Page 3 of To Love a Rakish Earl (Noble Gentlemen of the Ton)

Chapter 2

William could not move from the position where he lay, slumped over his Embleton Manor sofa. He had positioned himself on its cushions a mere few hours before when he arrived home from a night of excessive drinking, one of his favorite activities, and playing the whist tables at Redfield’s. Whether he had won or not, William could not recall. It was not so much the point of the evening anyway. More important to him was the camaraderie and the fun. William very much needed to have a lot of fun.

If only the hours following the drinking were not quite so taxing. William would have preferred not to spend so much time with a pounding head and a terrible, sickly feeling in his stomach. It was not one bit enjoyable.

What did I do before I fell asleep right here? William thought, trying to stretch his mind like an elastic band, but it would not go that far. Who did I meet last night? With whom did I converse and what topics were discussed?

He knew no women would have been involved. None to catch his attention at any rate. William would not have returned back to the manor if so. He maintained a bachelor home in London for times when this occasion arose. His escapades with any women willing to spend the night with him, in particular courtesans, lonely wives, or widows, did not need to mix with his official life. His liaisons would always have no strings attached, which was why he required a separate location for them to happen. There was no one at the manor to be troubled by his female companions, but he preferred to keep his life there in his home separate from his fleeting encounters with women.

A decade ago, William had lost his father. He died tragically from a short bout of scarlet fever which took him almost instantly, shocking the whole Moore family to their very core. Because it was so unexpected, no one had been prepared. Since then, the family had fractured and gone different ways. William remained at the manor and continued to run his textile business, but his mother and sister were so cut up by the loss that they simply could not stay in the home and took up residence in Bath.

They had been living there for such a long time now, missing many important milestones in William’s life. Most notably, they had failed to spend time with Gillian, not that William enjoyed getting caught up in memories of her, particularly not after a night of drinking. The alcohol had his brain foggy enough, and he did not need to do anything else to put himself in a terrible mood. Certainly, reliving his time with Gillian would not improve his current state.

Nothing good could ever come from the past, or so William had come to believe. There was a reason things had to be left behind, so he hated to dredge them back up.

No, he needed to focus on the tasks of the day. Work mostly, making sure his business and home were always in order. Then he wished to talk to the gardener to mention how his mother’s roses were looking a little less full of life these days. While she might not live in London anymore, it did not mean he would not honor her always. If only he could move from his position on the couch, then everything could begin. One step at a time.

“Perhaps there is nothing I should achieve today,” he murmured sleepily to himself. “Maybe this is where I shall stay.”

No sooner had that thought crossed his mind, than the butler from Embleton Manor spoke in his low dulcet tones, “Lord Moore.” Yet even that was enough to pain the brain cells within William’s head. “You have a visitor at the door.”

“A visitor?” William’s mouth was irritatingly dry as he sat up. “I do not have any plans today.”

There was a chance he did have plans; William was merely bluffing but, as it turned out, he was correct. This was not someone he had arranged to come and see him, rather a spontaneous visitor.

“Doctor Andrews is insisting that he see you right away. Should I allow him to enter?”

There was no judgment in the butler’s tone, but William judged himself. If this were anyone other than Tristan he would not be seen in this state. He could not even be sure of how truly awful he looked, for he had not spotted his reflection yet this morning, but Mr. Andrews knew William well enough to demand to see him regardless. It would have to be fine.

He nodded, and the butler went to receive his guest.

“Ah, good morning, William.” Tristan looked defeated at the sight of William. “I see you have been out all night once more.”

“I hope you have not come here to lecture me.” William eyed Tristan with disdain as the doctor sat opposite him, giving him a critical assessment. “I do not need you to tell me about the dangers of too much alcohol. I am not in the mood.”

Tristan paused for a moment too long, causing William’s tension to increase inside. He had heard it all before, too many times. If the words had not already sunk in, then Tristan needed to learn that, unfortunately, they never would. This was the only way that William knew how to live. It was the only way he knew how to have a good time. He could not survive without fun, nor did he want to. He refused to live a stoic, boring existence just to please other people. It did not seem right.

