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“ W hat is the meaning of this?”

Phillip came to a stop, trying to hide his exasperation as both Lord Hemmingway and Lord Pentland came to stand directly in his path. “Good afternoon, gentlemen.”

“What is the meaning of this?” Lord Pentland said again, pointing one finger at Phillip’s chest and coming dangerously close to prodding him. “Why would you invite us to your soiree? What is it that you intend for us?”

Phillip lifted his eyebrows in feigned surprise.

Sending the invitations to Lord Hemmingway and Lord Pentland had been difficult to do, but he had known it was of the greatest importance.

Whatever they had been discussing with Lord Coates, it was his hope and expectation that it would all cumulate at his soiree, and Phillip wanted to discover the truth in its entirety, even if it did not involve his painting.

“You do not care for either of us, you have made that very clear,” Lord Hemmingway stated, his eyes flashing. “And yet you invite us to your soiree? There is something more to this, I am sure.”

Lifting his chin and standing as tall as he could, Phillip held each gentleman’s gaze for a few seconds before he responded. “I would have thought an invitation would have been appreciated rather than complained about.”

This made both Lord Hemmingway and Lord Pentland narrow their eyes at him, still clearly quite determined to find out the truth – a truth that Phillip was not willing to give.

“You have stated that I am just as my father was,” Phillip continued when they said nothing, but neither did they refuse to move out of his way.

“However, I have proven, time and again that I am not like he was. Therefore, when I invite the gentlemen who dislike me to my soiree, I am doing just the opposite of what he would have done, am I not?”

Lord Hemmingway exchanged a glance with his friend, then looked back at Phillip. “You are telling me that the only reason for your invitation is to show us that you are not what we think of you?”

Phillip nodded. “Precisely.” The truth was not something he intended to share with them both, and mayhap they would not come to his soiree, but he had to try.

“I do not hold grudges. I do not treat members of the ton as though they are enemies. If you choose to be cruel and to lie about me, then I shall not respond in kind. That was precisely what my father would have done, and, as I have said already, many a time, I have no intention of behaving in any way like him.”

This did not seem to sit well with Lord Hemmingway and Lord Pentland for they both shared another uneasy glance, with Lord Hemmingway shuffling his feet and Lord Pentland looking down at the ground.

“I must take my leave of you both,” Phillip stated, hoping that his strong stance would be enough to have them do as he asked.

“If you would not mind stepping out of my path?” Keeping his gaze centered on Lord Pentland, he set his shoulders back and kept his head lifted.

Much to his relief, after a few seconds, they moved themselves out of his way and, heads close together, walked in the opposite direction from Phillip, clearly discussing all that Phillip had told them.

Relief billowing in his chest, Phillip carried on his way, only for another familiar gentleman to join him.

“My friend!”

Phillip tried to smile, hoping he appeared nonchalant as Lord Coates greeted him warmly. “Good afternoon, Lord Coates.”

“Whatever were you doing talking to Lord Hemmingway and Lord Pentland?” the gentleman glanced, casting a dark glance over his shoulder in their direction. “Were they seeking to upset you again in some way? Mayhap they are frustrated at how the ton has slowly begun to turn back towards you.”

Phillip shrugged his shoulders. “They are confused as to why I invited them to my soiree.”

Lord Coates came to a sudden and unexpected stop, making Phillip turn to look at him. “You – you invited them?”

“I did,” Phillip noted Lord Coates’ astonished reaction but feigned a smile of nonchalance. “They are determined to believe me akin to my father in every way, and is this not a way to show them that I am quite the opposite? Though, I have very little hope that they will attend.”

“Of course.” Lord Coates’ smile returned, though it did not have as much strength as before.

“I have responded to your invitation already and we – my wife, my daughter, and I – will be delighted to join you.” He began to walk alongside Phillip again.

“Indeed, I am very glad indeed to know that you are not about to permit the ton to push you back into shadow.”

“Thank you.” Phillip glanced at the jovial gentleman, wondering how it could be that a gentleman such as he could have stolen from him.

