Page 5 of The Duke’s Reluctant Muse (The Untamed Nobles #3)

Two weeks later

Jonathan grimaced. The music did nothing to lift his spirits, the smiling ladies that surrounded him making him scowl all the more. He felt nothing but confusion and uncertainty, finding that the mediocre self-esteem he had once had now crumbled to nothing in the face of the ton . It was as though he could see every single eye watching him, as though he could hear their whispers as they spoke of him.

It is just as well that she is not present.

The scowl on his face darkened, recalling how he had made certain that she would not be in London at the same time as his return. The past rose up to remind him of what he had endured, of what he had been forced to confront.

And of what he had given up.

Not everyone is looking at me, he reminded himself, ambling slowly along the side of the ballroom rather than stepping out into the center. All of the young ladies, those as yet unattached, would be doing nothing other than seeing which eligible gentlemen were present this evening. No doubt they would all look at him at some point, their gazes roving over him – and then they would turn away, perhaps having heard of his dark character and absence from society, or of his foolishness in chasing one lady after the next, each of whom decided that they did not want to be his next consideration. One way or the other, he had certainly set most of society against him.

“Good evening, Your Grace.”

Forcing a smile to his lips that he did not really want to express, Jonathan turned, ready to greet whoever had spoken to him, only for his shoulders to drop at the sight of his friend. “Good evening, Dalton. I have not seen you in some time, though that is solely my doing.” He shrugged and looked away. “I have not been out in society very frequently of late.”

His friend studied him, his eyes sharp. “I understand. You are not in a good frame again this evening also,” he stated, making Jonathan all too aware of the grimace that still played about his mouth. “I hope I did not upset you too greatly at our last conversation.”

“No, no, you did not,” Jonathan replied, heaving a sigh. “I am sorry for how I responded to some of what you said. My thoughts have been very heavy of late.”

Thankfully, Lord Dalton smiled rather than choosing to give Jonathan a long and detailed explanation as to the injury he might have caused him by behaving in a less than typical manner. “I mayhap spoke a little harshly and frankly at times,” he answered, as Jonathan shook his head. “My thought was truly only to help you but I may well have been a little too blunt in how I went about it all.” He lifted one shoulder in a half shrug, his smile turning rueful. “It might be best for us not to speak on the matter again.”

“I will not shy away from anything you have to say,” Jonathan replied, firmly. “I am grateful for what you offered me, Dalton, truly.” It was in his mind to tell his friend that he had also written to his friend, Lord Dennington, but after a moment’s consideration, Jonathan chose not to do so. Lord Dalton did not need to know the full depths of his frustration and embarrassment and, Jonathan trusted that Lord Dennington would not speak of it to Lord Dalton – or to anyone else – of what he had written either.

“Now,” he continued, before his friend could speak. “Tell me, so that we do not speak of me. Are there any young ladies that have caught your eye this evening?” He grinned as his friend threw up his hands, laughing as he did so.

“So you intend to turn the attentions upon myself rather than you,” Lord Dalton chuckled. “Very well, I shall not deny you. Indeed, I have a few young ladies, in mind,” he replied, shrugging as though it meant very little. “I have decided not to permit my experience with Lady Beatrice set me away from society.”

“That is good.”

“ And I have made a new acquaintance!” Waggling his eyebrows, Lord Dalton waited expectantly for Jonathan to ask him as to who this acquaintance might be and, after a few moments, Jonathan obliged.

“You may as well tell me who this acquaintance is, given that you are going to stand there and look at me in that expectant manner for as long as it takes me to do so,” he said, a hint of exasperation in his words. “Pray, who is she – for I assume it is a lady given the manner of your beaming countenance - and what is it that brings you such evident delight in her company?”

“Because she is exceptionally lovely,” came the reply, “ and her brother is an old acquaintance of yours, I believe!”

