Page 4 of The Truth about the Marquess (Whispers of the Ton #3)

Chapter Three

“ I hear that Lady Janice is now courting.”

Oliver scowled at his friend, though Lord Dunstable only grinned.

“Yes, I am well aware of that.”

“Was that not someone that you were thinking to call upon?”

A slight flush came over Oliver’s face.

“Yes, I did. I mean, yes, I was going to.”

Lord Dunstable’s eyebrows rose.

“You called on her?”

Oliver winced, wishing that he had not misspoken in such an obvious way.

“Yes, I did. In fact, I did call upon her, at the very time that Lord Brackston did also.” Seeing the way that his friend’s lips quirked, Oliver let out a groan, knowing that he would be unable to escape his friend’s inquisitiveness. “Lord Brackston came into the room, greeted the ladies, and thereafter, practically fell upon his knees and begged Lady Janice to allow him to court her! Just as I was thinking that there was nothing about Lady Janice that I did not like, thinking to myself that I might very easily begin to pursue her, only for Lord Brackston to interrupt my plans!”

“How very rude of him,” Lord Dunstable chuckled, his mouth broad in a smile. “Though that is not necessarily a bad thing, is it? It means that you had no need to pursue her, only to then realize that Lord Brackston was interested in her also. That has saved you a great deal of time and effort, I think.”

“I suppose so.” Oliver let out another sigh, reaching to take a drink from a passing footman’s tray. “It does make me feel that there is very little hope for me, I must confess. First, I had Lady Anna’s rejection and now, I have been pushed away before I even had the chance to draw close to Lady Janice!”

“But do not give up yet,” Lord Dunstable said, quickly. “I will help you, I think.”

Oliver’s eyebrows lifted.

“You want to help me find a bride?”

“If it stops your complaining and whining, then I think that I would be more than willing to do anything you asked!” came the reply, though Lord Dunstable grinned with it, making Oliver roll his eyes, though he could not help but smile also. “Yes, I think I shall. And mayhap I shall find myself a bride at the very same time!”

This made Oliver laugh, knowing that his friend was a dedicated bachelor and had no intention whatsoever of becoming attached to any young lady.

“Now I know that you are jesting.”

“I certainly am not!” Lord Dunstable replied, only to chuckle as he shrugged his shoulders. “Very well, I say that I may find myself a bride but the chances of doing such a thing are very faint indeed. It would have to be a very special young lady, and a very intriguing young lady, to capture my attention, I am sure! But all the same, I would be glad to be of aid to you, seeing that you are so very fervent – both in what you seek and in what you hope for!”

“Well, I would be grateful for it, I am sure.” Looking out across the ballroom, Oliver let out a long, heavy sigh and shook his head. “I seem to be failing before I have even begun!”

A more serious look came over Lord Dunstable’s expression as he surveyed the room.

“The first thing we must do is to have your dance card entirely filled. After all, you are a Marquess – albeit one with a slightly smaller fortune compared to others – but that should not be too difficult a thing to overcome! There will be many a young lady who will not be too concerned about that, I am sure, especially if you make it plain that you are doing all you can to improve it of late! I will make sure that I speak of that to as many of the ton as I can, and that will improve your standing all the more.”

Oliver nodded, rubbing one hand over his chin. That was his only flaw, he was sure. To have a slightly diminished fortune did mean that the ton looked at him with a little more concern, and did not instantly consider him to be as eligible as others.

“That will help.”

“Well? What are you waiting for?” Lord Dunstable threw one hand out as though to sweep Oliver towards the crowd before him. “Take yourself to the ton and have as many young ladies on your dance card as you can!”

“I – I thought you would help me?” Confused, Oliver did not take another step. “I will do what I have always done, dancing with various young ladies – and then what shall I do?”

“Ah-ha!” Lord Dunstable tapped the side of his nose. “Then, you can return to my company, and I will look at your dance card and inform you of which young lady you might then consider pursuing. You know that I am well-informed about society and those within it, so I would hope that I can help you there.”

A slight lift of Oliver’s heart made the edges of his lips curve up. Finally, he felt a little hope.

“Yes, I suppose that you shall,” he agreed, for Lord Dunstable was a very popular gentleman within London, with his title, excellent character, substantial fortune, and his easy smiles – as well as the fact that he had not yet taken a bride! “That is kind of you to be willing to assist me, my friend.”

“Of course.”