If it was Lord Coates at all. “I did fear that speaking aloud as I did at the soiree would have sent yet more of the ton from me, but it appears to have done the opposite!”

“Indeed it has!” Lord Coates beamed at him, all trace of confusion and surprise gone. “I am glad for you, truly. Now, where are you going this fine day? Are you thinking about Gunters? It is in this direction, is it not?”

Phillip smiled again but felt his heart sink lower, disliking the feeling that Lord Coates was putting on nothing more than a facade for him at the present moment.

“I am going to the bookshop, in fact. Lady Rosalyn and Lord Fairchild thought to take a turn about the shops this afternoon, and I said I would join them.”

Lord Coates’ smile wavered. “Lord Fairchild is near?”

“Yes, he is.” A little confused by the gentleman’s sudden change of demeanor, Phillip frowned. “Is there something wrong?”

The smile quickly stretched wide again. “No, no, not in the least. It is only that my daughter... ” Letting his sentence stutter to a close, he shrugged and looked away. “I should take my leave of you. I am to go to Gunters myself, for my daughter and wife are enjoying an ice at this very moment!”

“Then I hope you partake of one also,” Phillip answered, watching the gentleman walk away.

“Good afternoon.” A heaviness settled on his heart as he walked to the bookshop, quite certain that this was where he would find Lady Rosalyn and her brother.

After their conversation at his townhouse the previous afternoon, Phillip had so many considerations on his mind, it had been difficult to think of anything else!

At the same time, though he admitted to himself that the unfinished conversation between himself and Lady Rosalyn was just as much of a burden upon him as the missing painting, if not more so!

Thus, in hearing that they were both to step out into the heart of London this afternoon, Phillip had taken the opportunity held out to him and decided to come in search of them.

Mayhap, that way, he would be able to steal Lady Rosalyn away for even a few minutes and could talk about all that was now on his heart.

Pushing open the door to the bookshop, he stepped inside and looked around.

A broad grin spread right across his face as he spotted Lord Fairchild standing to his right, a book in his hand, but his gaze fixed to the window and all that went out outside.

Chuckling to himself, Phillip came a little closer and tapped his friend on the shoulder.

“I think you have to look at the book if you want to read it.”

Lord Fairchild started in surprise, then grunted back at him, rolling his eyes. “I am trying to read. I was only thinking about whether or not this book would be suitable.”

“Is that so?” With another chuckle, Phillip shook his head.

“My friend, you have as much on your mind as I do. Though mayhap, that comes from different sources.” When Lord Fairchild lifted his eyebrows in question, Phillip spread out his hands.

“I was speaking to Lord Coates only a few moments ago.”

“Lord Coates?” Instantly, the book was forgotten as Lord Fairchild’s eyes rounded. “What did he say? Was there any mention of the painting?”

Phillip shook his head no. “The only thing he spoke of was his daughter. She is at Gunters with her mother.” He let a beat of silence fall before he continued. “Pray do not tell me that your attentions to her have ceased because of what her father might have done?”

With a hiss of breath escaping him, Lord Fairchild dropped his gaze.

“It is not as simple as you make out, my friend. Yes, I will admit that I think very highly of Lady Catherine and have, yes, been interested in her company – but that is all it can be! I cannot let myself be at all close to her, for her father might be… well, a thief.”

“But that does not mean you ought to pull yourself away from her, does it?” Phillip asked, surprised at not only his friend’s words but his own, fierce reaction. “My father was a despicable fellow. Would you keep Rosalyn from my company because of his actions?”

Lord Fairchild opened his mouth to say no, only to scowl and turn his head away.

“You see my point, I think.”

“You are a little too on point.” Lord Fairchild sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Truth be told, I am not at all certain about anything. I did not ever think that I would find myself in a situation where my heart was doing all manner of strange things!”

“Our hearts have a way of surprising us,” Phillip answered, resisting the urge to turn his head and look for Rosalyn. “In light of that, Fairchild, I must – well, I must be honest with you about all that I am feeling at present.”

This sent a broad smile across Lord Fairchild’s face, surprising Phillip with such a reaction.

“You appear… pleased.”

