I am well aware I have told you the truth without hesitation – Lady Temperance has made it quite clear that she desires only to be as she is at present. When I spoke with her, she stated that her father and mother do not see that she is contented as she is. Who am I to push myself forward into that? If she is happy, then I have no desire to alter that happiness in any way.”
Lord Thurston frowned. “But she may not even think that you are considering her in that way. It may be that she cannot even imagine a gentleman having any sort of interest in her! I do not think that I am speaking out of turn to say that I know for certain that such a situation is not something that Lady Temperance has ever considered.”
His mother’s words came back to him with force as James considered what his friend had said. That was the second time he had heard that Lady Temperance would never even consider that a gentleman might look at her in such a way! Would she be happy to know thathewas beginning to feel a flicker of affection towards her?
“It is not as though she is going to accept Lord Barlington’s interest,” Lord Thurston continued, as they made their way into the village. “Quite what that gentleman hopes to achieve by coming here, I do not know.”
“Nor do I,” James agreed, “though my mind is a little troubled. I worry that there is something a little more nefarious at play here.”
Lord Thurston looked at him sharply. “Oh?”
“This is something I considered only this morning,” James told his friend. “Why is Lord Barlington come to pursue Lady Temperance? He ended their engagement yes, and certainly thetonmight think rather poorly of him – though some, I think, would say that they understood and agreed with his decision. Therefore, why would he not then be able to pursueanotheryoung lady? What is it about Lady Temperance that pulls him so quickly towards her?”
There was a slight pause. “She is the daughter of a Duke, I suppose.”
“Yes, but he is a Marquess. There is no disappointment in that. Besides which, if hewereto marry Lady Temperance, he would have whispers and the like follow after him for many a year. Not that I think such a thing is right, of course.”
“Of course not, but what you are saying is true.” Lord Thurston’s brows knotted. “That must mean that there is some reason, some purpose, in what he is doing.”
“Precisely.”
“And you would like to find out what that is?”
James pursed his lips, considering. “I am not certain,” he answered, after a few moments as they made their way into the village. “It is not my place, so I do not know whether I ought to do such a thing or not.”
“Yes, but you are her friend, as am I and as is my wife,” came the response. “I think it would be wise for us to discuss this all with Lady Temperance and see what she thinks.”
James found himself nodding. “Yes, I should like to do that.”
“Good.” Jumping down from his horse, Lord Thurston gestured to the tavern across the street from where they were at present. “Should you like to go and join the locals for a quick drink?”
James chuckled and dismounted, throwing the reins to a young lad, along with a coin and the promise that they would return within the hour and that more coin would follow, should he look after their horses well. He stepped out with Lord Thurston, knowing that the locals would give them their very best table but, at the same time, be pleased to know that two gentlemen of thetonhad chosen to come and sit in their establishment. He had no doubt that it was not the first time Lord Thurston had frequented this place and it would not be the last.
Pushing open the door, he soon had himself seated at a table in the corner of the room, right next to a very large window. It was a little grubby, so difficult to make out everything clearly, but all the same, he appreciated it. Lord Thurston sat down with two glasses in his hands and, with a grin, James took one from him.
“I thank you.” He studied the glass, a little surprised at how clean it was. “This place is quite satisfactory, is it not?”
Lord Thurston grinned. “It is! I have come here alone at times and always found it quite pleasant in fact! Though the local folk do not come and converse with me, I will say. In that regard, I am a little too high for them though I should not be displeased if they came to speak! I would be glad of conversation, I think.”
“At least you have conversation now,” James chuckled, only to catch sight of a figure walking towards the establishment. His brow immediately lowered, his shoulders dropping. “Though we may not be able to stay for too long. I believe that Lord Barlington intends to step into this very place!”
Lord Thurston’s eyebrows lifted. “Lord Barlington?”
James nodded, not able to say more as the gentleman pushed open the door and stepped inside. James turned his face away at once, Lord Thurston rounding his shoulders a little as though that might hide his profile from the gentleman. Much to James’ relief, however, Lord Barlington simply went straight to the barman, requested a drink and, thereafter, walked across the room to sit down on the opposite side of the tavern.
James let out a small breath of relief. “I do not think that he saw us.”
“It is very unusual for a gentleman of his ilk to come and sit in here alone, however,” Lord Thurston remarked, glancing across the room towards the man in question. “A Marquess in a tavern, in a small village such as this? Why ever should he do that?”
“And he does live some miles away also,” James muttered, lifting his glass to his lips. “That is a little unusual.”
Lord Thurston shrugged. “Mayhap he is doing his best to show Lady Temperance that he is a gentleman willing to do whatever he must to fit into this place he has come to love. Mayhap he hopes that the villagers will speak well of him and that she will hear of that in some way.”
James’ lip curled. “Mayhap.” He threw another glance at the gentleman, only for his eyebrows to lift. “Look. There is someone coming to speak with him.”
Lord Thurston turned to look. “Indeed there is.”
“Do you recognise him?”
