Page 11 of Courting the Earl
That wasn’t what he wanted to hear. Things would be much easier if Appleby were more prone to acting before he thought things through.
“When was this? The last time I saw you, you seemed to be content dancing.” One of those women with whom he’d danced had been Eleanor. He couldn’t say why that had bothered him. It wasn’t as though he had any say when it came to her dance partners.
“I tired of it long before the supper dance. It became quite tedious trying to avoid all the young women debuting this year who are desperate to wed. There’s far more fun to be had with the older women who are more open to other arrangements. But enough about me. How did things go with you?”
He shrugged. “I stayed until the end.”
Holbrook frowned. “Good God, man, don’t make me pull it out of you. What happened? You were still skulking about the edges of the room when I quit the field.”
He tsked. “Abigail didn’t tell me you were such a gossip.”
One corner of Holbrook’s mouth rose. “It’s not gossip if I’m asking the person directly for information. Now spill the details.”
Geoffrey shook his head. “There isn’t much to tell. I spoke to people and I danced a few times.”
“They’re already calling Miss Lydia Pearson the diamond of the season. Did you dance with her more than once?”
Geoffrey let out a frustrated breath. “By the time I made it round to her, I was hoping all her dances had already been spoken for. But she saved the supper dance for me.”
“She was that sure of you then?”
“She honestly didn’t see me until I approached. She was so busy with her other admirers. I was amazed to find her and her cousin alone for a brief moment.”
“But she saved the supper dance for you. That’s an announcement to others that you hold a preferential place in her esteem.”
His lips twisted to the side. “If I’d waited twenty more minutes, she would have given someone else that honor. She only waited that long because her mother had instructed her to leave that dance open for me.”
A footman approached then, and their conversation halted as they both asked for coffee. More people were arriving at the club, so he wasn’t sure how much longer they’d be able to continue this conversation. He didn’t want anyone overhearing them. Appleby had said that Lydia didn’t want people to know about their betrothal until the end of the season. That gave Geoffrey a few months to find a way out of it.
They waited as the footman poured their drinks and then moved off to the group still sitting by the bow window, the members of which were becoming increasingly boisterous. From the snippets he could overhear, it had to do with one of the bills that had been introduced to the House of Lords. He should be paying more attention to such matters, but his upcoming marriage was consuming all his thoughts.
Holbrook drank from his cup before continuing with his quest to uncover every detail about the evening. “Was she glad to see you?”
He shrugged. “From what I could tell, she showed me no preference.”
“And how does that make you feel? Any second thoughts about ending the betrothal?”
“I feel deuced relieved. It means there’s an excellent chance someone else can lure her away from me. And as you saw, many are willing to try.”
Holbrook shook his head. “Do you know why Appleby is so set on this match? No offense, and heaven knows you outrank me as an earl, but Miss Pearson would have no difficulty securing a marquess or a duke.”
“I’ve wondered the same thing, so I paid my solicitor another visit.”
“And?”
Geoffrey leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “I believe it has to do with land. It isn’t outright specified in the betrothal agreement, but I learned that several years ago, Appleby sold off most of his unentailed land to my father.”
“That would be it then. It sounds like Appleby wanted to secure as much as he could for future generations. Since he doesn’t have a male heir, everything will go to someone else.”
He nodded. “That’s what I figure as well. He sold off the property that wasn’t tied up to my father with the understanding that his daughter will marry me. He could therefore keep as much as he could for his direct descendants.”
Holbrook frowned. “And your solicitor didn’t tell you this back when he told you about the betrothal agreement?”
Geoffrey resisted the urge to bark out a bitter laugh. “No. It appears the man is still loyal to carrying out my father’s wishes.”
“You need a new solicitor. I can give you the name of mine.”
He nodded. “I’ll be looking into that soon. I don’t need another person in my life trying to control what I do.”
