Page 104

After perusing the ladies in attendance, Portia decided it was best for her to retreat into the background and simply observe.

It was what she was best at, and besides, no one appeared to take any notice of her.

Since arriving in Town, it had been thus.

She wasn’t elegant like the beautifully attired Miss Keate, who had attracted several admirers so far.

And she certainly wasn’t pretty like Miss Lillian.

And her paltry dowry could not compare to those of the twin daughters of Lord Dunn.

No, she really had nothing to offer a prospective husband but herself, and she highly doubted her intelligence was seen as an asset to most.

Time passed in slow measures before Lord Sutton entered and invited the ladies to join the unveiling. A few abandoned their places, but most—including her half-sister and niece—stayed put and continued on with their conversations.

Before too long, everyone interested was gathered in Lord Sutton’s library. Just the room itself was a highlight of the evening with its impressive two-story windows, large floor to ceiling bookcases, and several enticing configurations of seating on which to pass the hours.

“Thank you for joining me this evening. I am most pleased to present two pieces of art. The first…” his words trailed as he slowly lifted the white Holland cloth, revealing a simple mahogany cabinet.

“A map cabinet worthy of holding some of my most rare charts, and the second…” He stepped in front of the cabinet and pulled out the top drawer.

Portia could not see what was revealed, but by the ohs and ahs, it must be impressive.

“It’s a print of Orbis Terrae Compendiosa Descriptio ,” one of the gentlemen said to the woman next to him.

“What does that mean?” the lady questioned.

A Compendious Description of Earth, Portia thought to herself.

A moment later, the gentleman confirmed her translation.

“I still don’t understand,” the lady replied, and then, with a huff, retreated from the room. But not before airing her grievances. “Why I agreed to give up an evening at the opera is beyond me.”

Several of the group laughed at her admission before the conversation turned to Lord Sutton’s other passion, goblets.

Portia learned from Lady Sutton that, over the years, her husband had collected more than two hundred of them from all over the world, and was most excited to show off some of his latest acquisitions from Venice.

“I would be most honored to view your collection,” Lord Roberts said. It was the only encouragement Lord Sutton needed.

Portia withheld the chuckle brimming on her lips as she watched the gentlemen practically skip out of the room. Other guests followed more slowly, leaving her alone and blissfully happy.

Without everyone crowding around the map cabinet, she was able to inspect the simple, yet very elegant piece. The craftsmanship was exquisite. All along the top rim were etched symbols from various cultures. She recognized a few from some of her father’s books.

Tears stung the corner of her eyes as thoughts of her dearest papa flooded her memory. They would spend hours, looking at maps, charting courses to far-off places, and just enjoying each other’s company. Some of her happiest memories were spent with him in his library.

“Thinking about your father’s collection?” The familiar warm voice of an old friend touched her heart. She turned and came face to face with Titus.

She didn’t want to argue. She didn’t want to know why he’d held her so intimately when she’d cried last night.

And she most certainly did not want to know why he didn’t know it was her whom he’d kissed at the masquerade.

All she truly wanted at that moment was his friendship that she so desperately missed.

“Yes.” A sad giggle brushed past her lips as remembrances from long ago edged to the present.

“What are you thinking?” He seemed to always know when something was on her mind.

“About the time my father got so upset—well, upset at first—when I hid biscuits in one of his map drawers,” she said as laughter bubbled to the surface.

Titus’s own rich, robust laughter collided with hers. “I remember that. You told him that you often got hungry while spending time in the library and didn’t want to disrupt your learning with a visit to the kitchen.”

“Yes, and after that, he always made certain a tray of biscuits was readily available.” She hoped that one day, when she had a home of her own, she would be able to continue that tradition, passing it on to her children.

“Your cook made the best biscuits,” Titus said. “Those were wonderful times.”

She’d never heard such nostalgia in his voice before, granted that it had been a long time ago since they’d talked like this. Too long. They used to talk for hours, sharing all sorts of ideas and dreams.

The sadness that she’d always managed to keep at bay crept into her heart. “I miss him so much.”

“I understand. I miss him, too, and my father, and the friendship they shared,” Titus said as he glanced at the open map drawer, clearly wrapped up in the memory.

His confession took her aback. “You… you miss my father?”

Titus looked at her directly, his green eyes full of such sincerity that it made her heart constrict.

“He was an exceptional man, who raised an equally exceptional daughter.” He took in a long, deep breath.

“I should not have got so upset with you. I’m glad I now know the truth of what happened on that last visit to the Oaks residence. ”

“I would never do anything to bring you anger or harm.” She meant every word. Titus was her dearest friend. In so many ways, her only true friend.

“I understand that now.” Even though his tone was apologetic, it seemed as if he was holding something back.

“I’m glad you do.” She, too, had so much she wanted to say, but their friendship was fragile.

So much time had passed. She’d overstepped the boundary once, and didn’t want to risk it again.

“I… I should return to…” She was about to say her half-sister, but she truly did not want to rejoin that party. “I should just return.”

Titus stepped in front of her, halting her progress. “I thought about your request and I will aid you. No one should be forced to marry someone they do not care about.”

Surprise was too mild a word. For the first time since Judith had informed her of Lord Webber’s intentions, Portia felt as if she had hope for an alternate match. She inhaled deeply and released a long sigh of relief. Perhaps she could have a happy future. “I… I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t decided how to get you out of that arrangement Lady Oaks concocted.”

“Judith has a knack for creating difficult situations,” Portia confessed, then clamped her lips tight. The age-old fear crept back up her spine. Walls had ears and she could not risk Judith’s wrath. She brought her fingertips to her lips, then said, “I should not have said that.”

“Your secret is safe with me, my Portia.”

My Portia .

A little sparkle from the past fluttered into the present. She’d always loved that endearment.

A deline ensured that no one disrupted her nephew and Portia’s conversation in the library.

After all the guests had left to view the goblets, she returned, hoping to issue an invitation to Portia to join her and Flora to go shopping without Lady Oaks’s interference.

She truly did not care for the woman and suspected she’d not had the best of intentions with regard to Portia.

She’d heard some rumors that Lady Oaks was trying to secure an engagement to Lord Webber, one of her husband’s business partners. She now knew those rumors to be true.

She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop on such an intimate conversation, but she was glad that she had. Titus was correct when he’d said no one should be forced to marry. But sometimes, a man needed a little nudge in the right direction to notice what had been in front of him all along.