Page 4 of The Truth about the Lady (Whispers of the Ton #6)

CHAPTER THREE

S amuel yawned as he stretched out across the chaise longue, a tray with coffee and a selection of delicacies beside him. He had enjoyed a sennight of entertainment and last evening’s soiree had been one of the finest of the Season thus far. Though this morning, he had awoken with an aching head and a creeping sense of fatigue which had forced him to take the morning very slowly and quietly indeed.

“‘The London Chronicle,’” he murmured, holding up the paper and beginning to read. It was not often that he read the papers but this morning, he felt the need to do so. It was a quiet pursuit and after all that he had been enjoying these last few days, it was exactly what he needed. First, he read some news regarding one of the most important bookshops in London, reading that it was going to change hands. Next, he took in a drawing of Lord and Lady Sommerville, finding himself smiling as he took in the sketch. It was certainly recognizable, though some of their features were a little exaggerated. Thereafter, there was an article on the history of Wrexham, which he enjoyed reading very much.

And then, he came to a riddle.

With a frown, Samuel read it once, twice, and then pushed himself up on his elbow. Why could he not find the answer to this?

Mumbling the words aloud, he frowned and rubbed at the spot between his eyebrows, trying to understand.

“I intrude upon moments but with unseeing eyes. I witness your strife but I cannot speak my advice. Frozen in time, I linger on, never to death but perhaps forgotten. What am I?”

Sitting up straight and ignoring the sharp stab of pain in his head from doing so, Samuel’s frown grew as he read the lines for the fourth time. It was a clear riddle, one where he was meant to come up with an answer – or mayhap, see the answer clearly – but he simply could not.

“It must just be because I am tired,” he told himself, reaching to sip his coffee. With a grimace, he looked back again at the riddle. There was no name to it, no one stating that this was their creation. Quite why the author had chosen to remain hidden, Samuel did not know but that was not the source of his frustration. It was more the fact that he simply could not seem to find the answer.

Setting the paper down, he reached to pick up one of the cakes on the tray, hoping that some food might encourage his thoughts to center on the riddle and provide him with the answer.

Nothing came to him and, becoming all the more irritated, Samuel let out a low growl and flung the paper away. It was nonsense and nothing more. He did not need to let it trouble him, did not need to let it bite away at his mind as though it was some sort of irritating fly that he could not get rid of. He was tired, that was all. His head ached and he had not eaten a great deal this morning. Those were the cause of his inability to find the answer to the riddle.

“And it means nothing,” Samuel told himself aloud, reaching for his coffee again. “I am sure that very few others in the beau monde will have taken note of this.” And those that have will, no doubt, find themselves in the very same position as I. I am quite sure of it.

“ W ell?”

Samuel frowned as Lord Sunderland barreled towards him, practically knocking into Samuel. “Good evening, Lord Sunderland.”

“Good evening.” Lord Sunderland grinned broadly, his eyes moving from face to face, making Samuel feel a trifle uncomfortable. “Might I ask whether you are enjoying this evening?”

Shrugging, Samuel took a sip of his brandy. “Lord Ingilston has, to my mind, taken a little too long to open up the card room but aside from that, I am enjoying, yes.”

“And no doubt you have heard of the riddle, yes?”

At this, Samuel stiffened, though he kept his gaze forward. “I beg your pardon?”

“The riddle!” Lord Sunderland exclaimed, speaking so loudly that one or two others turned their heads to look at them. “Surely you have heard of the riddle? It was in ‘The London Chronicle’ this afternoon and everyone is speaking of it! It has quite captured the attention of many of us, I assure you!”

“Oh.” Samuel sniffed and attempted to express disinterest. “I did see it but I did not spend much time thinking on it.”

“You did not?” Another voice spoke to his left and Samuel turned sharply, about to express to whoever it was that he had not had any inclination to set his mind to the riddle, only to see a fair-haired young lady smiling back at him, her blue eyes vivid in color. Her companion smiled up at him also, though she had dark hair and green eyes.