Yet he did not have the strength or willpower to argue that with Tristan today. He wished he could be alone until the nasty aftereffects of spirits could subside. After which, he would be willing and able to do whatever was needed of him, even have this terrible, unwanted conversation about what he may or may not be doing to damage his insides.

“That is not why I am here.” William breathed out a sigh of relief as Tristan confirmed this. “While you know that I strongly believe you do drink too much, I have come to see you for another reason entirely. If you have the time?”

“I shall not be going anywhere any time soon,” William joked. “As you can tell...”

“Guess where I have just come from,” Tristan said mysteriously. William did not even bother to shrug, for there was no way he would be able to guess. “Ridgebrook Manor. I have checked in on Lady Katherine Langley.”

“You have?” That piqued William’s interest. He knew all about Lady Katherine Langley’s terrible carriage accident and the consequences. He had been there to witness it firsthand. Truly, it had been embedded into his brain but not for the reason one might think. It was, in fact, Lady Katherine, who had been on his mind ever since that night...

He would never tell Tristan, but Lady Katherine had been plaguing his thoughts and dreams, which was strange since he did not personally know her. He had only ever encountered her during that one moment, but the impact she’d had on him was monumental. Every time he allowed his mind to wander, it was her that it went to...

Well, when he was not focusing on the dreadful moment the carriage began to lose control in front of his very eyes, yet there was nothing he could do about it. He often wished he could have jumped in the way somehow, to prevent everything from going so wrong. But of course, that was a silly thought. Even if he had been close enough to touch the carriage, he did not have the strength to prevent it from toppling over.

But perhaps he could have assisted Lady Katherine faster.

“Well, the Duke of Ridgebrook has invited you and me to join the family for dinner in the next three days, so that is what I have come here to share with you. Be sure to keep your schedule free. You shall be expected to attend.”

William caught Tristan’s stern look. “I shall keep my schedule free. You do not need to worry about that.” He waved his hand dismissively. “I will also be careful with my drinking. This is a dinner party, not a night at the tables. I am aware of how to conduct myself. I do not need you warning me or attempting to look out for me. I have been conducting myself just fine in London society through all these years without any mishaps. I have not caused any major embarrassments...”

Tristan said nothing, but he did not need to. William could almost read his thoughts, and he was simply waiting for the moment that William did slip up and cause a scandal. But William was smarter than that. It would not happen.

Not again, at any rate.

“He shall wish nothing more than to thank us for our help on that night,” Tristan continued with the warning, even if William had made it obvious that he did not want to hear it. “For us assisting with the rescue of the Langley family after their accident. But we must also be sensitive of Lady Katherine. She is having a very challenging time after the carriage collision.”

That made William’s heart beat a little differently. Of course, the accident would have impacted her terribly; it was a nasty, horrible affair, but that sweet, beautiful woman did not deserve to suffer such misery. He immediately wondered if there was anything that he could do to assist her recovery...not that he was a doctor, or had any medical training. He supposed he would have to assess the situation during the dinner at Ridgebrook Manor. Not that he was in any position to help another person to be happy. Not really.

Perhaps focusing on his own happiness would be a good place to start, and by that, he meant real happiness. Not the sort found at the bottom of a bottle.

“I shall be there,” William replied firmly. “And I shall be on my best behavior. I will be very sensitive to everyone.”

Especially Lady Katherine. After all, even without knowing her, William felt like he had a deep-seated connection with her. The way their eyes locked for just the briefest of moments as she lay on the ground with a badly bumped head and her leg trapped...that minute changed everything for William. The world had moved a little differently.

There was something there between them. William had no way to explain what it was. He did not even know himself how to vocalize it, but the bond was overwhelming.

He knew the moment he sat down beside her that he must do whatever it took to save her life. Even without any medical prowess like Tristan, he did as he could. He’d helped pull the carriage off of her, then held her before he made sure she was taken home and a doctor called for her.

