Page 7 of The Duke's Reluctant Muse
“I will not shy away from anything you have to say,” Jonathan replied, firmly. “I am grateful for what you offered me, Dalton, truly.” It was in his mind to tell his friend that he had also written to his friend, Lord Dennington, but after a moment’s consideration, Jonathan chose not to do so. Lord Dalton did not need to know the full depths of his frustration and embarrassment and, Jonathan trusted that Lord Dennington would not speak of it to Lord Dalton – or to anyone else – of what he had written either.
“Now,” he continued, before his friend could speak. “Tell me, so that we do not speak of me. Are there any young ladies that have caughtyoureye this evening?” He grinned as his friend threw up his hands, laughing as he did so.
“So you intend to turn the attentions upon myself rather than you,” Lord Dalton chuckled. “Very well, I shall not deny you. Indeed, I have a few young ladies, in mind,” he replied, shrugging as though it meant very little. “I have decided not to permit my experience with Lady Beatrice set me away from society.”
“That is good.”
“AndI have made a new acquaintance!” Waggling his eyebrows, Lord Dalton waited expectantly for Jonathan to ask him as to who this acquaintance might be and, after a few moments, Jonathan obliged.
“You may as well tell me who this acquaintance is, given that you are going to stand there and look at me in that expectant manner for as long as it takes me to do so,” he said, a hint of exasperation in his words. “Pray, who is she – for I assume it is a lady given the manner of your beaming countenance - and what is it that brings you such evident delight in her company?”
“Because she is exceptionally lovely,” came the reply, “andher brother is an old acquaintance of yours, I believe!”
For a moment, Jonathan did not know who Lord Dalton referred to, only to then recall that the only bright moment of this evening was knowing that Lord Dennington was to attend. Giving their correspondence, Jonathan was looking forward to seeing his friend again and hopeful that their discussions thereafter would be of great benefit to him.
“I – I did not recall Lord Dennington had a sister,” he replied, wondering if Lord Dennington had mentioned his sister in any of his letters. He was sure that Lord Dennington would have and that he himself, being so single minded at present, had simply forgotten it. “I am glad that you mentioned her to me, Dalton, else I might have made myself appear all the more ridiculous!” Studying his friend for a moment, Jonathan tilted his head. “Beautiful, you say?”
“Verymuch so,” came the warm reply. “I believe she was to make her debut two summers ago but circumstances prevented her. She is here now in London with her brother, however, and I am certain will be eager for a match given her absence from society these last two years.”
“Which you are to oblige her with?” Jonathan asked, chuckling at the way his friend’s eyes flared, his smile disappearing as he shook his head fervently. “No?”
Lord Dalton cleared his throat. “I am quite contented to be in the presence of beautiful young ladies but do not, as yet, have any intention to wed,” he declared, as though speaking to the entire room. “I will consider it but my sole intention is to further my acquaintances with many a young lady. If I were to even think of courtship, then it would be after much consideration and a long time in the lady’s company. You, however….?”
Laughing, Jonathan spread his hands. “I hardly think that Lord Dennington would be happy with a gentleman such as myself wedding his sister,” he replied, a trifle ruefully. Considering all that he had shared with the fellow, Jonathan was quite certain that Lord Dennington would not be happy to have Jonathan himself make a match with his sister, given his currently poor reputation in the eyes of theton. “Besides which, I am certain that the lady will have her choice of gentlemen, if she is as lovely as you say,” he finished, grandly. “Now, might you be obliging and point me in the direction of Lord Dennington? I should very much like to see him again.”
Thankfully, Lord Daltonwaswilling to be helpful and thus, Jonathan found himself led across the ballroom. His heart quickened just a little, glad that he would soon be reunited with his friend and hopeful that this meeting might be the beginning of a happier time here in London. The few letters they had exchanged had been helpful, with the latter being very encouraging indeed. Lord Dennington had told him firmlythat he was to do all he could to ignore the sharp looks from society, to rise above the whispers said about him and to express an amiability wherever he went. If someone riled him by their remarks or questions, he had to do his utmost not to respond with a harsh word or look but with a quiet dignity.
That had been a difficult thing to consider doing, however, and thus Jonathan had chosen to step back from society for a time, just until Lord Dennington would be back in London. Something about his friend’s presence – a friend who knew what he had endured and who had proven his friendship over many years – was a comfort and a support. Now that he was to speak with Lord Dennington, the evening had taken on a somewhat brighter tone.
“Ah, there he is! And the lady beside him is his sister.”
Jonathan looked to where Lord Dalton pointed, recognizing Lord Dennington at once. The man was just as he remembered him from Eton, albeit a few years older. His gaze moved to where Lord Dalton had directed him to Lord Dennington’s sister.
He did not know what he had expected, truth be told, for whilst Lord Dalton had declared the lady an exceptionally beautiful one, Jonathan had thought the man to be exaggerating for the sake of his pride. “She isquitelovely,” he murmured, as Lord Dalton chuckled.
“You see now why I was so very pleased with my new acquaintance?” Lord Dalton asked, puffing out his chest slightly. “She is quite the beauty!”
“Indeed,” Jonathan murmured, full of nothing but agreement. “Astonishingly so.”
The young lady, whose name he had yet to discover, was willowy in her figure, with dark curls cascading from where they had been pulled to the back of her head. They bounced gently as she laughed, her smile brightening her features all the more and making Jonathan’s brows lift with interest. He found himself atrifle jealous that Lord Dalton had already had the pleasure of being introduced to her whilst he was yet unknown to her!
You are meant to be seeking out the company of Lord Dennington.
A little ashamed of himself at how easily distracted he had become, Jonathan cleared his throat, clasped his hands behind his back and then gave Lord Dalton a quick smile.
“Thank you for obliging me,” he said firmly, ignoring the knowing smile on Lord Dalton’s lips. “I shall go and speak to Lord Dennington. It has been some time since we have last been in company and I am very glad to see him again.”
“And, no doubt, glad that he will introduce you to his sister!” came the reply, although Jonathan merely shrugged rather than respond with any sort of agreement. “I do hope that this evening brings you alittlemore enjoyment, Nottingham. Although, with Miss Jeffries as your new acquaintance, I am certain that you will find it so!”
Jonathan did not grace such a remark with a response, choosing to turn on his heel and make his way across the room towards Lord Dennington, trying to keep his eyes from the lady so that he would not become distracted by her. Thankfully, Lord Dennington caught his eye almost immediately, turning quickly with a broad smile on his face.
“Good evening, old friend!” he exclaimed, thrusting out one hand for Jonathan to shake though he was a little concerned by the paleness of Lord Dennington’s face. “Goodness, it has been some time, has it not?”
“You – you recognise me, then,” Jonathan replied, trying to hide his worry. “I am glad. It has been some time since we have been in company.”
“OfcourseI recognised you,” Lord Dennington broke in, slapping Jonathan hard on the shoulder as he grinned. “You have not changed a jot, old fellow. Whereas I, unfortunately,look a little more weather beaten than my days of Eton, no doubt!”
Jonathan chuckled, finding himself settling into Lord Dennington’s company with ease, as though they had been in company with each other only a day or two before rather than the many years which had spanned it. “Not at all,” he replied, as Lord Dennington laughed, clearly not fully accepting Jonathan’s response. “Although I was, of course, very sorry to hear of your father’s passing.”