“This is about Rosalyn, is it not?” Lord Fairchild threw his head back and laughed as Phillip flushed hot, the sound echoing through the bookshop.

Phillip looked at the floor, his shoulders hunched as he prayed for the floor to open up and swallow him whole, such was the attention that Lord Fairchild was drawing to them both.

He could only hope that there were no others around them who had heard Lord Fairchild speak Rosalyn’s name.

“You do not need to look so embarrassed!” Lord Fairchild exclaimed, clapping Phillip on the arm, his grin still fixed.

“I have been waiting for this moment for a very long time indeed. Actually, I have been wondering what has been taking both of you so very long to admit all that you feel, worrying that I would have to intervene in some way.”

Phillip glanced all around him, keeping his voice low. “Please, my friend. If you would not mind declaring to all the others present just how much you have known before me, then I would be grateful.”

This made the grin soften just a little.

“I thank you.”

“You are welcome.” Lord Fairchild chuckled, showing not even the smallest bit of remorse over his loud declarations. “What has taken you so long, Waverley? Was it just that you did not know what to do with your affection?”

Phillip hesitated then, seeing no reason for him to hide the truth, and spread out his hands. “I found myself in the very same position as you are now, albeit in a slightly different manner.”

“What do you mean?”

Glancing over his shoulder to make sure Lady Rosalyn was nowhere near them, Phillip took a small step closer to his friend, determined to speak quietly.

“I have long thought of Rosalyn in affectionate terms, Fairchild. But my father’s behavior meant that I would not permit myself to think of her as anything more than that. ”

Lord Fairchild’s smile was gone completely now.

“When he died, you might well think I would feel myself able to pursue her again,” Phillip continued, with a wry smile. “But I could not. Coming to London and seeing just how the ton viewed me was severe indeed, and I felt the weight of it sitting heavily upon my shoulders.”

“I see.” Lord Fairchild ran a hand over his chin, his eyes thoughtful. “Your care for her was so great; you did not want to injure her by coming close to her.”

“Precisely.” Phillip sighed heavily. “The truth is, I wanted to protect her from all that the ton said of me. I was afraid that, if I told her how I felt and if, by any luck, she had even the smallest of affection for me, my reputation would besmirch her. I could not do that to her.”

Lord Fairchild set a hand on Phillip’s shoulder, looking straight back at him. “Rosalyn would not have cared about that, my friend. Neither would I.”

“I know that. But my heart cared so much for her, it would not let me do such a thing. I felt myself unworthy of her, Fairchild. In many ways, I still do.”

Lord Fairchild’s hand fell back to his side, though his gaze remained steady. “There is nothing that separates you.”

A small smile touched Phillip’s lips as he thought of the lady he loved. “She is gentleness, beauty, kindness, wisdom, and more. I am in her shadow in almost everything. Besides, I do not have a great fortune any longer, though I am taking great pains to improve it.”

“Again,” Lord Fairchild said, steadily, “that does not matter one jot. Rosalyn would be deeply upset with both me and you if she were ever to hear that your lack of abundance was a reason to keep you from her.”

Hope flared hot in Phillip’s heart. “Then might I ask – and I ask this in great humbleness – whether you might permit me to ask Rosalyn for her hand?”

Lord Fairchild did not grin, did not laugh aloud as Phillip had expected. Instead, he only smiled gently and nodded, making an explosion of relief tear through Phillip’s frame.

“I thank you.” Putting one hand to his heart, he inclined his head. “I am grateful, Fairchild. Do you think…?” Frowning, he glanced over his shoulder again, but she was still nowhere to be seen. “Do you think she will say yes?”

A shout of laughter from Lord Fairchild made Phillip flush hot, a self-conscious smile brushing his lips.

“Given what I very nearly stumbled upon when I came to find her at your townhouse some days ago, I have every expectation that she will throw herself willingly into your arms,” Lord Fairchild said, a brightness in his expression that Phillip had never before seen, not in all their years of friendship.

“She may have only just begun to realize it, Waverley, but my sister has cared for you for many a year.” He smiled when Phillip’s eyebrows rose. “All you need do now is ask her.”