Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The low crackle of the fire did little to ease his irritation as Lord Henry Montague attempted to pay attention to his book.

“You have to get out there, Lord Ashford. It pains me deeply to see an eligible and wealthy man such as yourself secluded and alone.” Alfred Hampton shook his head in disapproval and sighed. His short-cropped brown hair had been combed back, although a few stubborn strands fell over his forehead.

Realizing that he would not be getting much reading done, Lord Ashford shut his book and looked up. His dark brown eyes, which boasted flecks of gold, glinted in the fading light of the fire despite his irritation.

The rest of the men in the club’s billiard room seemed far too taken with their conversations to pay attention. The low murmur of voices, along with the clinking of glasses, had always provided a safe space for Henry to read. That was until Alfred Hampton had come into his life. The man seemed hell-bent on saving Henry, even if he didn’t want to be saved.

“All I am saying is that a man of your title and wealth should not resign himself to a life of reading. There is still much that you have to experience.” The man waved the idea away with a flick of his hand in the air. His thin lips pursed into a fine line of disapproval, adding to the pinched look of his thin face.

“What if I prefer the solace of books?” Henry asked with a sigh before running his fingers through his thick mop of hair.

The brown had begun to turn grey in his early twenties, and by the age of forty-one, he now had more streaks of grey than brown. He’d long since given up on attempting to tame the wild spurts of growth.

Alfred scoffed before sipping his whisky. “No man wants to spend the rest of his life alone. I simply won’t hear any of your excuses for solace and reading. We will find you a wife before the season is out.”

“That would be quite a feat, considering the last ball of the season is being held at this very moment.” Henry raised his eyebrow quizzically, somewhat amused by the man’s plight to find him a wife.

“Oh,” Alfred seemed to realize his blunder as he lowered his empty glass. “Well, then, we shall find you a wife by the end of winter. I have failed you thus far, but I shall prevail.”

Feeling his irritation rising, Henry shook his head. “Has it ever occurred to you that I actually enjoy my solitude? I am a widower, Lord Hampton. My time as a husband has come and gone; I now wish to spend the rest of my years in peace.”

“Stuff and nonsense.” Lord Hampton made a sound of disgust at the back of his throat before continuing, “I do not believe you. Being a widower myself, I understand how lonely one can get. Nobody wishes to spend the rest of their life alone. Why do you think I have been dragging you along all these evenings since I met you all those months ago? We men have to be adventurous in our search for wives.” He spoke determinedly with the air of one who knew that what they were saying was true.

Placing his hands on the armrests of his chair, Henry pushed himself up and stood. “If it is your wish to marry again, then may I suggest that you set your mind to it and leave me be. I will bid you a good evening, Lord Hampton; may you be successful in your endeavours.” Henry bowed respectfully and hurried away before the man could protest again.

“I will see you again tomorrow evening, Lord Ashford, do not think that I have given up on you,” Alfred called to him despite the cool tone and finality that Henry had used.

Feeling the kiss of the cool evening air, Henry breathed a sigh of relief when he stepped onto the street. It wasn’t that he disliked the man; on the contrary, he thought of Lord Alfred Hampton as a well-intentioned man. He simply just never wanted to get married again. His marriage, while not unpleasant at the best of times, had left him feeling content on his own.

Turning his head with his book held tightly by his side, Henry took note of a few stragglers from the club, along with a few people returning from a hard day’s work. The dimly lit street wasn’t busy, yet it didn’t exactly provide anyone with the feeling of safety.

He was about to search for his carriage when the sound of hurried heals clinking on the pavement drew his attention.

A swish of light green fabric appeared out of the corner of his eye.

What the devil?

His brow quickly knit into a frown as he spotted the thin young lady hurrying around the corner of a nearby alley. Her appearance was just as puzzling as it was startling when he noted the almost severe thinness of her frame. She was dressed like a young lady of the ton, yet her protruding wrist bones, thin arms, and slender neck spoke of poverty.

“Miss, can I help you?” he spoke up when she glanced down the alley for a moment before hurrying in his direction instead.

Gasping with fright, she looked up just in time to stop herself from bumping into him. Her large brown eyes widened in shock when the hem of her dress snagged on the edge of a jagged crack in the pavement, causing her to fumble and step back.

The scene seemed to play out in slow motion as Henry acted quickly, reaching out as he placed his arm around her waist and gripped her wrist.

The sunken look of her hollow cheeks accentuated the shock in her eyes as her full lips formed a perfect, yet silent, ‘oh’. Her porcelain skin seemed perfect and free of blemishes despite the lack of colour, adding to his confusion.

She’s beautiful.

The thought caught him off guard as he recalled how long it had been since he’d taken notice of any young woman. Heat crept up the back of his neck when he realized how closely he was staring at her. Her light brown hair shone beneath the almost ethereal sheen from the lamp above their heads.

A sharp pain made him wince as heat shot up his right thigh and travelled down his calf, enflaming his old wound.

“Unhand me!” The maiden began to struggle when he winced, pushing his hand from her wrist as she attempted to come up straight.

Pulling her up as if she weighed nothing at all, Henry let out a breath and admonished himself for acting like a young fool. He swore under his breath before letting her go.

The fury in her beautiful eyes ignited his curiosity as she whipped around and began to walk back up the street.

“Miss! Would you wait for just a moment!” he called out to her after spotting a rowdy group of young men from across the street. Under any normal circumstances, he would have let her go, yet the dangers of London life at night would not allow him to leave her unaccompanied.