Lord Dunstable lifted one eyebrow and, with a nod, Oliver made his way out into the crowd.

His eyes scanned the room, taking in one face after another. Yes, he had been in London for many a Season already and was known to the ton, but that meant they also knew about his past financial struggles. He could only hope that Lord Dunstable’s offer of help would prove to be beneficial. Letting his gaze alight on one small group of young ladies, Oliver’s heart lifted just a little. There were, he recognized, three that he was already acquainted with and two that he was not – and what better way to fill his dance card than by greeting them all without hesitation?

“Lady Norah, Lady Jemima, Miss Dutton.” Oliver bowed his head low, keeping his smile pinned as he then looked up and smiled. “How very good to see you all here this evening.”

Lady Norah and Lady Jemima shared a glance, and both curtsied. Miss Dutton, however, smiled warmly and dropped into a quick curtsey, barely taking her eyes from his.

“We are enjoying the evening here, Lord Edenbridge,” Miss Dutton told him, her green eyes warm. “I am glad to see you again. I think it was last Season when we last spoke!”

“It may well have been.” A little surprised by the lady’s enthusiasm, Oliver turned to the ladies he did not know, keeping his smile fixed. “Might you introduce me to your acquaintances?”

“But of course!” Miss Dutton was more than enthusiastic, quickly introducing him to Miss Quillon and Lady Victoria, who both were warm in their greeting, though not as effervescent as Miss Dutton, who appeared to be more than delighted in all that Oliver said and did. That in itself was rather unusual, for they were not particularly well acquainted.

I have only just been complaining to Lord Dunstable about the lack of genuine interest from various young ladies. Am I really going to be suspicious of a young lady merely because she appears to be warming to my company?

Telling himself that he was being ridiculous, Oliver looked around the group, his gaze lingering on Miss Dutton. She had fair hair and pale blue eyes with a kind smile and that, he was sure, spoke of a good character.

“I do hope that some of you will dance this evening? As yet, I have no one to stand up with and I should very much like to dance as many dances as possible!”

Before any other young lady could do so, Miss Dutton practically flung her dance card at him, her eyes wide with evident excitement.

“I should be delighted!”

Oliver took it from her, then quickly wrote his name in the very first dance he could find available.

“Here, Miss Dutton. I do hope that the cotillion will suffice?”

“Oh, but of course!”

She took it with eager fingers, but Oliver was already looking around at the others, doing his best not to focus entirely on what Miss Dutton was offering by way of her keenness for his company. He reminded himself that he had already failed in his pursuit by focusing on only one lady. He had to do as Lord Dunstable had suggested and make sure that he danced with as many young ladies as possible. Mayhap then he might have a greater chance of success when the time came to move forward with only one.

“I should be glad to dance with you, Lord Edenbridge,” Miss Quillon said, handing him her dance card. “Thank you for your kindness.”

Oliver took it from her, confidence beginning to fill him as he wrote his name down for the polka. Lady Jemima and Lady Norah each folded their arms, evidently making it clear that they were not interested in dancing with him. That took some of Oliver’s confidence away, though he did his best to appear outwardly contented.

“I thank you,” he murmured, handing the card back to Miss Quillon, just as Lady Victoria slipped her dance card from her wrist. “Lady Victoria, I–”

“Might I ask, Lord Edenbridge, whether you have still a great difficulty with your father’s poor investments?”

Oliver blinked, suddenly frozen in place, his hand only half reaching out towards Lady Victoria.

“I beg your pardon?”

Lady Jemima lifted her chin, her gaze a little icy.

“Everyone in London knows that you did not inherit a fortune and that your estate is in need of some repair. Might I ask if those difficulties have become any heavier upon your shoulders? I must sympathize with you, I am sure, for it is not your fault that you have inherited such troubles.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Oliver caught Lady Victoria beginning to retract her hand, her dance card still clasped in it. Quickly, he reached out and took it from her, suddenly filled with an intense dislike for Lady Jemima and her bold words.

“I do not know what you have heard, Lady Jemima, but there are some untruths, some whispers being spoken of me of late which are most unfortunate indeed,” he said, firmly, dropping his gaze to Lady Victoria’s dance card. “I would not like anyone to have the wrong impression about my standing, financially or otherwise.”

“Hmph.” Lady Jemima sniffed, sharing a look with Lady Norah. “Then you mean to say that you have returned your fortune to the great heights it must once have been?”