For a moment, Jonathan did not know who Lord Dalton referred to, only to then recall that the only bright moment of this evening was knowing that Lord Dennington was to attend. Giving their correspondence, Jonathan was looking forward to seeing his friend again and hopeful that their discussions thereafter would be of great benefit to him.

“I – I did not recall Lord Dennington had a sister,” he replied, wondering if Lord Dennington had mentioned his sister in any of his letters. He was sure that Lord Dennington would have and that he himself, being so single minded at present, had simply forgotten it. “I am glad that you mentioned her to me, Dalton, else I might have made myself appear all the more ridiculous!” Studying his friend for a moment, Jonathan tilted his head. “Beautiful, you say?”

“ Very much so,” came the warm reply. “I believe she was to make her debut two summers ago but circumstances prevented her. She is here now in London with her brother, however, and I am certain will be eager for a match given her absence from society these last two years.”

“Which you are to oblige her with?” Jonathan asked, chuckling at the way his friend’s eyes flared, his smile disappearing as he shook his head fervently. “No?”

Lord Dalton cleared his throat. “I am quite contented to be in the presence of beautiful young ladies but do not, as yet, have any intention to wed,” he declared, as though speaking to the entire room. “I will consider it but my sole intention is to further my acquaintances with many a young lady. If I were to even think of courtship, then it would be after much consideration and a long time in the lady’s company. You, however….?”

Laughing, Jonathan spread his hands. “I hardly think that Lord Dennington would be happy with a gentleman such as myself wedding his sister,” he replied, a trifle ruefully. Considering all that he had shared with the fellow, Jonathan was quite certain that Lord Dennington would not be happy to have Jonathan himself make a match with his sister, given his currently poor reputation in the eyes of the ton . “Besides which, I am certain that the lady will have her choice of gentlemen, if she is as lovely as you say,” he finished, grandly. “Now, might you be obliging and point me in the direction of Lord Dennington? I should very much like to see him again.”

Thankfully, Lord Dalton was willing to be helpful and thus, Jonathan found himself led across the ballroom. His heart quickened just a little, glad that he would soon be reunited with his friend and hopeful that this meeting might be the beginning of a happier time here in London. The few letters they had exchanged had been helpful, with the latter being very encouraging indeed. Lord Dennington had told him firmly that he was to do all he could to ignore the sharp looks from society, to rise above the whispers said about him and to express an amiability wherever he went. If someone riled him by their remarks or questions, he had to do his utmost not to respond with a harsh word or look but with a quiet dignity.

That had been a difficult thing to consider doing, however, and thus Jonathan had chosen to step back from society for a time, just until Lord Dennington would be back in London. Something about his friend’s presence – a friend who knew what he had endured and who had proven his friendship over many years – was a comfort and a support. Now that he was to speak with Lord Dennington, the evening had taken on a somewhat brighter tone.

“Ah, there he is! And the lady beside him is his sister.”

Jonathan looked to where Lord Dalton pointed, recognizing Lord Dennington at once. The man was just as he remembered him from Eton, albeit a few years older. His gaze moved to where Lord Dalton had directed him to Lord Dennington’s sister.

He did not know what he had expected, truth be told, for whilst Lord Dalton had declared the lady an exceptionally beautiful one, Jonathan had thought the man to be exaggerating for the sake of his pride. “She is quite lovely,” he murmured, as Lord Dalton chuckled.

“You see now why I was so very pleased with my new acquaintance?” Lord Dalton asked, puffing out his chest slightly. “She is quite the beauty!”

“Indeed,” Jonathan murmured, full of nothing but agreement. “Astonishingly so.”

The young lady, whose name he had yet to discover, was willowy in her figure, with dark curls cascading from where they had been pulled to the back of her head. They bounced gently as she laughed, her smile brightening her features all the more and making Jonathan’s brows lift with interest. He found himself a trifle jealous that Lord Dalton had already had the pleasure of being introduced to her whilst he was yet unknown to her!

You are meant to be seeking out the company of Lord Dennington.

