Page 7 of Defying the Earl
It frustrated him that no one could understand that. Everyone thought he must be rejoicing over inheriting the title. He had never felt terribly close to either his father or his brother, but how could anyone think he would rejoice over something that had resulted from their untimely deaths? Besides the fact that it felt as though he were playacting.
The role of earl was not one he was comfortable putting on. He missed the wilds. They felt more civilized than the so called civilized Society of the upper spheres of theton, that was for certain.
Nathan had come to no conclusions by the time sleep finally claimed him, save for one. He would have to call on his aunts the next day. Even if he didn’t tell Bea what had happened, he ought to warn the older ladies to watch out for her.
Much to his dismay, he was flooded with anticipation when he awoke the next morning, ready to visit his aunts and their lovely companion. Beatrice was not for him, so he shouldn’t be so eager to see her. It would only lead to trouble, he was sure. But trouble had already found him, so he needed to make sure it didn’t hurt her any more than he already had in the past.
Despite his eagerness, his heart was heavy as he made his preparations for the visit, taking particular care with his appearance and driving himself and his valet to distraction. He was not normally a fop. Neither of them were prepared for such behaviour.
“I apologize, Miles,” Nathan finally said to his personal servant. “I must have slept strangely last night or perhaps I’vebeen spending too much time amongst theton. Don’t leave my employ based on this wretched morning.”
The valet’s usually stoic expression broke into a smile at his employer’s words. “It would take more than a few crumpled neckcloths to send me packing, my lord. But I appreciate the apology even if I don’t believe the explanation.”
“You doubt my word?” Nathan was both amused and surprised.
“Doubt might not be the right word, my lord,” Miles countered drily. “I’m sure you don’t even believe what you said. You’ve often associated with any number of strange creatures in the past. It has never caused you to act like them.”
Nathan couldn’t argue with the servant over that. It was true. As an agent, there was no end to the sorts of people he had rubbed shoulders with. And while he had, on occasion, seen the necessity to adopt certain behaviours or attitudes based on his investigations, that had never come home with him in quite the same way as he was trying to claim that morning. But he would never admit that he was nervous to call on Lady Beatrice.
His mind kept insisting on recalling the last time they had seen each other, prior to the ball last night. It had been a little more than two years ago. Nathan had been invited to a cousin’s house out in Kent. A cousin’s very large house which said cousin had filled to the brim with guests. Nathan had never been to a house party that threatened to be a crush. He had not anticipated enjoying the agreed upon several days he had promised to remain there. But then he had made the acquaintance of his aunts’ paid companion and everything else had faded from existence.
She was the most beautiful young woman he had ever laid eyes upon, which was a strange thing because she wasn’t so verydifferent from every other young woman in form or appearance. Nathan suspected it was the sharp intelligence that was clearly evident in her watchful gaze. He still wasn’t sure what had taught her such watchfulness, although he suspected it stemmed from her unfortunate circumstances. One couldn’t be overly relaxed in a position such as hers and succeed at it, he didn’t suppose.
Some gentlemen might not find intelligence so attractive in a woman, but for Nate it was the ultimate quality he searched for in any companion. Added to that she had a pleasant sense of humour and a surprising ability not to take anything too seriously. Or rather she had done so when they had been previously acquainted. But from what he had seen of her last night, she had perhaps lost that special ability.
There was no avoiding the fact that last night she had taken everything very seriously, right down to collecting his aunts’ punch. Nathan wondered what had changed.
Of course, two years had passed. That was enough to change a person. Perhaps she was disappointed to still be unwed. His aunts had made cursory expressions about finding her a husband, but he was nearly certain they wouldn’t have put much effort into such an endeavour, as it would leave them without a companion. But the girl should have been married. It was terrible to think of her dwindling into old maid status with only his aunts to watch out for her.
What would become of her in the future when his aunts passed? What a precarious existence for a young woman to contemplate. Nathan sighed anew. It would be his responsibility to ensure she was provided for, he supposed. He ought to have his secretary look into her particulars. Nathan made a mental note to do so at his earliest opportunity but in the meantime, he had to go and brave facing the lady herself.
Of course, it was far too early for morning calls just yet, as it was still actually morning, so Nathan stopped by his club to see what he could hear about other matters of concern. It was a couple hours later when he was announced into his aunts’ withdrawing room.
“Lord Braxton to see you my ladies,” the elderly butler announced formally, making Nathan have to bite his lip to hide his amusement. He was only an earl, not a terribly important personage. But he supposed, he was the head of his extended family and even the servants would recognize the importance of his position.
“Oh, how lovely,” Lady Charlotte declared, starting to flutter, while Lady Frampton nodded to the butler in a significant manner that made Nathan think there was likely to be refreshments presented shortly.
“What a surprise,” Charlotte said before asking, “Did we know you were coming?”
Nathan suspected his aunt enjoyed appearing more brainless than she truly was. He couldn’t imagine what she thought it might accomplish, but he wasn’t going to dispute it with her as the only way to ask would actually be to insult her.
“I was disappointed not to have had the opportunity to get much of a visit in with you last night when I realized you were at the same ball as I was, so I determined to call upon you today.”
“Lovely,” Charlotte declared once more before summoning her companion who had managed to blend in with the woodwork for the briefest moment. “Bea, dear, come forward and greet our dear Nathan. And you must join us for some tea.”
Nathan wasn’t sure if the command regarding tea was directed at himself or Lady Beatrice, but it didn’t much matter. The expression upon the companion’s face led him to believeshe would rather drink tar than share a cup of tea with him. But he was equally certain that she would rather cut out her own tongue than gainsay his aunt. It amused him to watch the warring reactions traipse across her face for a moment before she smoothed out her features and hid her thoughts from him. She still hadn’t said a word despite Charlotte’s command that she greet their guest.
She did, however, dip into a curtsy, not a terribly deep one, but it expressed the required politeness. Nate wouldn’t have thought one could make a statement with a curtsy, but he would have been wrong in that assumption, clearly. He again had to stifle his desire to burst into laughter. The woman was a gem. But she wasn’t for him, he reminded his obstinate heart.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you again, Lady Beatrice,” Nathan finally said in a blandly, polite tone. “I trust you have been well since last we met.”
For the briefest moment Nathan thought the girl was going to laugh, and he shared her amusement. She likely wondered if he meant their meeting the night before or two years previously. He elaborated.
“I have exchanged infrequent correspondence with my aunts during my absence from Great Britain, but I haven’t heard a single word from you. How have you fared?”
It seemed to have been the wrong thing to ask, although he wasn’t sure why. Her expression turned cold and closed in the blink of her pretty eyes.
“I have been well, my lord, thank you,” she finally said with almost no inflection in her tone.
