Page 5 of The Spinster’s Stolen Heart (Willenshires #5)

A tap at the door made Nathan flinch. He tore his eyes away from the column of ledgers, unable to swallow his annoyance.

“Yes, who is it? For heaven’s sake, don’t stand there scratching at the door, just come in.”

The door creaked open, revealing the butler. The man did not seem happy at being snapped at. Nathan felt a twinge of guilt.

“My apologies for my tone,” he muttered. “I am preparing for my meeting with Lord Davenport later. There’s a great deal to manage.”

The butler inclined his head, giving the air of a much put-upon man who bore his lot with fortitude.

“I see you have not finished your breakfast, your lordship.”

Nathan glanced at the barely touched dishes and his own clean, empty breakfast plate. He generally requested to eat his breakfast in his study, so he could get a good start on the day and get a good bit of work done. Generally, he did not eat much on a morning. There was too much that needed doing.

“I’m sure it was delicious,” he said, a trifle lamely. “What was it you wanted, then?”

“Lord Beckett is waiting in the foyer, your lordship.”

Nathan frowned. “ Colin ?”

“Yes, Lord Whitmore. He said something about a planned riding excursion?”

Nathan remembered in a rush, flushing. “Oh, of course, of course. Oh, heavens, I forgot entirely.”

He glanced down at his half-finished notes, and bit his lip. They would likely not return home until luncheon, and unless he was to skip luncheon entirely – probably not a wise choice, considering that he had not eaten breakfast either – he would have hardly any time to prepare for Lord Davenport’s visit.

I could tell Colin that I’m too busy, or that something has come up. He’d understand, wouldn’t he?

He glanced up, meeting the butler’s eyes. The man’s expression was carefully neutral, but Nathan was sure he saw a flash of disapproval in his eyes.

You’ve already cancelled too many arrangements with your friend, haven’t you?

He bit back a sigh. If I take a short break, I can return fresh to my work.

“Tell him I’ll be down directly,” Nathan said. “I’ll just change into my riding attire.”

The butler’s face relaxed into a smile. “Very good, your lordship.”

***

It was a fresh, crisp morning, ideal for riding. The cool air tinged their cheeks and noses pink, and frosty grass crunched under the horses’ hooves.

For a few moments, Colin and Nathan rode side by side, sitting straight in their saddles, and didn’t talk much. It was a comfortable silence – or at least, it would have been, if Nathan had not been so preoccupied with the work waiting for him back home. Meetings with Lord Davenport were always stressful. Sometimes, he couldn’t help but feel that the man was remembering all too well the time when the Whitmores were not titans of business, but the human version of plain bad luck.

“Louisa’s coming to tea with the family and me today,” Colin remarked, somewhat idly. “My mother keeps talking about her dowry. It’s not sufficient, I know. I keep telling her that I don’t care in the slightest. I’d marry Louisa if she hadn’t a penny but I don’t believe that Mother can understand that.”

“Indeed, she can be rather mercenary,” Nathan agreed. “But she’s happy that you are marrying for love, isn’t she? And Louisa is such a dear girl.”

Colin flushed, beaming the way he always did when Louisa was mentioned.

“She is a most cherished young lady. To be candid, I can scarcely fathom my good fortune. She is the very love of my life, and I am resolved to take her as my wife. I consider myself exceedingly fortunate. Yet, at times, I find myself grappling with a sense of ingratitude.”

“Ingratitude? What do you mean?”

Colin shrugged. “I confess I am rather apprehensive as well. The institution of marriage is a grave matter. It has the potential to bring one joy beyond one's most fervent aspirations, yet it may also plunge one into despair. What if I were to err in my choice? What if I prove to be an unsuitable husband? The thought of causing her unhappiness fills me with considerable trepidation.”

“Small chance of that, I should think,” Nathan replied easily. “She adores you, and you adore her . I can’t think of any better way to start a marriage. Just be yourself, Colin. You are kind, generous, and cheerful. Keep those qualities, and all shall be well.”

Colin chuckled, shaking his head. “Pray, I knew you would possess the sagacity to offer the right counsel, dear friend. Upon awakening this morn, I found my thoughts in disarray and my heart racing as though it might leap from my breast, for I was quite overcome with trepidation. I said to myself, 'Steady now, my good fellow, take a moment and proceed to visit Nathan as you had resolved. He shall provide assistance.' And indeed, you have. I am most grateful.”

