Chapter 18

Chapter 18

He must be a chump.

There was no other reason that Dorian could fathom for standing here at a garden party that he had absolutely no desire to attend. He had debated breaking decorum and simply refusing to go. Yet that would only cause even more rumors and drama to follow him around. Dolores was already doing everything in her power to ensure he was set up for a very busy afternoon.

He would endure one hour, and one hour only. That was all he would tolerate of this event.

Finding Dolores a husband and arranging her marriage would be the simplest plan of action. If he found her a match and moved her out of the house, it would solve his current problems. It would likely be the swiftest possible conclusion, as well. Yet it would mean that, for all of his protests against forced marriage and his own personal belief that one should marry for love, he would condescend to her level.

How could Dolores not remember the argument that he could recall so clearly? It had been years ago, but it was still fresh in his mind as if it had only been yesterday. All of the events concerning Claire tended to be quick to summon.

Dolores had shouted at him for hours until her voice was hoarse and scratchy. They had stood in the yard, freezing and enraged at one another, after she had found out his intentions with Claire. He had thought, at the time, that she would have been happy for him that he was in love and seeking to take a wife. But the moment he'd told her they were to be married, Dolores had changed into another person entirely.

I knew it.

She had said the same phrase at least a dozen times. He had pleaded with her not to be cross, that they had no choice but to hide their love because of Claire's station and the implications it would have for their family and Dolores' own prospects. Dolores had cried, stating that he had betrayed her by stealing away her friend and companion.

I will make you regret this, Dorian, mark my words.

He had chosen not to believe it. He had thought it an idle threat because the information had been sprung upon her. Even after everything happened, he had trusted her. He had thought Dolores was on his side and would only ever act in his best interests as his sister.

I will handle our father, do not worry. Everything will be fine.

The placations had soothed him even as he had gotten on that boat so many years ago. Six months, that was all he was supposed to be gone. She had accepted the relationship between him and Claire. At least, so he had thought. Yet over the many years that had passed, Dolores had become more and more hostile before she started to return his letters unopened.

The time away had only driven the rift between them deeper and deeper. The wedge was unfixable now. One of the last letters he had received before their father had died was a confession of how poorly the estate had been doing over the last year. The books were all wrong and so much money was unaccounted for. And that was just the beginning.

The ride the other night had really been the perfect opportunity to clear his head.

No matter what else Dolores chose to throw at him, he would need to keep his wits about him. It was only his residual familial love for her that had him treating her with what patience he could muster in the first place.

Slowly, Dorian turned his focus to the scenery around him. Brightly colored displays and floral arrangements decorated the park's walking paths beautifully. Bees zipped from one arrangement to the other, seeking nectar. The sun was not too hot overhead as various couples and their chaperones meandered through the setting.

Lively conversation was a delicate hum that paired with the merry song of the birds in the trees. He had even spotted a bush in the distance that seemed swarmed by butterflies. Parasols of every color and shape rested against ladies' shoulders, and blankets with full picnic spreads were interspersed on the grounds at random. A few of the larger canopies had long tables with fine assortments of delicacies to be shared.

It just felt so very hollow.

In his mind's eye, he could only imagine how Claire would have loved to be here, spending the afternoon with him. She would have skipped over the pathways and sampled each and every flavor of finger sandwich that she could reach. Claire would have dragged him over to the bush with the butterflies twice at the very least.

He could hear the ghost of her bubbly laughter at every butterfly sighting. He could practically feel her hand on his arm, pulling him by the shirt sleeve to listen to the salacious gossip she had just overheard while laughing about it the whole time.

Perhaps it was unfair to keep that version of her in his mind. He often spent time with that ghost. He looked for her in every room he entered. In his youth, Claire had all but replaced the very sun in his life and without it… all of this just felt muted.

Claire was a grown woman now, and unlikely to take to skipping about paths or plucking flowers. Perhaps for the sake of her daughter she might, but as they all aged, Dorian was sure such habits and impulses were far easier to ignore. Their night together had made it seem as if she had not lost any of the vibrancy of her youth, but how could he be certain?

Most of the young women of the ton had managed to give him a decent berth. The scowl that was ever-present on his face seemed to make the choice of avoiding him all that much simpler.

"You look as if you have been sucking on lemons, brother," Dolores said by way of greeting. She held a cup of lemonade in one hand as she protectively wafted the bees away from the brim of her glass with her other gloved hand. "I do not see how anyone could be unhappy on a day like this."

"The weather has no effect on my temperament."

"Then perhaps you should remove the stick from you—"

"And those are the words of a lady?"

"You cannot be miserable all of the time!"

"When one is stuck between a rock and a hard place, sister, you will find it is quite easy to be unhappy."

"And which one of those am I supposed to be, the rock or the hard place?"

Dorian did not bother answering that question.

"Well, there is one thing that I thought might cheer you up today, but it appears your beloved harlot Claire has declined to grace us with her presence today."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Dolores only smirked and took another sip of her drink. "I do dearly wish she had come. Perhaps then this would have all finally come to an end."

"What did you do?" Dorian demanded, his voice low and deadly.