The girl never so much as looked back as she lifted the hem of her light green dress and hastened her pace. The heels of her shoes clicked furiously against the hard pavement as she went.

“Miss, if you would just allow me to walk you home. I can assure you that I mean well.” He caught up to her despite the pain in his thigh that aggravated his limp.

Whipping around once again, she glared at him furiously. “I can assure you that I do not need assistance, My Lord. It is entirely impertinent of you to assume the role of walking me home.” Her eyes wandered over his fine clothes before addressing him.

A moment of confusion passed over his mind as Henry wondered if he had seen resentment in her gaze. “I beg your pardon, Miss, but I was not being presumptuous. I merely meant to convey my concern for a young lady walking alone at night. The streets of London are no place for a fine young lady.” His gaze once again swept over the fashionable dress that seemed to stand in stark contrast to her almost starved appearance.

He wondered briefly if she hadn’t been trying to impersonate a wealthy young lady. It would certainly explain why she had been trying so hard to get away.

“I can assure you that I will be just fine, My Lord. Thank you for your concern.” She hurriedly curtsied and returned to her brisk pace.

She is far too fine not to be a lady.

The elegance in her mannerisms made him realize that she couldn’t have just been impersonating a well-born woman.

Hurrying once again to catch up, he fell into step by her side. “Miss, I must insist upon accompanying you home. If you wish, we may take my carriage; it is just up the street in the opposite direction.” He nodded back to where they had come from.

Stopping in her tracks, the young woman glared daggers at him. “What do I need to do to get the message across to you men? Is it so absurd that any woman would simply wish to be alone? Has the notion of anyone wanting solitude never crossed men’s minds?!” Her cheeks filled with colour as she clenched her fists at her sides and raised her voice.

“Us men?” Henry asked in confusion, looking around to see if anyone else had been following her. Her rage towards him seemed entirely disproportionate to the situation at hand, at least in his opinion.

A look of realization came over her face as she opened and shut her mouth. “Never mind, I apologize for my behaviour, My Lord, but I must insist that you leave me to my own devices. Good evening.” She curtsied once more and turned to leave just as a carriage appeared at the far end of the street, rattling uncontrollably as it sped over the uneven street.

“Oh no,” she gasped and turned back to him, her face paling with fright.

“What is the matter? Is somebody following you?” He suddenly took up a protective stance and came to her aid, shielding her body from view as the carriage drew closer.

“It’s … It’s just my family. I do not wish them to find me. I am begging of you, My Lord, please allow me to hide. You never have to see me again after this evening; just allow me this one courtesy this once.” Her eyes were almost frantic as she glanced at the dark alley to her side.

She’s running away from home.

Realization dawned on him as he looked back at the carriage. “Are you in need of any kind of assistance, Miss? Has your family mistreated you or harmed you in any way?” Her malnourished appearance added to his suspicions.

She looked confused for a moment before answering. “Well, no, I simply do not wish them to drag me back to the ball.”

Ah, there it is.

The young woman wasn’t an ill-treated runaway or even a damsel in distress; she simply didn’t wish to return to her family and the ball.

Turning back to her with a sympathetic gaze, he pursed his lips. “I can sympathize with not wanting to attend a ball. I myself detest them at the best of times, but I simply cannot allow you to walk the streets alone.” Honour took over as he anticipated her movements and stepped in her path before she could enter the alley.

Her mouth fell open again for a split second before she glared at him. The fire in her eyes would have been intimidating if he hadn’t just discovered that she was running away from a ball.

The carriage came to a screeching halt beside them as the horses neighed uncomfortably. The sudden tug on their reins creating discomfort.

“Isabelle Sutton, how dare you run away from us like that!” An older woman with wild eyes and wrinkled skin poked her head from the carriage, practically foaming from the mouth as she yelled.

Looking back to the young lady he now knew as Isabelle Sutton, he noted the lack of fear in her eyes, reaffirming that she wasn’t in danger.

The door on the other side of the carriage opened and shut before a young man, who looked to be in his late twenties, appeared from around the back of the carriage.

“Isabelle, I can understand that you were overwhelmed, but that was entirely irresponsible of you.” He breathed a sigh of relief after looking her over.

The stark family resemblance set Henry at ease as he stepped back and handed the situation to the young man.

Fuming with anger after glaring at him, Isabelle gave him a final stare before lifting the hem of her dress and entering the carriage.

The young man turned to him with an apologetic smile. “I hope my sister hasn’t caused you too much trouble, Mr …” His words trailed off as he waited for Henry to fill in the rest.

“Lord Henry Montague, Earl of Ashford,” Henry politely informed the man before placing his hands behind his back along with the book. How he had managed to keep it in his hands was a mystery to Henry, but he chalked it up to years of combat training in the war.

“Ah, well, you have our thanks, Lord Ashford. I must now excuse myself as we need to get my sister home.” The young man bowed respectfully before hurrying back into his carriage.

The horses broke into a fast trot almost as soon as the carriage door shut.

Angry voices could be heard from inside the carriage as it passed, yet the young woman continued to glare at him through the pane of glass.

The angry look in her eyes as she passed made him chuckle to himself as he watched the carriage disappear down the street. The things that he saw in London never failed to amuse him. He was glad that his days of balls and frivolity had come to an end, although he did pity the young woman who seemed to want out.

“I’m just glad that it isn’t me,” he whispered before making his way back up the street.

The young girl had been quite beautiful and fiery, yet he was glad he never had to deal with such theatrics ever again. His days of having to bow to the norms and social expectations of the ton were far behind him. He would never see the young lady again and wished her well, or so he thought …