Nathan threw his friend a small smile.

Thank heavens I didn’t cancel our ride.

“I never asked, by the way,” Colin continued in his easy, cheerful way. “How was the ball? After Miss Davenport whisked you away, I never saw you. I noticed that she saved you the waltz, though.”

Nathan pursed his lips, some of his good humour filtering away. “It doesn’t mean anything, Colin.”

“Mayhap not. But this is getting towards the end of the Season. I only say it to warn you, by the way, but I think Miss Davenport is trying to catch you. And I think her parents and your mother are happy with the arrangement.”

“Oh, nonsense, Colin. Surely not. What woman would want to pursue me ?”

Colin threw him a shrewd look. “Your modesty is a fine quality.”

“I am not being modest. I am realistic.”

“Ah, you seek realism, do you? Very well, allow me to present this for your consideration. You are a lord, remarkably rich, of a good, old family. You have no sisters or interfering brothers to get in the way of a new Lady Whitmore, and you are rather handsome. You are also famously unattached.”

Nathan sighed. “Enough of this conversation, Colin. I do not believe that Miss Davenport is trying to catch me, and if she is, it is only out of desperation. She’ll come to her senses in a day or two, and it’ll be all forgotten. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Very well, very well. Now, before I forget, I have a rather important question to ask you. It’s actually the reason I brought you out here.”

Nathan glanced at him. “Oh, how intriguing. Do explain.”

Colin drew himself up, clearly composing himself to ask something important.

“The wedding preparations are going along well, but some elements are missing.”

“I should love to help, if I’d be of any use.”

He chuckled softly. “I have a proposition for you, Nathan. Would you do me the honour of being my second? My best man, if you will. I envision you by my side at the altar, holding the rings as we all gaze upon Louisa and marvel at her extraordinary beauty. I need a gentleman who possesses a steady demeanour, one who won’t be overtaken by emotion and risk dropping the rings, if you understand my meaning.”

Nathan allowed himself a quick, gratified smile. It was a great honour to be asked, and not one he’d expected. He and Colin were extremely close, but Colin was a gregarious sort of man with a great many friends, and plenty of cousins and so on.

“That’s a fine privilege, Colin. Thank you.”

“So, you’ll do it?” Colin said, looking anxiously at him.

“Of course. Did you think I would say no?”

Colin shifted in his saddle, giving a short, quiet laugh. “Oh, I hardly know. We are friends, to be sure, but there are times when it seems that all you care for is your work, old friend.”

That stung, but Nathan shook it off. He wasn’t about to spoil the day.

“To celebrate,” he said, flashing a grin, “shall we have a race?”

Colin grinned back. “Oh, I certainly would. I suppose the real question is, are you ready to lose?”

“Ha!”

***

“All seems to be in order,” Lord Davenport said, throwing a benevolent smile at Nathan. “This investment is a good one. You’re watching the market closely, though, aren’t you? Taking note of the variables? Things can change overnight, you know.”

Nathan bit back a flare of annoyance at the off-hand question. Lord Davenport would never question any other businessman this way, and certainly not a gentleman.

Steady on, he warned himself. Lord Davenport has known you since childhood. And he has seen you fail before.

“Of course,” he responded coolly, sitting back in his chair. “It’s as safe a bet as we’ll find on the market these days. You know how careful I am.”

“I do, I do,” Lord Davenport answered, tossing the papers back onto the desk. “Heavens, business makes me thirsty. Any chance of more tea, my boy?”

“Naturally.”

Nathan got up to pull on the bell, and when he turned around, Lord Davenport was watching him with a shrewd, calculating look in his eyes. It was not unlike the way he would inspect a page of figures, looking for an error.

Or perhaps looking for a profit to be had.

“There’s been a great deal of talk about you this Season, Nathan.”

Nathan kept a polite smile on his face, settling down in his chair. “Oh? I can’t think why.”

“Heavens, boy, can’t you really?” Lord Davenport chuckled. “All of Society wonders when you’ll marry. You’ll have to secure a suitable match, you know. To have sons and all that.”

“I have time for that.”

