Page 14

I should never have accepted the offer to play cards. Then I would not be getting the cut direct from so many.

Walking through the drawing room of Lord Pleasance’s townhouse, Phillip kept his head high and did his best to ignore the sharp glances that were being sent his way.

Some had given him the cut direct, turning their head sharply away and making it very clear indeed that they wanted nothing whatsoever to do with him.

He was quite sure that this was due to his choice to play cards and the subsequent delirium that had come thereafter, angry with himself for his own foolish choices.

“My friend.”

Relieved, Phillip greeted Lord Fairchild. “Good evening, Fairchild.”

His friend’s eyebrows lifted. “You have a look of worry on your face. Do try and look as though you are enjoying this evening, even if you are finding it a little trying.”

Phillip glanced at Lord Fairchild and then demanded silently that his lips pull into a smile. Whether they did or not, he could not say, for it felt as though he were grimacing rather than smiling.

“I am glad that you decided to come to the soiree,” Lord Fairchild continued, pushing a glass of champagne into Phillip’s hand. “Lord Pleasance was at your dinner, so there was no reason for you to stay back from it.”

“I do not want to bring the gentleman any sort of difficulty,” Phillip answered, keeping his voice low.

“I know very well that my reputation is dark enough. There will be many talking about my presence here, and I do not think any of them will be saying anything good. I have already received the cut direct from some.”

Lord Fairchild shrugged. “It matters not. Besides, can you not think about speaking with Lord Haverstock or Lord Whittaker? Both of them are here this evening.”

“About the painting?” Phillip took a sip of his champagne, considering. “I do not know. Part of me thinks that it is best to remain silent about it, for if I tell them that the painting is gone, then that will, no doubt, soon be spread around society also!”

His friend’s expression darkened immediately. “There will be those who, of course, will then twist that into their own version of events, I suppose.” He brightened suddenly. “Though you could speak to Lord Mansfield, could you not? That might bring a little more light to what happened.”

“I suppose I could, yes.”

“And you trust him.”

“I do.” Phillip glanced at his friend, then looked away.

“Is Rosalyn here this evening? I did not see her when I came in.” It was a sudden change of conversation, he knew, but he had not been able to stop thinking about what had been shared between them earlier that day.

“I am, of course, very grateful to her and her friends for their willingness to help.”

Lord Fairchild’s lip curled. “You are a good deal more eager than I to accept the help of a bluestocking, my friend.”

Phillip shrugged. “That is because I do not think it a dreadful thing for a lady to be so, my friend.”

Lord Fairchild let out a hiss of breath between his teeth. “You are not responsible for Rosalyn in the same way I am, my friend. I am here to seek out my own match, yes, but I must also encourage Rosalyn to do the same! And very few gentlemen will have the same consideration as you, Waverley.”

Phillip chuckled. “Then those gentlemen, the ones who discard her for being so learned and wise, would not be worthy of her.”

At this, Lord Fairchild sent him a somewhat calculating look, and Phillip’s smile faded.

Surely his friend did not suspect him of anything?

Thus far, Phillip had not once told his friend about his affection for Rosalyn, and he had no intention of ever doing so either!

There was no need for it, for Phillip was all too aware of how little he deserved someone like her.

His standing was poor, his fortune lessened, and he could not be worthy of her.

“I suppose I should attempt to be a little more encouraging.” After some moments of quiet, Lord Fairchild looked away, though a muscle in his jaw worked hard in the silence that followed.

Phillip said nothing, choosing to remain silent as his friend worked through his thoughts, giving him the time and the space to think.

“I could see in her eyes just how delighted she was when you spoke well of her learning and the like.” Lord Fairchild grimaced and threw Phillip a glance. “She has never smiled at me like that. But mayhap there is more than mere support as a reason for that.”

Phillip blinked, then frowned, not understanding what his friend meant. “I – I do not know what you mean.”

“Do you not?” Lord Fairchild lifted an eyebrow, then let out a wry chuckle.

“Well, mayhap that is for the best since Rosalyn… ” Shaking his head, he came to a stop, making Phillip’s frustration burst upwards.

He wanted to reach for his friend, to grab his arm and demand to know what it was he had meant to say, but propriety restrained him.