Samuel’s stomach turned over on itself. “Good evening to you both,” he said, wondering if he had already been introduced to them and had forgotten their titles. “Might I ask if – ”

“A quick introduction, mayhap?” Lord Sunderland chuckled, coming around from Samuel’s other side to reach out one hand towards the two ladies. “Miss Marshall and Lady Susanna, might I present the Marquess of Thorne?” A glint came into his eye as he set his gaze to Samuel, his interest in the ladies clear. “Lord Thorne, this is Miss Marshall, daughter to Viscount Dunnett and Lady Susanna, daughter to the Earl of Kingslaw.”

Samuel bowed low. “How very good to meet you both. “ He was truly quite delighted to be introduced to such beautiful young ladies though the question one had asked still riled him. “As I was just saying to my friend, I did see the riddle but I did not set my mind to it.”

Lady Susanna glanced towards her friend, then smiled. “I am sure that you would have found the answer the very moment you set your mind to it.” She sighed and shook her head. “Alas, I do not have the answer as yet.”

“Nor I,” Miss Marshall added, fanning herself just a little as her face grew a little pinker. “Though I should very much like to know what it is.”

Lord Sunderland chuckled and leaned in closer. “I might be able to help you there.”

“Oh?” Lady Susanna sounded surprised, sweeping a quick look towards Samuel. “That is most interesting, Lord Sunderland. Though, before you tell us the answer, I do wonder if you, Lord Thorne, might have any insight? Any clue that you might wish to give us that would help our considerations?” She giggled and nudged her friend lightly. “I know that Miss Marshall wants the answer but I think I would be contented to think on it a little more, especially if I was to garner some understanding from either of you gentlemen?”

Samuel forced a smile, wishing that he was more than able to sweep in with the correct answer to the riddle for then, he might find himself in favor with both of these two young ladies. He was always seeking out new acquaintances, though he had no intentions of courtship or the like, of course. It was only because he enjoyed being in the company of fine ladies and all the more appreciated their interest in him . The way they came to speak with him, eyes darting this way and that, smiling at him from under lowered lashes as teasing glances were sent back and forth… all of that made him feel as though he stood head and shoulders above the other gentlemen in London.

Except now, it seemed, he was to be shamed by none other than Lord Sunderland, a gentleman who had nothing akin to the excellent reputation that Samuel possessed!

“No?” Lord Sunderland sounded quite astonished, his head turned in Samuel’s direction. “I would have thought that you would have something to share, Thorne!”

Samuel drew himself up as tall as he dared, refusing to let himself be shamed. “I am certain that I would have some insight to give, had I paid any attention to this riddle! The truth is, I do not even remember what it is about!”

“Oh, then I shall tell you, if I might?” Miss Marshall beamed at him as though she were doing him some great favor, leaving Samuel more than a little frustrated. “I memorized it, you see?”

“Of course.” Samuel’s smile did not linger as he wanted it too, feeling his lips pull downwards, revealing his frustration though thankfully, Miss Marshall did not seem to notice. “I should be very glad to hear it.”

“Then here it is.” Closing her eyes, Miss Marshall recited the riddle word for word, just as Samuel remembered it. “I intrude upon moments but with unseeing eyes. I witness your strife but I cannot speak my advice. Frozen in time, I linger on, never to death but perhaps forgotten. What am I?”

What was he to do but to consider it? Rubbing one hand over his chin, Samuel let the words run through his mind, trying to think of an answer – any answer – which he might give to the young ladies.

Silence was his only response. His mind would not give him what it was he wanted, not even now when these young ladies were waiting for him!

“ I think it is an object.” Lord Sunderland spoke before Samuel had time. “A very particular object.”

The two young ladies gasped and Samuel scowled, seeing how they both took a step closer to Lord Sunderland.

“Do you know what it is?” Miss Marshall was now looking up at Lord Sunderland with slightly widened eyes, clearly amazed by him and his supposed wisdom, which made Samuel’s embarrassment begin to grow.