A little ashamed of himself at how easily distracted he had become, Jonathan cleared his throat, clasped his hands behind his back and then gave Lord Dalton a quick smile.

“Thank you for obliging me,” he said firmly, ignoring the knowing smile on Lord Dalton’s lips. “I shall go and speak to Lord Dennington. It has been some time since we have last been in company and I am very glad to see him again.”

“And, no doubt, glad that he will introduce you to his sister!” came the reply, although Jonathan merely shrugged rather than respond with any sort of agreement. “I do hope that this evening brings you a little more enjoyment, Nottingham. Although, with Miss Jeffries as your new acquaintance, I am certain that you will find it so!”

Jonathan did not grace such a remark with a response, choosing to turn on his heel and make his way across the room towards Lord Dennington, trying to keep his eyes from the lady so that he would not become distracted by her. Thankfully, Lord Dennington caught his eye almost immediately, turning quickly with a broad smile on his face.

“Good evening, old friend!” he exclaimed, thrusting out one hand for Jonathan to shake though he was a little concerned by the paleness of Lord Dennington’s face. “Goodness, it has been some time, has it not?”

“You – you recognise me, then,” Jonathan replied, trying to hide his worry. “I am glad. It has been some time since we have been in company.”

“Of course I recognised you,” Lord Dennington broke in, slapping Jonathan hard on the shoulder as he grinned. “You have not changed a jot, old fellow. Whereas I, unfortunately, look a little more weather beaten than my days of Eton, no doubt!”

Jonathan chuckled, finding himself settling into Lord Dennington’s company with ease, as though they had been in company with each other only a day or two before rather than the many years which had spanned it. “Not at all,” he replied, as Lord Dennington laughed, clearly not fully accepting Jonathan’s response. “Although I was, of course, very sorry to hear of your father’s passing.”

The laughter faded in an instant. “As I was to hear of yours,” came the reply. “I have my sister to aid me in the running of the estate, however. I am indebted to her, in fact. I do not know what I shall do when a handsome gentleman steals her away to be his bride! I shall be left confused and alone at my manor house, desperate to find some semblance of order and having no ability to do it!”

Miss Jeffries had turned her attention to her brother as he had spoken, her eyes warm and her lips in a gentle smile.

“You shall simply have to marry then also, brother,” she said, elbowing him gently as Lord Dennington winced in a most overt fashion before he grinned at his sister’s good-natured jesting. Her bright eyes turned to Jonathan. “Now, shall you do as you ought and introduce me to your friend?”

Again, her gaze turned towards Jonathan and he bowed quickly, even before the introductions had been made. The lady’s smile made her eyes sparkle and, with her gently flushed cheeks, Jonathan thought her very beautiful indeed.

She is Lord Dennington’s sister.

The warning took root in Jonathan’s heart and he did not allow himself to have any further thought about the lady. “How very good to meet you, Miss Jeffries,” he murmured, once Lord Dennington had finished the introductions.

“Delighted to make your acquaintance, Your Grace.” Miss Jeffries curtsied perfectly, lowering her gaze for just a moment before she smiled at him again. “My brother tells me that you were both great friends to each other back in Eton.”

“Then he is exaggerating, Miss Jeffries,” Jonathan replied, throwing a wry look towards Lord Dennington. “Lord Dennington was a much greater friend to me that I ever was to him. Even though he will deny it, I am certain that he knows it to be the truth.”

Lord Dennington chuckled. “Regardless, I am glad to see you again – and I hope I can be of further assistance!” he said, as Jonathan forced himself to tear his gaze away from Miss Jeffries. “You have not recovered as yet from your past difficulties and interactions, then?”

The statement brought a flush of heat to Jonathan’s cheeks as he cleared his throat, a little embarrassed to have been asked such a thing so directly and in front of Miss Jeffries also. Did she know of his situation? Had Lord Dennington told her?

“Tell me, Your Grace, is your estate very far from London?”

Jonathan frowned, a little confused as to what Miss Jefferies meant in changing the subject so dramatically.