His heart thudded, and he pressed his lips flat, trying to think of what he could ask that would encourage Lord Fairchild to explain all the more.

“Ah, Lord Mansfield! We were just speaking of you!”

Any chance that Phillip had to ask a question died on his lips as Lord Fairchild hailed their friend, who turned to them both in an instant.

“About me?” he said, coming towards them both. “And here, I would have thought that you were discussing with Lord Waverley your interest in a particular young lady.”

Phillip’s eyebrows shot upwards. “Indeed, Fairchild?! And what young lady might that be and why have you not spoken to me of it?”

Lord Fairchild’s face turned a furious shade of scarlet. “I have only been speaking to the lady on occasion; that is all.”

“Lady Catherine, daughter to Lord and Lady Coates,” Lord Mansfield said, with a chuckle. “Though given your embarrassment, I shall not push for more discussion on the matter. You said you were speaking of me?”

Phillip cleared his throat, pushing away the conversation he wanted to continue and instead, thinking about his missing painting. “Mansfield, I must first ask for your discretion.”

The gentleman’s expression fell, his eyes rounding a fraction. “Is there something wrong?”

“It is about the night we went to Lord Waverley’s townhouse, after the ball. You were present, yes?” Lord Fairchild said, as a hand touched Phillip’s elbow. Lady Rosalyn stood beside him, her hand now settling into the crook of his arm, her eyes fixed to Lord Mansfield.

Lord Mansfield nodded as Phillip tried to keep his heart from exploding into a furious beat for fear that she would hear it.

“You left earlier than I,” Lord Fairchild continued, as Phillip fixed his gaze on Lord Mansfield instead of focusing solely on Lady Rosalyn’s presence which, he discovered, was somewhat difficult to do. “You had another occasion to attend?”

Lord Mansfield’s lips curved. “You are not jealous, are you?”

“No, not in the least,” Phillip answered, quickly. “You had another card game to attend.”

“Yes, that is so.”

“And might I ask,” Phillip continued, leaning in a little closer, “who was all present before you took your leave? Do you remember where everyone was?”

At his question, Lord Mansfield frowned, his eyes darting to Lord Fairchild and then back towards Phillip. “What has happened that you would ask me such a thing as that?”

“It is only that I do not remember the evening at all,” Phillip answered, choosing not to speak of the missing painting as yet.

“I was woken by my butler who asked if I might permit him to remove Lord Coates from the house. However, I had no recollection of anything taking place! Indeed, the only thing I can recall is that I went to play cards with Lord Coates at the ball!”

“Goodness!” Lord Mansfield’s eyes flared. “You must have imbibed a good deal to have forgotten so much!”

Phillip managed a small smile, feeling Lady Rosalyn’s fingers squeeze his arm lightly. “Mayhap I did. I am afraid I do not remember.”

This made Lord Mansfield chuckle, though Phillip did not join in.

“If you are trying to remember who was all present, then I can easily tell you. Lord Fairchild was with you, with Lord Coates and Lord Haverstock. The three of them were in the drawing room, with Lord Whittaker and Lord Raleigh in the dining room. Lord Haverstock was already asleep, I am sure, by that point!”

Rosalyn’s hand squeezed his arm hard and Phillip looked down at her.

“Stockton?” she whispered, as he leaned towards her. “What about him?”

His heart slammed into his ribs. “Lord Stockton?” Returning his gaze to Lord Mansfield, he tried to keep his tone light. “Was he not present also?”

“Oh.” Lord Mansfield frowned, one finger pressing to his lips.

“Yes, yes, I recall now. Lord Stockton staggered in from the dining room into the drawing room and declared to us all that he had made something of a mess in the hallway – spilling half the decanter of brandy, I think, and shattering a glass with it. He begged Lord Coates to aid him and as I took my leave, the two of them went to see what had happened. I think they were hoping to summon a maid or a footman although, given the lateness of the hour, most of them had already retired, as per your instructions. The butler was still about, I think.”

“And where was I at this juncture?” Phillip asked, feeling Lady Rosalyn’s fingers still gripping his arm tightly. “In the drawing room or the dining room?”

Lord Mansfield shook his head. “Neither, my friend.”

“Neither?”

“You had gone to the kitchens for some reason,” Lord Mansfield said, grinning broadly now. “You were on your way there when I took my leave.”