Dolores did not answer him, but merely sauntered away from him with an exaggerated swing of her hips. Gloating. She was practically floating on air for how smug she appeared.

"Come along then, brother, if you wish for answers so badly," Dolores called over her shoulder. She did not even bother looking to see if he was going to follow—she knew he would have no choice when she phrased it like that.

She led the pair of them over to a small group of people. A man at least ten years older than himself stood at the center, graying only at the temples. He had a wise, kind-looking face, the sort of leathery crinkle to his skin that spoke of a man who spent a good amount of time outdoors, despite the fine clothes that he presently wore.

Surrounding the man were two young women and an older woman who must have been the mother of one or both of them. Their faces were familiar to him, but he could not remember their names. He had a suspicious feeling they were the focal point of whatever plot Dolores was currently hatching.

"I would love to see a waterfall!" one of the girls said, playfully leaning forward to touch the man's arm.

He grinned and shook his head. "I do not know if the wilderness is the sort of place for a lovely woman such as yourself."

Dolores edged her way into the conversation. "Lord Braverly, have you had the opportunity to meet my brother, Dorian Blanchard, Earl of Windham? I was hoping you two could have a chance to speak. You have so much in common."

Dorian's eyes narrowed at his sister for a moment before his polite manners won out and he extended a hand to the man to shake.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Braverly."

"Ah, yes, Lord Windham, I have heard much about your travels! It is a wonder that we have not encountered one another before now! I think we have been to nearly the same number of places."

Dorian forced a smile. "And yet, we find ourselves back here. I do hope your reason for returning to London is of far better circumstances than my own?"

"I have heard about your father. I do apologize… please accept my deepest condolences."

"I fear you have me at a disadvantage, for I do not know half as much about you as you do about me," Dorian said with a weak smile.

"Well, brother, I think the most important thing to note is that Lord Braverly has returned to London for perhaps the best reason at all—to obtain a wife."

The whole attitude of the conversation drastically shifted.

"You have caught me, Lady Windham." He grinned with a soft chuckle. "Though, I suppose I was not being entirely subtle about it. I am sure you can relate as much as anyone that spending so much time out there in the world can get very lonely without anyone to share your adventures with… nobody to write home to, as it were."

Dorian understood that desire. It was why he had attempted to write to Claire so very many times, despite knowing he would never get the responses he craved.

"In truth, I am hoping to find a like-minded woman to bring with me to the colonies. Which is proving to be somewhat more difficult than one would think."

Lord Braverly chuckled. He was a hard man to dislike, as was abundantly evident by the women trying very hard to gain his attention. Lord Braverly leaned in to Dorian's side and spoke in a lower tone meant for only him to hear. "But it is rather difficult to cut to the truth of matters here, I would say."

Dorian nodded his agreement, ready to comment on the situation, but Dolores spoke up before he could.

"You know, Lord Braverly, I happen to know a woman that you just might find perfectly suitable. Good-natured, strong-willed, and adventurous. I would love to introduce the two of you. She has a young daughter, but I am certain a man of your caliber would be more than up to the challenge," Dolores continued.

Dorian felt his heart drop as he realized just what his sister was suggesting. Something so absolutely unacceptable he could hardly fathom it.

"Is that right?" Lord Braverly answered, clearly interested in whatever Dolores was about to say next.

Dorian grabbed his sister by the elbow, and muttered an abrupt, "Excuse us."

Dolores could hardly contain her glee. "I tried to explain that I only had her best interests in mind when I invited her. I just can't imagine why she would refuse my invitation. It is best for a woman of her station to seek another husband. She cannot possibly hope to raise that helpless young girl properly on her own. Though, I suppose she does have a rather specific sort of skill set that would ensure she had money to feed the girl."

Dorian's grip on his sister's arm tightened and she winced.

"Ow! You are hurting me, Dorian!" Dolores hissed, but he did not stop walking until they were well out of earshot.

"What are you playing at? Is this some sort of sadistic streak where you just enjoy seeing everyone around you in pain?" Dorian accused. "If you do not stop your wicked tongue, I promise you I shall have it removed."

Dolores clearly did not take him seriously enough. "Why do you care what her future looks like, brother? You are quite finished with her, are you not?"

Dorian knew any answer he had to that question would have to be a lie, so he did not even bother.

"I will ensure that she does not get back in our way once more. I will not let her muddy your future. As you clearly are incapable of moving on from her on your own, I will force your hand. Once again, I shall make the tough choices so that you do not have to. Think of it as a favor, brother."

"A favor?" Dorian could hardly contain his incredulity.

"A widow such as herself cannot deny a wealthy man like Lord Braverly. I am setting her up for a very comfortable life. Her and her daughter both. The fact that he intends on shipping her across the world is just a special little bonus."

"I will not allow it. All of these games, all of your little plots and plans, they must stop ." Dorian tried to appeal to any sense of reason that she must have, but the crazed look in her eyes made him wonder if she was losing more of her sanity than he had originally presumed.

"If not Lord Braverly, then another one. I promise you, brother, I shall have her sent away if it is the last damned thing that I do."