Page 20 of Two of a Kind
He gritted his teeth. As he saw it, he had two choices before him. Either turn and walk out the front door, and deal with the repercussions of his actions, or stay and put his own private concerns about this impending marriage to one side.
Tearing himself away from them wouldn’t do Leah any good. It may even make things worse. If Guy thought that James had severed their friendship because of his new bride, he may well blame her.
By remaining within the sphere of friendship, there was the remote chance that he may be able to temper Guy’s treatment of his new bride, perhaps even be a positive influence. The Guy he thought he knew may not have been that far from the surface. A good friend may be just what the newlyweds needed. He could be that friend for both of them, but especially for Leah.
He felt something for her; he no longer doubted that fact. Yet he daren’t entertain the possibility that it might be more than just a little crush. They barely knew one another, but every time he looked at Leah, his heart thumped in his chest and his mouth went dry.
Watching as the newly engaged couple made their way through the throng of well-wishers, he was torn as to what he should do. Turning back to Caroline, he studied her for a moment then did the one thing he knew he could. “About Derbyshire,” he ventured.
“Yes?”
“I will speak to Uncle Charles first thing tomorrow. If he can spare me, then I will come with you and Francis to Newhall Castle.”
“Excellent. Francis will be pleased. I think he was worried that he was going to be stuck with all the maiden aunts who are coming as chaperones for the other young ladies. Now at least we shall have a small group for hunting,” replied Caroline.
As soon as he had spoken to Charles Saunders and hopefully gotten his blessing, he would stock up on paints and oils for the trip north. In the clear air of the English countryside, away from the hubbub of London, he would be able to paint and think. The soothing rhythm of brush on canvas had always given him clarity of mind. Right now, James badly needed to clear his head and make some hard decisions.
At the end of his time away from London, he promised himself he would have a settled on a position on the question of Leah. Either he would stand by her through trying to influence Guy, or he would sever all ties.
The sword of Damocles surely hung over his head. Should he do all he could to support the woman who had captured his heart? Or was it better to accept the situation and walk away? Either way he chose, he would be left with a broken heart.
Chapter Fourteen
“Of course, I told him I will be back in time for the wedding.”
Guy had not been the least bit happy with James upon hearing that his best man was heading off to Derbyshire for a week. They had exchanged brief but firm words; Guy only finally being placated by James’s solid reassurance that he would be back in London in time to host Guy’s debaucherously wild stag party.
“Guy cannot expect you to hang around London just because he is getting married. Besides, most of the work is being done by the Shepherd family and friends. Lord knows I have been signed up for what seems an endless number of tasks just because I am Leah’s friend,” replied Claire.
James was keen to avoid getting caught up any further in Guy’s wedding plans. The groom had given him a long list of entertainments he expected to have laid out for him on the occasion of his pre-wedding celebrations, several of which made James feel ill. There were one or two on the list that he wasn’t sure he could arrange without getting arrested for crimes against the public good. As a stint in prison would not go down well with his father, James had crossed them off.
His opinion of his friend had now officially reached its lowest point. James could quite easily have ended his long friendship with Guy at this stage and walked away without regret. He remained only because of his concern for Leah.
“Speaking of Leah, how is she holding up? She didn’t appear very happy at the betrothal party,” he replied.
Claire fell silent for a time. “She says it is just pre-wedding nerves. Her parents decided upon Guy as her future husband, and she told me that it is taking a little time to get things straight in her mind. That is all.”
James wanted to press his sister further on the subject of Leah, but the arrival of a Fulham Palace servant in the doorway of the Radley family sitting room put paid to that notion.
“Miss Leah Shepherd,” he announced.
Claire shot her brother a quick look. “Don’t say anything about her being reluctant to marry Guy. She needs our support, not your sympathy.”
Leah stepped into the room, stopping mid-stride when she saw James getting to his feet.
He bowed to her. “Good morning.”
“Oh, I am sorry. Am I disturbing you?” she said.
James shook his head. “No, Claire and I were just discussing my plans to go to Derbyshire later this week. I am accompanying my cousins Caroline and Francis to Lord Newhall’s house party.”
“Yes, Guy made mention of it,” Leah replied.
Claire rose from her seat on the comfy brown sofa. “I have those fabric samples you lent me earlier this week. Let me go and get them. I shan’t be long.”
Claire hurried from the room, leaving Leah and James alone.
“Please have a seat,” he said.
