Page 25 of Defying the Earl
“I thought to come in with you as we need to make some plans with my aunts as to when to visit Parliament and the theatre, as well as the dinner party I am to host.”
“Ah yes, of course.”
Once again her tone was a little cool and dismissive making Nathan long to know what she was thinking. Before he could demand an explanation, though, the butler was holding the door for them and Beatrice hurried up the steps away from him, leaving Nathan to follow quickly in her wake.
“Lady Frampton and Lady Charlotte will see you in the green room, my lady, Lord Braxton.” The very proper older servant bowed respectfully, but his tone brooked no argument. Nathan watched as Beatrice smiled at the butler and did as he had bidden. He tried not to think about how attractive he found her. He just needed to get through the next few days, perhaps a se’en-night, and he could be free of this obligation for the time being. He could not allow her to worm her way into his affections. Notthat she was trying, he admonished himself even as he followed her into his aunts’ presence.
Again the time slipped away painlessly. Seemingly within moments he was back outside climbing into his curricle with the rest of his courtship of Lady Beatrice scheduled and planned. Starting with a trip to Parliament on the morrow. Nathan was surprised at the amount of anticipation he felt over that particular excursion.
But despite how much he was enjoying his sham courtship, there were still other things he needed to take care of, including that ridiculous situation in Upper Canada. He would swing by his club to see if certain people were present.
The government in Upper Canada was getting too cosy. Some senior members of the bureaucracy had somehow managed to get overlapping appointments in the executive and legislative councils. They were, of course, using these powerful positions to extend their business and speculative interests. Not their Sovereign’s interests. That was Nate’s, and of course the Home Office’s, primary concern. But he had also met some very fine people while he was living in that wild new province who deserved better than to be dominated by these upstarts trying to create their own aristocracy and dominate their fellow citizens.
Nathan couldn’t leave them or that new province to flounder into chaos or totalitarianism. Even the King didn’t have such all-encompassing powers as those foolish men were trying to claim.
A glance around the club, though, didn’t really demonstrate to him that anyone present would be in full support of trying to lessen any man’s power. If anything, the club was the location where they all sought to curry extra power for themselves. But they weren’t all of an autocratic bent. He would find someone.
An hour and a half later, with relief, Nathan escaped from Whites and hurried home. He still had to change and arrive at the ball for which he had accepted an invitation. He wouldn’t be unforgivably late, but he certainly couldn’t be a no show.
One more thing still needed to be done.
“Charles,” Nathan called as he noisily made his way into the house, his haste making him clumsier than usual.
“My lord?” the secretary called from the small room where he had set himself up to conduct his employer’s business.
“Oh good, you’re still here, I thought you might have left for the day.”
“I haven’t anything scintillating waiting for me in my rooms, my lord,” Charles began blandly. “And the new steward sent up a report I was examining as carefully as I could before handing it to you.”
“Excellent, thank you,” Nathan began, not really paying attention. “I have something else I need you to work on.” He seemed to catch himself and wave a hand. “Not immediately, of course. It’s not terribly urgent. But as soon as you can make time for it, if you please.”
“Of course, what is it?”
Nathan appreciated his young secretary’s eagerness for investigations. Charles had been with him since he was a mere Mister, working at his side on some of his work for the Home Office. Nathan had been both delighted and relieved when Charles had agreed to accompany him into this new role.
“I need you to find out everything you can about my aunts’ companion, Lady Beatrice.” He paused for a moment before adding, “You will have to begin with finding out what the chit’sname actually is. I don’t think she is any kind of mine. But I have no recollection of how she ended up in my aunts’ employ.”
Charles appeared slightly confused by the request but merely nodded and returned to his desk to make a note.
“Very well, I will get on it as soon as I’ve concluded that other matter.”
“Thank you,” Nathan began. “But really, you ought to be off by now. Have you been fed?”
“Have no fear, my lord, your staff takes excellent care of me.” He paused with a gentle smile and a small bow. “I will be off, then, and carry on with things tomorrow again.”
“Good night, Charles.”
Nathan hurried upstairs for the not so gentle ministrations of his valet. The disgruntled servant was far more diligent about timeliness than Nathan had ever been and so he was put out that Nathan was running behind.
“How would you feel if it was your ball, my lord? Wouldn’t you want to be able to leave off greeting the stragglers and go dance?”
“Not terribly,” Nathan answered drily.
“Well, you know what I mean, my lord. You wouldn’t want to be standin’ there all the live long night.”
“No, I see what you’re saying. And I will apologize profusely as soon as I arrive. So why don’t you hurry along rather than sitting there jawing at me, Francis?”
“My lord!” Francis exclaimed, horrified. “I would never so abuse your trust by jawing at you.”
