The Truth about the Earl (Whispers of the Ton #1)

Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

J ames yawned, picked up his coffee cup, and took a small sip. The afternoon was quiet and he was rather enjoying the solitude. Last evening had been a very busy one indeed, for he had been first at another ball where he had, of course, made certain to dance with Lady Essington, and thereafter, he had gone to Whites to enjoy the company of a few friends – Lord Huntsford included. It had been very late indeed when he returned home. Indeed, the first light of dawn had already begun to stretch across the sky when he had finally retired but at least now, he was feeling a good deal more refreshed.

And I am looking forward to this evening when I can be in company with Lady Essington again.

A small smile on his lips began to fade as he remembered how silent she had been last evening. There had not been the usual smiles, the usual delight in her expression when she had looked up at him. James had twice asked her if she was quite all right but she had assured him that yes, she was doing very well indeed. James considered she was, most likely, distracted with news of her friend Lady Adlay and, thus, had chosen to simply dance and converse as he normally would, not questioning her quietness or lack of smiles any further.

And I am still to ask her if she would accept my court.

His smile returned in an instant, as well as a swirling nervousness that captured his core. He wanted very much to ask her to accept his court but there had not yet been an opportunity. Last evening he had thought it best to remain silent, given her melancholy and distraction but perhaps this evening, if she was a little recovered, he might find the courage to do so. The desire to draw closer to her was growing steadily and the nearness of her to him as they danced had been intoxicating. The softness of her lips had cried out to be touched and he had, on two occasions, had to prevent himself from lowering his head any further for fear that he would give in and brush his lips across hers in the middle of a society ball! And then you would have found yourself engaged to her!

That thought did not bring any swirl of uncertainty with it, however. Much to James’ surprise, he found himself rather pleased with the idea, as though it was something he would find quite pleasing. His smile spread all the more as he lifted his coffee to his lips for another sip.

“My lord?” The door flew open and the butler hurried in, his face a little pale and his eyes wide. “Lord Huntsford has just arrived.”

James blinked, his smile dropping from his face. “Indeed. Then, pray, show him in.”

The butler nodded and James frowned, wondering at the paleness of his butler’s cheeks. Why ever should his butler appear so upset? There did not seem to be any reason for it unless Lord Huntsford was in some dreadful state that would require James’ assistance.

“Yardley.” Lord Huntsford strode into the room and James smiled, gesturing him toward one of the nearby chairs.

“Huntsford, do join me,” he said easily. “Forgive me for choosing not to rise. My head is little painful this morning, although I am glad to say it does not ache terribly in the way it so often does after an evening at Whites!” Gazing up, his heart slammed hard against his ribs as he saw the way Lord Huntsford frowned. His friend planted his hands on his hips, his jaw working and his eyes a little narrowed.

“Good gracious, whatever is the matter?”

“I knew it.” Lord Huntsford closed his eyes. “I knew you would not have seen it. I told myself I would have to be the one to inform you of this.”

“Inform me of what?” James’ stomach began to tip this way and that as he shifted in his chair, wondering if he had done something to upset Lord Huntsford. “I do hope you are not angry with me?”

Lord Huntsford shook his head. “The paper.”

James blinked. “The paper?”

“Where is the paper?” Lord Huntsford strode around the drawing room as though he expected to see it at any moment. “I know you possess it, even if you do not read the society pages.”

Something heavy dropped into James’ stomach. “You do not mean to say that something is in there about you? Whatever have you done?”

Lord Huntsford’s eyes narrowed all the more as he turned back toward James. “No, it is not that there is anything written about me ,” he stated, meaningfully. “But there is something in those pages about you.”

James stared up at his friend, a cold wind seeming to blow about him, freezing his skin. For a moment, he wanted to laugh at the foolishness of the idea but one look into Lord Huntsford’s grave expression told him there was nothing to jest about.

“I know you did not do what is written there, given that you were in company with myself and the other gentlemen. Unless, of course, there was a late performance at the theatre and you chose –”

“Theatre?” James unfolded himself from the chair and got up, his coffee cup set aside. “Whatever do you mean? I was not at the theatre last evening or the evening before! Indeed, I have not been there for a little over a fortnight.”

Lord Huntsford nodded although his expression remained tight. He was not upset with James himself, James realized, but rather upset about what had been written and how it would now affect him. He closed his eyes. “The papers are in the dining room.”

“Then come. We must fetch them.”

James’ eyes flared. “That is why my butler appeared so pale-faced. He must have already known of this news.”

Lord Huntsford nodded sharply. “But of course. The servants always know of such things before the rest of us.”

James did not know how to respond. His mouth was dry, his skin burning and his eyes darting from one place to the next as he attempted to make sense of it all.

“I thought you said Mrs. Fullerton only ever wrote the truth?” he managed to say, as Lord Huntsford made his way to the door, throwing it open so they could walk out together. “This is clearly not the truth!”

