Chapter Four

"Your Grace, I have a calling card here from the Viscount of Tidemore."

Henry yawned and, reaching out, took the card from his butler. "Viscount Tidemore? I do not think we are acquainted."

The butler said nothing, simply looking back at Henry.

"What is he here for?"

"I believe he has an invitation for you, Your Grace. I did say that I would bring it to you but the gentleman said he very much wished to deliver it to you himself."

Henry scowled. "No doubt he has a daughter he wishes me to meet." It had only been a day since he had placed that notice in the paper and, during that time, he had been inundated with callers. It had brought him a greater pressure than he had anticipated and thus, he had hidden himself away in his study and instructed the butler to send everyone away, under the guise of his absence. It was now rather late in the afternoon and he had not expected anyone else to come to his residence, for everyone would, by now, be preparing for whatever evening occasion they were going to be attending.

"It is an invitation only, Your Grace." The butler spread out his hands. "I cannot say whether or not there is a young lady in this situation, I am afraid."

Henry managed a small, wry smile. "No, I suppose that you would not know." He sighed. "Well, I suppose he is the only gentleman who has thought to bring an invitation rather than simply desiring to call upon me." He took another moment and then shrugged. "You may send him in."

The butler nodded and disappeared, leaving Henry to sit in his study chair and considering the card he had been handed. Whoever this Viscount Tidemore was, he was the only one who had come to offer something to Henry rather than merely desiring to introduce someone to him. That was something at least.

Though it is only a viscount. And the daughter would not be well titled.

A dark frown swept across Henry's forehead. This was not what he cared about, was it? That was just his mother's words coming back to his mind, threatening to take away from what he himself had already decided: so long as the young lady was pleasing, proper and considerate, then he would offer his hand. He would have to have the guarantee that she would not step outside the bonds of their engagement, however, which meant that either he would wed her quickly, or he would prolong their engagement to make certain that she was not as Rachel had been.

Mayhap the latter, he mused, only for the door to open and the butler to usher in another gentleman.

Henry rose to his feet but did not come out from behind his desk. He took in the gentleman before him, seeing the way his eyes darted this way and that, his face a little red and immediately realized that the fellow was a little anxious. Yes, Henry told himself, this was to do with a young lady, even if there was an invitation to cover that intention.

"Viscount Tidemore? I do not believe we have been introduced." Henry inclined his head. "The Duke of Fairglen."

The viscount bowed quickly, stammering a little as he rose. "Y…yes, you are quite correct, we are not acquainted. Thank you for your willingness to permit me presence here. I know that such things are a little untoward." He cleared his throat and then, after a moment, took a step closer and handed Henry an envelope. "An invitation to our musical soiree, Your Grace. I would be honoured by your presence, should you deign to attend."

"I thank you." Henry took the envelope and then set it down on his desk. He would open it later, once the gentleman had gone. "Tell me, who will be performing at this musical soiree? Do you have any daughters who will be playing?" Rather than pretend that this invitation was nothing more than that, Henry chose to get to the heart of the matter, smiling a little grimly as he saw the viscount's eyebrows lift in surprise.

"Why… why yes, I do have daughters. The younger, Amelia, is to play the pianoforte, but it is my eldest daughter, Edith, who will be the most favored performer of the evening."

A little intrigued by this, Henry tilted his head. "Is that so?"

The Viscount nodded, his chin lifting a little as if he were filled with a great sense of pride.

"And what does she play?"

"The violin, Your Grace. I think she is rather nervous, for she has not often played in front of a large audience for some time but she will, I am certain, steal everyone's breath away." There was a warmth in the viscount's voice which made Henry's eyebrows lift a little. This gentleman was clearly very proud indeed of his daughter and it did make Henry wonder as to just how well this young lady played.

"Tell me about her," he said, finding himself interested in the other attributes that this young lady might possess. "Is she somewhat shy, or reserved?"

The Viscount hesitated, the shook his head. "I would say that she is a little reserved when it comes to having every eye upon her, Your Grace, that is all. In company and conversation, I do not think she is shy in that way, no."

"I see." Henry paused for a moment, wondering if it might truly be as simple and as easy as this. If he were to pursue this young lady, the Viscount's daughter, then it would mean that all other concerns would be put to rest. He would not have the ton wondering as to which young lady he might be thinking of, he would not have gentlemen and ladies bringing their sisters and daughters to him for consideration. It could be very easy indeed.

"I will not pretend, Your Grace, that I am unaware of your interest in pursuing matrimony," Lord Tidemore continued, when Henry did not say a word. "My daughter, Edith, did not secure a match last Season but given that many debutantes do not, I did not think it a concern. Nor should you be concerned in that regard, should you decide to acquaint yourself with her. I can assure you that she is more than proper, well-rounded in her character, sweet in her nature and steady in her devotion. She does not speak out of turn, does not act with any foolishness but gives to everything – even the smallest interaction – the greatest thought. Might you be willing to come to the musical soiree and permit me to introduce her to you? That is all that I seek, Your Grace."

The more Henry considered this, the more he found himself rather contented by the prospect. This young lady meant nothing to him and he was more than contented for it to stay that way. She was merely one name among many.