“Ah, indeed, we all believe that we have time, until suddenly we wake up one morning and discover that we are old, that time has fled by, and opportunities to do things we always wished to do have come and gone.”

Nathan’s smile wavered, and he fought to keep it in place. “What a bleak picture.”

“I agree,” Lord Davenport nodded. “Come, the Season is not yet concluded. The final ball has not yet graced us with its presence. My family and I intend to remain in London until the very last moment, on account of Amanda’s Season, you know.” He sighed, shaking his head. “She’s been a bit of a disappointment, to be sure. I can’t think why she’s not more popular. She’s beautiful, rich, and our family is an old and respected one. I think it’s this new, modern wave of sentimentality. They’re all looking for love and romance and believing that the world is like novels. Ridiculous, truly ridiculous.”

“It would set one up for disappointment.”

“Not my Amanda, though. She’s purely practical. Papa, she says, let me only marry a man who is rich and well-bred enough, and a gentleman , who I can like as a friend, and I shall be beyond happy.”

“Reasonable expectations indeed,” Nathan agreed. He was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable. Lord Davenport kept shooting him quick, shrewd glances, as if trying to see whether a point had been made clear.

“I do hope you are not entertaining unreasonable expectations, Nathan,” Lord Davenport said, voice careful. “Your Papa would have been most disappointed. Sentimentality only ever leads to disaster, I can promise you that.”

Nathan cleared his throat. “I am not a sentimental man, Lord Davenport, nor a romantic one. I am not looking for love.”

“Very well. Very well. Seek out a young lady who possesses all the requisite virtues – affluent, from a respectable family, accomplished in her manners, comely, if it pleases you – and should you find her agreeable enough, take her hand in marriage. Do not afford yourself the luxury of prolonged contemplation.”

“I rather thought that marriage was a serious endeavour. Is it wise to not think it over?”

Lord Davenport shot him a long, keen look. Abruptly, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.

“May I give you a little advice, my boy?”

“Certainly,” Nathan said, as if there was anything else to say.

“Trust someone older and wiser than yourself to pick out a suitable mate for you. Me, for example, or your esteemed mother. I imagine you do want to be happy…”

“Most people do,” Nathan couldn’t help muttering. “It’s rather natural.”

Lord Davenport went on as if he hadn’t spoken.

“…and you have a greater chance of happiness if you do as you are told by those you trust. I could make some recommendations, if you’d like.”

Nathan cleared his throat again. He wished the butler would appear with the tea tray, so that they could change the subject.

“I am not sure I’ll marry this Season after all, Lord Davenport.”

Lord Davenport narrowed his eyes. “We want Amanda married off before the end of the Season. There’s still time for her. And as for you, well, you could do no better than our family, don’t you think?”

Nathan found that he was struggling to breathe. “Lord Davenport, I’m not sure I understand you.”

The older man gave a brittle chuckle and leaned back in his seat.

“Oh, I believe you comprehend my meaning most admirably, dear boy. Consult with your dear mother, if you would be so kind. Allow yourself to be guided by those who possess greater experience and wisdom than you, would you not? You are a man of affairs, and I am well aware that you lack both the inclination and the leisure to flit about in Society in search of a suitable lady. Pray tell, is it prudent in the realm of commerce to frequently embark upon ventures of a precarious nature?”

Nathan found himself a little bewildered by the sudden change in subject.

“No, of course not.”

“Of course not,” Lord Davenport agreed. “The higher the stakes, the more careful we ought to be. We seek advice. We take a safe choice. Turning our back on practicality and safe choices will lead to our losing a great deal. A very great deal indeed. And time might well be running out.”

Before Nathan could respond, Lord Davenport got to his feet, ostentatiously taking out a gold pocket watch and checking the time.

“I don’t believe I have time for tea after all,” he remarked, with faint disappointment. “I had better be going. I hope you found this conversation enlightening, my boy. I am fond of you, and I do my best to give you good advice for the sake of your old Papa.” He paused, leaning forward. “And I should very much like, one day, to give you advice as an almost-son to me.”

Nathan swallowed thickly. “I… I shall think on it.”

Lord Davenport nodded, smiling. “I’m sure you shall. But don’t think too long, eh? Time waits for no man, and nor will Amanda.”

He left without another word, leaving Nathan sitting at his desk and feeling deeply unsettled.