“It must be very grand, I am sure. Do you have stables? My brother has the most excellent pair of greys which he is very proud of indeed!”

Blinking, it took Jonathan another moment to realize what Miss Jeffries was doing. Perhaps sensing – or maybe seeing – his embarrassment, she had sought to take it from him by asking him a question about something entirely unrelated. A glance at Lord Dennington told him that he was frowning in obvious confusion as well though, as his eyebrows lifted, Jonathan wondered if the Viscount had realized what he had done.

“Thank you for your question, Miss Jeffries. Yes, my estate is some three days journey from London – longer, if the roads have become impassable with rain and mud.”

“I do hope there are plenty of inns and the like you can reside in, should you come upon such difficulties.” The soft smile on her lips was a further balm to his embarrassment, and he looked back at her with a quick smile of his own.

“Indeed, there are. Though this is my first time in London in some years, Miss Jeffries. However, I made the journey without difficulty. Do you know how long you will be residing in London for?”

“That will be up to my brother,” Miss Jeffries answered him. Giving her brother a slightly severe look, which made Jonathan frown, she shook her head. “He is still recovering though and he is meant to be listening to me a good deal more than he is!”

“Recovering?” Jonathan looked from the lady to Lord Dennington. “From what, might I ask?”

Lord Dennington shook his head as though to dismiss the sharp look his sister sent him. “I have been having megrims for the last few months.”

“Ever since he has taken on the title,” Miss Jeffries added, putting a hand on her brother’s arm. “He did not say in any of his letters, I know.” Her eyes flashed to his for a moment and then looked away, a slight pink in her cheeks.

“I am sorry to hear it. Even though you mentioned you needed rest, I had not thought of an illness or so plaguing you.” Jonathan frowned. “Are you sure you ought to be in London? That does sound rather difficult.”

With a small shrug, Lord Dennington smiled just a little. “My physician has suggested that I shall recover a little more quickly amongst society. If I do not consider business and letters and the like and spend some time enjoying myself, then his hope is that the megrims will fade. It is merely a suggestion to see whether or not it brings me any relief.”

Jonathan nodded. “All the same, I am sorry to hear you have been unwell.” A slight flush of guilt captured his heart. “I do hope my letters have not made your megrims any more severe.”

“Oh no, indeed not!” Lord Dennington grinned broadly, glancing at his sister before spreading out his hands. “I will not always be as present in society as I am this evening, however. And I certainly will not always be able to speak as openly as I might like so should you desire to keep writing, then that might well be best.”

Jonathan clasped his hands behind his back, seeing how Miss Jeffries looked away, perhaps unaware of what they were speaking and showing that she had no desire to involve herself in her brother’s affairs. “Yes, I quite understand. Though I do hope these megrims are nothing overly serious.”

With a small lift of his shoulders, Lord Dennington sniffed. “It is only a pain in my head.”

At this, Miss Jeffries let out a small exclamation and then grasped her brother’s arm with one quick hand. “It is not merely a pain in your head, brother.” There was a flicker of something in her eye, something that Jonathan could not quite make out. “Let us not pretend, otherwise I will appear to be an overly cautious sister always seeking to curtail you! If you are to be truthful, then you would say that you are rendered practically unconscious by the pain.”

Jonathan’s eyebrows lifted.

“It can be a little trying.” Wincing, Lord Dennington set his hand over his sister’s. “She is quite right, of course. Your Grace, you will find that my sister always has my well-being at the forefront of her thoughts. She is truly better here than any physician might be.”

Jonathan looked toward the lovely young lady and saw the light flush coming to her cheeks. One side of her mouth lifted, however, a gleam coming into her eyes.

“As appreciative of your compliments as I am, brother, I am certain that you are doing so, simply to placate me, no? You do not want me to state the truth of your malady, despite the fact that you have promised I am to be the one to guide you.”

