Page 44 of Scandalous Nights With the Earl

‘Oh, do not worry on my account. Society is boring me to death of late so at least this evening might be a more interesting one than most.’

They’d moved away from the reception line into the body of the main room now and Phillip could hear whispers around them, Oliver’s name mentioned more than once. That was the incident he could not refute and he wouldn’t either, for the shame of his actions still hung in every part of him.

Catching Wilhelmina’s anxiety, he tried to alleviate it.

‘We shall slay them one by one. Just wait and see.’

‘Like dragons?’

They both smiled as a Society doyen glided over looking a little like one.

‘You have been in the wars, Elmsworth. It is the talk of the town.’

‘Leaving White’s early in the evening is a dangerous past-time these days, Lady Kensington.’

‘I do believe you are right. I have said to my husband there should be more constabulary on the streets but the city is too poor to afford them.’ She turned then to Wilhelmina.

‘You are looking remarkably well tonight, Mrs St Claire. A lack of feathers and your hair down suits you. Have you changed your lady’s maid?’

A backhanded compliment delivered with perfect timing, Phillip thought, and saw a spark of irritation in Wilhelmina’s eyes.

When the woman’s husband and sister-in-law also joined them the conversation included the mention of Oliver’s name and he knew what was coming next.

‘Have you seen your brother since you have returned?’ Lord Kensington asked this.

‘I have. His estate lies only thirty minutes from my own.’

‘A cordial visit, then? We had heard things have been more than difficult between you. I hope you left your hand-piece at home this time.’

The gloves were off, just as he’d known they would be. Kensington was not a man to beat around the bush.

‘I think family matters are better left discussed by the family. My brother would probably feel the same.’

Wilhelmina now joined the conversation. ‘I know Esther and Oliver were hoping you might return last Christmas, LordElmsworth. I heard that they were most disappointed when you did not arrive.’

‘Well, I am back now and I hope this year we might celebrate the season together.’

‘It’s such a lovely time, isn’t it? I remember as a child in Winchester my father would find pine boughs and bring them inside, and the smell was so memorable. We would scour the woods around the town to find the greenest, freshest specimen and he would make sure I knew all the names of the insects we found on the branches.’

Phillip wondered at her great stream of words but he knew what she was doing; shifting attention and calming the waters. Lord Holland and his wife ambled over next, even as Kensington continued his criticism.

‘Your father would be turning in his grave at the way you are behaving, Elmsworth. If the mores of Society are not upheld in the best way possible the whole thing will collapse, you do realise that?’

‘Oh, indeed I do, but I doubt the footpads outside of White’s have heard that message.’

‘You were at White’s before you were attacked?’ Lord Alfred Holland asked this.

‘I was. The barkeep had warned me before I left of recent worrying incidents but I had no idea how brazen an attack might be.’

‘Then I am glad to hear you fought them off. Perhaps a turn at a London boxing studio might not go amiss?’

‘I will keep that in mind.’

Others listening in began to look less alarmed and angry and Phillip was grateful knowing that it only took a few moments for gossip to circulate in a Society ballroom. Already he could see a change in the mood.

When Ben and Sarah Harcourt and the Duggans joined them it all became easier again, being a group of people who buffered them, in a sense, from the others. Could it really be this simple? Taking a sip of wine, Phillip smiled at Lady Duggan standing nearby.

‘When my niece had problems after the dissolution of her first engagement it was your brother who stepped in and rescued her, Lord Elmsworth.’ Her words were quiet. ‘Everyone needs a saviour now and then. Even you, I suspect. As Esther is my treasured niece, I consider you as part of my family and I was most pleased to see you at our masquerade ball the other week. You came as Hades, did you not?’