"You have been honest and frank with me, now permit me to speak plainly," Henry answered, seeing the Viscount nod fervently. "You are quite correct that I am searching to make a suitable match this Season. I am looking for a bride and I do not particularly care as to who that young lady might be." He watched the viscount's eyes round but shrugged inwardly. "Nor do I have any expectation of a love match, Lord Tidemore. Any young lady that I consider must be well aware of that." Much to his surprise, Lord Tidemore let out something of a chortle.

"I can assure you that my daughter has no interest in such things," he said, with a sureness in his tone which went a long way to convince Henry that what he was saying was true. "She is only interested in making a good match, that is all. She has the truth of that in her mind at all times, just as any daughter ought. No, Your Grace, you need not concern yourself with fearing that my daughter would be at all upset at a match of convenience. What you can be assured of is that she would understand her place, do as she was expected and live in a way which brings you nothing but the support of a dutiful and understanding wife."

Henry blinked, considering all that Lord Tidemore had said. It was just as any father would do, he supposed, to declare his daughter's attributes and, no doubt, exaggerate them, but the only way he could discover such a thing was if he met the young lady herself.

"Very well, Lord Tidemore," he said, sitting back down in his chair, though he did not invite the gentleman to take a chair with him. "I shall attend your musical soiree."

The gentleman's quick intake of breath did not go unnoticed by Henry, who permitted himself a small, somewhat wry smile.

"You shall?"

"Yes, and I should like to be introduced to your daughter. What is her name?"

"Edith." Lord Tidemore rubbed his hands together, as though he were putting a great scheme into place. "I should be delighted to introduce you to her."

Henry nodded. "I shall see if the playing of her violin is just as you have said," he stated, lifting his eyebrows just a little, though the gentleman nodded fervently, clearly determined to prove that this was, in fact, the case. "And if she is as good as you have said, then I shall be all the more inclined to believe the other things you have said of her."

The way the Viscount stared at him made Henry's lips quirk. Evidently, this gentleman had not expected there to be any sort of positive response to his invitation and suggestion of an introduction to his daughter and now, he was somewhat overwhelmed. "Lord Tidemore?"

"Yes, yes, of course, Your Grace!" Lord Tidemore exclaimed, enthusiasm filling his voice and his expression. "Thank you, that is wonderful. I look forward to being able to introduce you to Edith." He bowed low and for a little too long. "Thank you again, Your Grace. Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon." A little amused at the enthusiasm of the gentleman, Henry waited until the man had quit the room before he picked up the envelope again and then opened it. The invitation was beautifully written and told him exactly what was taking place and when it was to be and, as he read over the lines, Henry found his interest growing. It was to be his first foray into society since he had come back to London and, though there would be many a person looking at him, eager for his attention, there was only one person Henry would focus on that evening.

Edith.

Might it be that I have already found my bride?

There was no flicker of joy nor even of excitement as he considered what was to happen next. Yes, he would be introduced to the lady and yes, he would find himself considering her, watching her as she played and conversed and laughed with others, but none of that brought him any sort of happiness. This was all to be very practical indeed, a match which, if it came to fruition, would be nothing other than an arranged match borne from practicality. He had no desire to court the young lady, had no interest in pursuing her, in showering interest upon her but instead thought of it only in terms of suitability.

Hearing the door handle turn, Henry waited with a frown spreading across his features as he waited for his mother to poke her head in through the door.

"You need not hide yourself behind the door, Mother, Lord Tidemore has already quit the house."

In an instant, the Duchess sailed through the door with one eyebrow lifted slightly as she gazed back at Henry. "You were entertaining? I thought you had no intention of doing such a thing as that."

"It was an invitation to a musical soiree, Mother," Henry told her, holding up the card though he did not hand it to her. "I will be attending."

She looked back at him for a moment, her expression a little hidden from him as though she were considering everything he had said and found herself now a little concerned. "Lord Tidemore is a Viscount, Fairglen."

"I am well aware of that."

"Then you cannot be – "

"There are to be many guests present, Mother," Henry interrupted, unwilling to tell her that he was considering becoming acquainted with the Viscount's daughter. He was too tired of the same argument and did not want to have to speak about such things again. "I thought that you would be pleased at my interest."

"Of course I am." She managed a small smile though there was still a shadow in her eyes which Henry could not quite make out the reason for. "You will have to inform me at once if there is any young lady there that you might consider. I will know of their family better than you, I think."

Henry nodded but said nothing more, having no interest in anything further his mother had to say. In his heart, he believed that she was doing all she could to protect him, to make certain that he did not end up in the same situation as he had before, but that brought with it its own frustrations.

"Are you going to join me for dinner this evening?" she asked, making her way back to the door so she might leave him alone again in his sanctuary which, with her presence, was a good deal less a sanctuary than he had hoped.

"Yes, I shall. Though," he said, sharply, making her turn to look at him, "only if we do not speak of any young ladies, my intentions as regards matrimony or the invitation I have just received. I will not engage in any sort of discussion as regards that."

She sniffed but nodded, stepping out again and closing the door behind her. Henry let out a slow breath and then set the invitation to one side. His gaze went to the small stack of calling cards which he had received from the butler earlier that day. Did he want to go through them? To look at each and every one to see if he recognized the name? With a snort, Henry shook his head to himself and then, after a moment, picked up the invitation again and set it back down on top of the stack of cards. He might have already secured his bride and, if this Edith did not satisfy, then he would return to the stack of cards. Until then, he would give no more thought to it.