“I do.” Lord Sunderland said it with such confidence that even Samuel wanted to ask him what it was exactly, though he forced himself to remain silent. “I confess that I did have to think on it for some time before I was able to understand what it was, but once I did, it was very easy indeed.”

Lady Susanna’s breath caught in a gasp, her eyes rounding at the edges. “You found the answer that quickly, Lord Sunderland?”

Samuel, aware that he was behaving rather poorly, turned on his heel and made his way across the room, as if he had seen someone that he very much wished to speak to and, as yet, had not been able to do so. That was not his aim, however. His only desire was to make his way as far from Lord Sunderland and the two ladies as he could. Shame haunted his every step, mortified that he could not appear to find the answer to the riddle while Lord Sunderland could. Why was it that he simply could not find the answer if Lord Sunderland had discovered it in such a short space of time? He had never considered Lord Sunderland to be a particularly learned or wise fellow and yet, here he was, proving to Samuel and the others in the ton that he was more than capable of such things!

At least he is not speaking anything inappropriate to these two ladies, he thought to himself, reaching for a fresh brandy and then making his way out of the room and to the terrace, intending to stand outside for a few minutes. That is a relief at least.

“You look a little frustrated, Lord Thorne.”

The moment fresh air brushed across Samuel’s cheek, so did yet another remark. He was about to tell the young lady that he did not need her observations before making his way from the terrace and stepping back inside, only to notice the slight curl at the edge of her lip.

“Lady… Hyacinth, is it not?” A small frown tugged at his brow. “Your sister is Lady Rose.”

“Yes.” She did not smile and no sense of warmth effused through her words. “That is so. You danced with her some nights ago.”

“But not with you.”

Finally, she smiled but no light came into her brown eyes, the darkness of her hair seeming to send sweeping shadows across her expression. “You did not ask me, Lord Thorne.”

That made fire light in his chest, sweeping up into his face as he scowled.

“My sister is just standing over there, if you wish to speak with her.” Lady Hyacinth, either not seeing or choosing to ignore the look on Samuel’s face, gestured behind her. “My mother also.”

Samuel took a mouthful of his brandy but said nothing, his eyes on Lady Rose. She had been an enjoyable conversation, with good conversation and skill in dancing, but he had been left with a sense of dislike in his chest once she had stepped away. On consideration, it had been, to his mind, because of her over-eager remarks, the too-bright smile, and the near constant fluttering of her eyelashes. Yes, he wanted young ladies to enjoy his company and to seek him out but there were those who were a little too keen and she had been one of them.

“If you must know, I have become irritated with the inane chatter about this blasted riddle,” he told her, though the surprise which leaped into her eyes must, he assumed, have come from his sudden change of conversation. “You have heard of it, no doubt.”

“The riddle?” Lady Hyacinth blinked, a small frown across her forehead. “I have not, no.”

“Then you are the only one who has not,” Samuel stated, seeing her frown grow though he ignored the fact that he had been a little rude in such a statement. “Have you not heard of ‘The London Chronicle’?”

She nodded.

“Then the riddle is contained within.”

Lady Hyacinth swallowed, a paleness in her cheeks now which Samuel presumed came from the slight chill in the evening air. “Might I ask what it was?”

Instantly, the riddle came back into his mind with full clarity, making Samuel’s irritation burst into him anew. Try as he might, he could not seem to escape it! “It says something akin to, ‘I intrude upon moments but with unseeing eyes. I witness your strife but I cannot speak my advice. Frozen in time, I linger on, never to death but perhaps forgotten. What am I?’”

Lady Hyacinth caught her breath and a cold hand gripped Samuel’s heart. “Surely you do not mean to say, Lady Hyacinth, that you know the answer to this riddle so quickly?”

Again, she blinked but she did not look at him. Instead, her gaze was very far away, going to the wall over his shoulder rather than coming anywhere near his face. The coldness that gripped him ran all the way over his skin, fearful now that he truly was the dunce.

“Lady Hyacinth,” he said again, a little more loudly this time which, in one moment, made Lady Hyacinth not only start in surprise but turn her gaze to his again. “Might I ask if you know the answer?”