Lord Dennington chuckled, a rueful smile on his face. “You are quite right, my dear sister, though there is truth in everything I have said.” He put one hand to his heart and then looked to Jonathan. “My sister has done a great deal for me and I am hopeful that this Season will bring us both a sense of recovery.”

Jonathan nodded slowly. “You say that you are here in London to recover. I presume that means you are not yet back to your full strength?”

Lord Dennington’s lips pulled into a grim smile as his eyes flashed with frustration. “As much as I should like to see that I am well on my way to recovery, that I have not had another megrim, the truth is that I am still struggling with some fatigue and a lingering ache in my temples on occasion. No doubt I will have to rest tomorrow given my presence here this evening.”

“I think I shall insist upon it,” Miss Jeffries replied, her eyes filled with obvious concern as she looked at her brother, making Jonathan’s eyebrows lift at the clear worry she had for him. Perhaps Lord Dennington’s megrims were very severe indeed.

“I am sorry to hear that though I am very glad to see you again this evening It has been too long since I have been in good company.” He looked to Miss Jeffries. “And if there is anything that I am able to do in order to encourage your brother to do as you ask, then I shall do all that I can.” He let his lips quirk just as Miss Jeffries smiled, her eyes dancing with mirth.

“That is very good of you, Your Grace. I hope that I will not have to take you up on your offer but my brother has now heard your warning also, have you not, Dennington?”

Lord Dennington grinned. “I have. Thus, Nottingham, I am afraid that you will have a little less of my company this Season though, as I have said, I shall be very glad to write.” He gestured to his sister. “Given our last few letters, might I suggest that you ask my sister to converse with you whenever you wish to do so? She can pretend to be just as frustrating or as irritating as you might wish!”

Heat burst in Jonathan’s stomach, sending flames up his neck and into his face. How much had Lord Dennington told his sister? Was she already assessing him, thinking how much of a fool he was?

“The truth is, Your Grace, I should be very glad to practise conversation also.” The pink in her cheeks spread, darkening as Miss Jeffries’ eyes caught his and then looked away. “As you might be aware, this is my very first Season despite the fact I ought to have made my debut some years ago. Therefore, I am a little less polished when it comes to conversing with gentlemen in London.” She smiled briefly. “My brother says that you have been absent from society for a time also.”

Jonathan considered her. Her voice did not to speak of mockery though the warning from Lord Dalton began to ring through his mind. Did not all young ladies say and do what they did not truly mean? Indeed, Miss Jeffries did appear to be kind and considerate and he had no doubt that she was so to her brother, but could he truly believe that this was what she desired? That she would be willing to converse with a gentleman she did not know?

“I have, yes, but I do not think that I require practice.” He cleared his throat, finding Lord Dennington frowning though he did not say anything to Jonathan. “I am sure you will do very well, Miss Jeffries, and that you have nothing to concern yourself about. Lord Dalton has already told me of just how impressed he was with you and I must agree with him.”

“But of course.” The smile from Miss Jeffries was momentary and she did appear a little embarrassed, given the way her gaze dropped to the ground. “I am sure you are quite right, Your Grace.”

Turning his head, Jonathan saw anther gentleman and lady standing just behind him, clearly eager to speak to Lord Dennington. With a nod, he inclined his head. “I shall take my leave of you now, however. I can see that there are others eager to greet you, Dennington.” Hesitating, he kept his friend’s gaze. “Might I write to you again, if you are to be absent from society for a time?”

“But of course.” Lord Dennington’s gaze spoke of understanding and Jonathan turned away, relieved. He was glad that his friend had not said anything more to his sister though he did feel as though he had misstepped a little. Mayhap he ought to have taken Miss Jeffries’ offer of conversing with her for practice, though his brow furrowed at the thought. No doubt she might now think him a little rude and perhaps had even become a little embarrassed at his refusal – but Jonathan silently reminded himself that he could not help that. Whilst he was appreciative of all that Miss Jeffries had offered, he had to be a good deal more careful when it came to the young ladies of society for, he could never know what it was they truly felt in their heart.