“It is very strange, I confess it. This is the second time something has been added in which is most untrue. First, there came that note about Lady Essington – or someone who looked like her – emerging from a gentleman’s house in the early hours of the morning. That has been difficult for her, I am sure, but she has remained in society, determined to refute it. Now you must do the same.”

Shaking his head, James shoved one hand through his hair as they walked into the dining room. His whole body was trembling as the slow-growing realization of how this would affect him began to take over. Invitations would be rescinded; ladies might give him the cut direct and the number of his acquaintances would surely shrink!

“Do not give way to panic.” Lord Huntsford’s voice boomed through the dining room as they entered, perhaps seeing the strain on James’ face. “You are beginning to be afraid and I have no wish for you to be so. You will not lose my friendship and I am certain the like of Lady Essington and Lady Adlay will not turn from you either.”

James tried to nod, still aware of the shaking in his limbs. Sitting down heavily at the dining room table, he reached for the papers and turned them open to the society papers.

His eyes found the words almost as soon as he had opened up the paper. He read the words aloud, his words low and muffled, reluctant to speak them. “‘Lord Y is known as a gentleman of quality and yet he was seen exiting the personal rooms of one Miss Henstridge only yesterday evening after the theatre performance. Miss Henstridge currently works at the theatre and can often be found in a variety of roles.’” He frowned, reading the last sentence again. He had no knowledge of who this Miss Henstridge was but, evidently, she was not only a theatre performer but also a lady eager for a little additional company. Company that, apparently, he had been willing to give her.

“This is nothing but codswallop!”

“I am well aware of that,” Lord Huntsford replied, wandering around the room but flailing his hands in all directions at the same time. “But those in the ton will question it.”

“No doubt there will be a good many of them already gossiping about me,” James muttered, pressing one hand to his forehead and staring down at the words. “If I knew who this Mrs. Fullerton was, I swear I should be tempted to call her out!”

Lord Huntsford’s smile was a little tight. “I understand the sentiment.” His hands settled on his waist, elbows akimbo. “There are, unfortunately, very few gentlemen with a last name beginning with the same letter as yours, and thus, I suspect the majority of the ton will be looking to you as the gentleman in question.”

Squeezing his eyes closed, James allowed the flare of anger in his heart to burn upwards, spreading heat through his chest. His hands curled tightly into fists and he slammed one down hard on the table, making the clean china cups and saucers rattle.

“This is utterly unfair! I have been thrown into a quagmire without having any reason to be there! The ton will whisper about me, the ladies will no longer be willing to speak with me, and whilst you state you believe Lady Essington will be glad of my company still, I fear it may not be so.” A deep curl of fear began to blossom in his heart and James caught his breath, struggling to think of such a thing without a worry. “Whatever am I to do?”

Lord Huntsford rubbed at his lips for a moment, his brows cutting a thick line between them. “I think we must refute it.”

“But how can we do so?”

Lord Huntsford pointed one hand out toward him. “You must ask quickly. You must write to the gentlemen that we were with and beg of them to come alongside you in solidarity. That they would speak openly about your presence with them last evening and that they would refuse any and all gossip that is spread about you.”

A tiny flickering hope began to grow in James’ chest. “Do you think that will be enough?”

“I think it will have to be,” came the reply. “What else can you do but try?”

James nodded, his heart still beating a good deal more quickly than before as he once more glanced down at the paper in front of him, having not realized his fingers had scrunched around it, as though he might bring out some of his ire upon the words themselves. “You are quite right.” He let out a long breath. “And I wish to make certain Lady Essington is informed also.”

Lord Huntsford’s eyebrows lifted. “You intend to write to her?”

James nodded. “I think I must. If I am to have her continued friendship – something I have been considering at great length – then I must speak to her. I must make certain she hears from me that this rumor is naught but that.”

“You care for her.”

“Of course, I care for her!” James exclaimed, throwing up his hands. “You know I do. For heaven’s sake, I was considering matrimony only earlier this afternoon before your arrival!” He saw his friend’s eyes flare wide but did not hesitate. “I do not know if she wishes to wed again but I have every intention of courting her if she will accept me. I do not know if she will, especially now with this rumor, but I can but hope. That is why I wish to write to her at once.”

“Then go and do so,” came the reply. “In fact, if you can spare me, I shall write to the gentlemen we were with last evening also, stating the very same to them as you shall write. With both of our letters, we must hope we shall have enough of an impact to encourage society to remain favorable toward you.”

Nodding slowly, a shining truth began to reveal itself to James, lingering there in his mind, opening quietly until he realized the full extent of it.

“I do not care about society,” he said slowly, going back on some of his previous statements. “I have been anxious that ladies will give me the cut direct, that my acquaintances will shrink. But the truth is, my only concern is that of Lady Essington.” His gaze lifted to Lord Huntsford, who was nodding, evidently aware of everything James was trying to say. “I care not whether society rejects me. I care only about her opinion of me, for if I lose her friendship and her companionship, then I fear I shall lose everything.”

“Then let us hope you do not.” Lord Huntsford made his way to the door, leaving James to follow after him. “Come. The sooner we can write these letters, the better it shall be for you. I am sure of that.”