She had lived, but it seemed very much like she was not the same person anymore. She had been affected too badly for that.

William had not been given the chance to see Lady Katherine ever since that moment. The little pieces of news he heard from Tristan, which he had to pick up in between bits of conversation, he could not simply ask aloud without questions being asked; he had deduced that she had barely left her bedchambers since the incident.

It was a real shame.

Who knew what was going to happen at the dinner, though. William was looking forward to finding out. That came as a shock to him because society events such as a dinner party did not normally appeal to him at all.

***

Thankfully, William had recovered much more by the afternoon because, as it turned out, he did have plans for the day: a round of tennis with the wealthy merchant, Robert Cavendish. This was a popular man, well-accepted by London society, yet many people believed that he had things hidden in his background. William chose to think of him as emotionally guarded instead. Since he was not the most forthcoming of men himself, he preferred to see the best in others.

The carriage ride to the tennis courts had left William a little unnerved. He had been uncomfortable with carriage rides ever since he had seen the accident two months ago, but discussing it today with Tristan had really put him on edge. He could not wait until he was at his destination and did not have to travel in a manner out of his control.

It moved too fast, the carriage that crashed, and although William was not too close when it happened, he thought the wheels might have bumped something on the road.

The way the carriage flipped over and everyone flew from it was a terrifying sight. He had run along with Tristan right away to help out as much as he could, although the sight of blood had always made him queasy.

William was not a man who could ever leave someone in need.

Lady Katherine had been harmed most by the accident. The duke had bumped his head, and the duchess had appeared very ruffled. The horses and footmen had been rattled as well, but poor Lady Katherine...As she lay in the road with her leg trapped under one of the very heavy wheels, he knew that she would struggle for a long time to come.

Perhaps that was why he had not been able to stop thinking about her.

Every little bump in the road had him gripping onto his seat a little tighter. Each knock to the left or right spiked anxiety in his chest. He might not have been directly involved in the carriage accident, but it affected him none the less.

Being on solid ground once more was a relief to William, as was the sight of Robert. Robert, who the ton thought of as tall, dark, and very handsome, but his friends knew there was so much more to him. He had a wicked sense of humor and a very infectious laugh.

William needed a laugh today, and that was what he got.

At least, it was until the tennis games were over, and later on in the tea room, the subject of marriage was brought up. That was not something he was in the mood to talk about today. He might have recovered from his long night out, yet not enough for this. Marriage and love brought up so many old feelings he did not like. He would have preferred to head straight into the fencing strip to practice the art of sword fighting.

“Now we have lost Tristan to marriage as well.” Robert laughed, treating it as if his friends were simply dropping like flies. “He does seem truly happy with Emily, and of course, I am overjoyed for them, yet there are not many of us bachelors left, are there? With Marcus Colborne wed to Gemma, too. Living at the seaside with a child on the way...everything is changing.”

“I suppose we are at that age now,” William replied tautly. “I am twenty-nine years of age, you are twenty-eight. Our friends are all going to be married and having families. We are the ones being left behind, if you choose to see it that way.”

“I have not found a woman who intrigues me enough for marriage.” Robert shrugged. “So, I am happy for the time being. Perhaps one day that will change, but for the moment, I am merely enjoying myself as much as I can.”

William opened his mouth, about to agree, but almost immediately, his mind drifted back to his earlier conversation with Tristan about Lady Katherine. He did not know her, yet he had not stopped thinking of her, and there should be a reason for that. Perhaps it would not be love, but he was not looking for love ever again. Not after what happened before with Gillian. Yet, he liked the idea of getting to know her better, speaking with her at the family meal, and seeing who she was.

Who knew what would come from that? William was more intrigued than he’d expected.

“Well, let us begin our practice,” William teased. “And let us hope that I do not remove your head before you have chance to find this mysterious woman of yours.”

Robert snorted with good-natured laughter. “Oh, William, you should be so lucky...”