Oliver scowled but quickly changed his expression as best he could, bending his head to write his name on Lady Victoria’s dance card. He was now rather suspicious that she would be notably absent when the time came for them to dance, given her obvious reluctance.

“I am grateful for your sympathy, Lady Jemima,” he said, lifting his head and handing the card back to Lady Victoria with what he hoped was a smile on his lips. Given the sheer amount of tension running through him, he could not say that he had succeeded in a natural smile. “I have worked hard to improve my situation, and I am glad to say that there has been a considerable amount of… improvement.” Aware that he had used the same word twice in the same sentence, and irritated with himself that he had not been able to speak more effectively, he spread out his hands. “I do hope that answers your question.”

“Mmm.” Lady Norah spoke this time, her eyebrows lifting gently. “Do you mean to say that, though there has been some increase, there has been nothing substantial? Does your manor house require some improvements still?”

Heat built in his chest as Oliver gazed back into Lady Norah’s eyes, hoping that his steady gaze would deter her from her question but instead, all that happened was that she arched an eyebrow, waiting for his response – and Oliver had no choice but to give it.

“I think, Lady Norah, that I would not be here in London and in the midst of society, if I did not think myself to be suitably situated, both in terms of fortune and in my estate. Truth be told, I find it rather disappointing to be asked so many questions as though I must prove myself in such a way rather than having people consider my character and my heart!” Seeing how Lady Norah looked away, Oliver continued, his chest filling with air as he puffed it out, hoping that she would feel a little embarrassed to have spoken so, given his response. “It is not the sort of thing which I have asked any of you now, is it?”

“That is because we have no great fortune, Lord Edenbridge,” Lady Norah replied quickly, her gaze swinging back towards him. “All that we have belongs to our fathers.”

“And I have not asked you questions about them, have I?” Oliver responded, aware that his voice was growing a little louder now, his hands curling tight as he tried to keep hold of himself. Embarrassment was what drove him, mortification over what had been asked, and still, he continued. “I have not stood here and enquired as to what each of your dowries shall be, nor whether or not your fathers have enough funds to keep them respectable! All I have asked is to dance, Lady Norah, and if you wish to refuse, then so be it. I would only ask that you be a trifle more considerate in practically berating me over my lack of fortune – a situation which was not of my making and which I have been burdened with repairing, ever since I stepped into the title.” He stopped then, breathing hard as he looked around the small group. Some of the ladies were staring at him with wide eyes, others were looking down at the floor whilst others – most notably, Lady Norah and Lady Jemima – had slight lifts to the edges of their lips, in what Oliver took to be mocking smiles. He closed his eyes briefly, clearing his throat as he did so. “Do excuse me. I look forward to dancing with some of you later this evening.”

“I am still looking forward to it, Lord Edenbridge!”

Oliver managed only a small nod in the direction of Miss Dutton as he turned away, his face flaming. Thus far, he had managed to not only embarrass himself in front of that small group of ladies but also managed to damage his own reputation by speaking as he had done. Yes, he had defended himself, but in doing so, he had spoken much too harshly and much too bluntly, no doubt making some of the young ladies think rather poorly of him. He dropped his head, groaning inwardly, rubbing one hand over his eyes. He had answered as honestly as he could, as regarded his fortune, but he had seen in their eyes that it was not the answer they had wanted. It seemed that, to improve his reputation and his standing, he had to have restored his fortune to a size even greater than it had been before, had to have made improvements to every part of his estate, rather than just the parts which needed repair… and he could not do that!

“Well?”

Oliver looked up to see Lord Dunstable coming to join him, a look of expectation on his face.

“I – I do not want to speak about what just happened.”

“No?” Lord Dunstable’s eyes widened. “Whyever not?”

“Because I have made a fool of myself,” Oliver replied, his heart sinking low. “And even though I have a few dances now filled, I am quite sure that none of them will wish to dance with me again.” His spirits sank even lower, and he shook his head, aware of the many questions which Lord Dunstable wished to ask him, but having no desire to answer even one of them. “I think that I shall find a drink and then a quiet corner of the room,” he continued, before his friend could say anything. “It seems, I fear, that no matter what I try, I am going to be doomed to failure.”

“I am sure that is not so,” his friend replied quickly, but Oliver only turned away and walked directly to the back of the ballroom, eager to be alone.

His shoulders rounded and his head dropped as he found the shadows of the room welcoming him, rushing into them as though he rushed into the arms of a lady he loved.

Except all that met him was silence.