The moment she began to nod, Samuel’s gut began to twist painfully. He narrowed his eyes a fraction, trying to tell himself that she was only saying so to make herself appear knowledgeable, but the clearness in her expression made him doubt that.

“You know the answer,” he said again, as the edge of her mouth began to lift. “Are you quite sure?”

“Oh, I am more than certain.” Lady Hyacinth’s voice was firm, making it quite plain that she was quite determined in her response. “In fact, I should not doubt for even a moment that I am wrong.”

“Then you must tell me.” Lifting his chin, he held her gaze with a bravado he did not really feel. “That way, I can tell you for certain whether or not you are correct.”

A flickering frown darted into her expression, her eyes holding his but with a slight narrowing of the edges. Samuel said nothing, holding his stance and praying silently that she would give him what he required. Yes, it was a falsehood on his part to state that he knew the answer already and would be able to confirm with her whether she was correct in her thinking, but he certainly was not about to admit that he did not know it! That would bring him more embarrassment than he was willing to shoulder. What he felt within himself at this present moment was already more than enough.

“Very well.” Lady Hyacinth’s smile edged up all the more. “Though why do you not tell me what you think first, Lord Thorne? I should be glad to know what answer you give to the riddle, for then I will be able to keep my mortification to myself, if I am wrong.” Her smile grew and Samuel had the distinct impression she knew very well what he was trying to do. “After all, are not gentlemen meant to be more learned in all things compared to a young lady such as myself?”

Samuel’s mouth went dry as he struggled to find a response to give her; one that would bring about what he desired while, at the same time, making sure that he did not give himself away. “I suppose that your considerations in that is quite correct,” he agreed, seeing her smile fade just a little. “Therefore, it would not do for me to give you the answer first. It would make me appear arrogant and egotistical, I think.”

“Oh, I do not think so.”

“But I do,” Samuel spoke quickly, interrupting her before she could make any further excuses. “Please, do tell me what you think. It may be that you have the answer after all and have nothing to concern yourself with!”

A small sigh whispered from her mouth as she held his gaze steadily, perhaps feeling that she had no more excuses to give. With a lift of her shoulders, Lady Hyacinth spread out her hands. “Is not the answer quite obvious?”

“I suppose that it is, yes.” Sniffing, he held his head high. “I was able to decipher it within a matter of moments.”

“Indeed.”

He nodded but said nothing, still waiting. Lady Hyacinth smiled again, the expression irritating Samuel though he forced his expression to remain outwardly calm.

“It is a portrait, is it not?”

Relief poured onto Samuel as though he had just stepped out into torrential rain. It ran in rivulets over him, a wide smile spreading immediately across his face. “A portrait! Of course!” The smile shattered as he saw her lift an eyebrow. “You are quite correct, Lady Hyacinth,” he added hastily, fearing now that he had given himself away entirely. “That is the very answer I had. It seems that you have done well in this.”

“So it would seem,” she murmured, tipping her head just a little as she studied him, making Samuel feel distinctly uncomfortable. Shifting from foot to foot, he quickly inclined his head, deciding to step away so that he might share his knowledge – or tease some young ladies with his knowledge of the riddle.

“I should leave you to your mother and sister now, I think,” he said, as Lady Hyacinth’s eyes narrowed, giving Samuel the impression that she could read his thoughts and see his intentions, even without him saying a single word to her. “Do excuse me, Lady Hyacinth. It has been a pleasure talking with you.” This last sentence was not true in the least, of course, but Samuel did not care. Well aware that he was being a little rude, he scowled and walked away, his sense of mortification heightening with every step. He knew full well that he had not managed to hide his lack of answer from her, that she had seen through his falseness and realized precisely what it was he was doing. What made him all the more upset was that she had managed to get the answer in a matter of moments whilst he had been struggling continually!

Irritated and finding no enjoyment from the soiree any longer, Samuel thought about leaving, only to turn and make his way to the card table instead. Perhaps he could find a little happiness there, finally able to forget all about that blasted riddle.