Page 8 of Assisting Lord Richmond
“I’ve been searching for you, m’lord,” the rough man greeted, appearing furtive. Hugh grinned despite his irritation that Shawn would approach them so publicly. Shawn was one of his best couriers, most able to blend into the least savoury of environments, less capable of fitting into a Society location.
“What are you doing here, Shawn? You know you ought to meet me in the mews, not here for all to see.”
“But things have become urgent, m’lord. Seems to me you ought to be doing something about it, not dallying around with your fancy friends.”
Gilbert laughed, to Hugh’s relief.
“Is this the sort of thing I am to expect then, Richmond?”
Hugh nodded at his friend and watched as the other man stepped forward and introduced himself.
“It would probably be best if we were to acquaint ourselves with one another elsewhere. But I am Gilbert Northcott. I have plenty to learn. And you can probably help me with that.”
Relief flooded through Hugh at his friend’s acceptance of the situation in front of him. He had already been certain Gil Northcott was a good choice for the assignment, but it was reassuring to see that he hadn’t been wrong. It was a relief to Hugh that despite his distractions, his good judgment of character was standing in good stead. In fact, it was somewhat surprising that the Home Office hadn’t seen Northcott’s potential and approached him themselves previous to this. Not that it mattered. He had agreed, and he was now in a position to solve Hugh’s main dilemma. Now Hugh could carry on with the business of being Viscount of Richmond.
Not that he actually desired the role.
But what else was there for him to do? He couldn’t repudiate his inheritance. This was not how he had foreseen his life turning out, but most would envy him. He knew he was being ridiculous to lament the turn of events.
Besides the immense grief he felt at losing both his brother and father in one fell swoop, though, he was also grieving the loss of the life he had loved. The life of an agent for the Home Office had perfectly suited him. And now he would have to learn to take his Seat in Parliament and all that would entail. He was again relieved that he had at least been taught plenty about the estate as a boy so it wouldn’t be the worst thing ever. It just wasn’t what he had wanted.
His watchful gaze noted that the passing gentry was eyeing him and his strange choice of companions. One lady in particular, Hugh could tell, was trying to hide her interest, but there was avid curiosity glowing in the gaze that kept darting back and forth between her destination and him.
It was Lady Ellen. She was far too intelligent for his good. He would have to take his leave of the others as soon as possible to mitigate any damage.
Chapter Five
Just as she was almost to her own front door, Ellen frowned as she turned her head at hearing her name hailed from the bottom of the stairs. She had just walked home from leaving Lady Constance at her front entry. Her maid had left her to run an errand, explaining they were in desperate need of new ribbon. Ellen had allowed herself to become consumed by her thoughts once she was finally alone and was therefore unprepared to hear from Hugh. Almost as though her thoughts had conjured the man. It was most disconcerting.
“Good afternoon!”
Lord Richmond seemed far more jovial than she had ever seen him in recent years.
“Good afternoon, my lord. I am surprised to see you so quickly.”
“So quickly?”
Ellen’s frown deepened. He appeared to have no idea what she was talking about.
“Yes, I just saw you in the Park. I wouldn’t have thought to see you at all, but certainly not this soon as I just saw you.”
“Did you, now?” Richmond returned her frown. “Do you have a moment that we might talk in private?”
“That is hardly seemly, my lord, but you’d best come into the house. It won’t do for us to be bandying words here on the front stoop.”
He bounded up the stairs toward her, agile and light upon his feet. Ellen was momentarily distracted by his attractive presence. But she was even more shocked by his seeming desperation to speak with her.
Suddenly, the one thing she had been putting from her mind since she had found out he would be in Town could no longer be pushed aside or forgotten. She had tried to forget. Oh how she had tried. But now, for no explicable reason, all Ellen could think of in that moment wasthe kiss. The only kiss she had ever experienced. And it was from the very skilled lips of the handsome man currently towering over her. Uncharacteristic anger swept through her.
“What do you want, Richmond?” She didn’t care how rude she sounded. She wasn’t going to tolerate his nonsense. She was in Town to find her match, and she would hopefully be able to leave again quite quickly. She needn’t see Hugh, Viscount of Richmond, any more than absolutely necessary. Ellen questioned her sanity for a brief moment. What had she been thinking when she had actually put Hugh on her list of potential mates? It was obvious he was not for her. She was relieved she had already crossed him off.
“Could we speak privately, El? It’s important.”
“That’s Lady Eleanor to you, my lord, and as I already told you, it’s a dreadful idea for us to seek private speech.”
“You hate being called Eleanor, so I’m not about to start that. And I swear I shan’t compromise you. You can fetch a servant, and we can leave the door open, but it’s most urgent that I speak with you without all and sundry being privy to the topic of our discussion.”
“You swear you shan’t compromise me, do you? I don’t see how I can believe that,” she tossed back at him even as she preceded him into the cheery front receiving room that was just off the entranceway they were currently arguing in. Ellen wasn’t even certain how they had gotten there from the stairs, as she had no recollection of the necessary steps.
