Chapter 22

Nathaniel walked through the humid heat of the butterfly house, his chest puffed with secret pride as Leah walked beside him, pausing to coo over every beautiful butterfly she passed. Several had landed on her, delighting her, and he could not blame them, for she was the sweetest, prettiest, rarest bloom in the entirety of the botanical gardens.

"Are you actually going to tell me how you came to be here, or are we going to keep pretending that you just "felt like" an afternoon stroll in this place?" Nathaniel teased as Leah froze like a statue, a tiny yellow butterfly fluttering contentedly above her left eyebrow.

Colin appeared between an archway of tropical creepers. "It is because of me, of course." He took a crumb of bread from his pocket and fed it to Robin, who was safely tucked inside his waistcoat. "I am the only interesting brother. Phoebis sennae. A Cloudless Sulfur."

"Is that English?" Nathaniel chuckled.

"Butterflies have no nation, dear brother, only countries of preference," Colin quipped, grinning. "Though they are most common in the Americas. When they are not clinging to Lady Leah's face, that is."

Leah smiled, whispering out of the corner of her mouth, "Your mother told me where I could find you, and I thought a wander in the botanical gardens sounded lovely."

"You saw our mother?" Colin gave a low whistle. "It must be serious. Shall I take Mother shopping for a new bonnet for the wedding? Perhaps, I shall make a tiny tailcoat for Robin. What do you say to that?"

The sparrow trilled happily from inside Colin's waistcoat, confusing a group of ladies and gentlemen who were passing by. One of the ladies noticed Leah and Nathaniel and unleashed a gasp that frightened the Cloudless Sulfur off Leah's brow before the lady turned to whisper to her companion.

"I heard it is already a foregone conclusion," the companion grumbled back. "He proposed to her at the Countess of Grayling's ball. Everyone saw it. Goodness, have you been hiding under a rock?"

Colin laughed. "It seems I am not the only one expecting an invitation."

"Concentrate on your butterflies," Nathaniel retorted, struggling to keep his voice light. Society had been bubbling with gossip since the Countess' ball, and though it was exactly what Nathaniel and Leah had been aiming for, it was all becoming too much. He did not realize how dearly he had appreciated his privacy until the ton started focusing their attention on him.

Hurt flickered across Colin's face. "I was only teasing."

"I know." Nathaniel softened his tone, frustrated with himself for letting the gossip get to him. "I am sorry for speaking out of turn. You know how dearly I love to watch you watching all of your many, many beloved creatures."

Colin brightened. "I promise, I will not mention marriage again until one of you tells me otherwise."

"A fair exchange." Nathaniel smiled, relieved.

Just then, louder voices spiked through the peace and heat of the butterfly house. A thin, reedy voice pleading while a masculine voice grunted replies.

"I do not understand what I have done wrong," said the feminine voice. "Why will you not hold my hand? Why are you being so cold? I can give the necklace back. We shall do it right now if you please. I only bought it because you told me to. I do not want it."

"If you do not want it, why did you fritter my money on it?" came the harsh reply. "I am not your father, Dorothy; I will not tend to your every whim and fancy, and if you do not like it, you may return to him."

A panicked cry scared off a cluster of butterflies. "Do not say such things! What have I done, Jonathan? What have I done to make you so angry with me?"

A strange sensation slithered through Nathaniel's veins as if his blood was curdling, lumps of bitter memory crumbling into his stomach. He had heard someone else say such things a long time ago, had watched another woman cling to the hand of an uncaring man, begging for explanation, and had listened to another woman's tears of frustration.

The couple rounded the corner before Nathaniel could even think to remove Leah from the situation.

"Now, now, what is this?" Jonathan's silky voice declared, coming to a halt. "Are you searching for a new adornment for Lord Haughton's ball on Friday, Lady Leah? It would be quite the scene if you were to appear with a live butterfly in your hair. Or dead."

Nathaniel put himself in front of Leah, meeting the one-eyed gaze of Jonathan. His other eye was covered by an eyepatch, hiding some of the bruises that Nathaniel had put there for Leah's sake. "Goodness, did you have a disagreement with a particularly cantankerous horse?"

"Pardon?" Jonathan's lip curled.

"You cannot be oblivious to the state of your face, Lord Chesterwood," Nathaniel replied, not feeling even the tiniest speck of guilt.

Dorothy gripped her husband's arm with a desperation that Nathaniel knew all too well. "He fell from his horse," she said urgently. "A terrible accident."

"I did not," Jonathan snapped. "Why must you keep telling such lies, and lies that make me sound feeble-minded at that?"

Dorothy dropped her gaze. "Apologies, my love."

"I was robbed," Jonathan said, trying to free his arm from his wife's vise-like hold. "Eight thieves set upon me in the night, stole everything, but I imagine a few of them look just as bad as I do."

Nathaniel snorted involuntarily. "Eight? Come now, I think it might be you who is lying."

"I heard the debt collectors did it," Leah said abruptly, coming out from behind Nathaniel with a look of pure mischief upon her face. "Or is that what you meant by thieves, Jonathan? I can well imagine you would mistake debt collectors for thieves when they were taking your things to pay what was owed."

Jonathan looked as if he had been punched again. "What did you say?"

"Oh, shall I announce it louder?" Leah replied, smiling.

Jonathan cleared his throat. "No, I believe I heard you. Of course, you are mistaken, but I heard you. There is nothing amiss with my finances. Indeed, a shipment of spices arrived just yesterday which is why we are celebrating today. Is that not so, darling Dorothy?"

"Pardon?" Dorothy blinked up at him, clearly confused.

"She does not understand these things as you do not," Jonathan said, turning a sour smile toward Leah. "There were no debt collectors, only the gentlemen who came to collect our donations for the poorhouses."

Dorothy made a small noise of understanding. "Yes, that is quite right. My darling Jonathan does so much for the poor."

"Actually, speaking of business, it is rather fortuitous that I should run into you, Your Grace." Jonathan gestured at Nathaniel. "I had hoped to arrange a meeting regarding a few speculations that have fallen into my lap, and though I possess enough wealth to enter into such things alone, it would be remiss of me not to share the opportunity."

Nathaniel stifled another snort. "It is not a graphite mine by any chance, is it?"

"How do you—?" Jonathan stalled. "So, you have already heard the good news. A seam has been found in Northumberland. I intend to turn that graphite into solid gold if you are interested in joining the endeavor?"

Nathaniel shook his head. "Do you recall the last time you tried to involve me in your business endeavors?"

"I am afraid I do not," Jonathan replied, his good eye twitching.

"Ah, well allow me to remind you what I said then, for nothing has changed—it would be an irresponsible speculation. I do not even need to know the details to know that," Nathaniel said. "Do you, at least, remember my friend Daniel?"

Jonathan's nostrils flared. "He has done nothing but hinder my progress, but yes, I remember him."

"Well, he and I do perfectly well together in our joint ventures. I do not require any others." Nathaniel paused for dramatic effect. "Why, you ought to speak to him, for his advice is invaluable. He has made countless gentlemen wealthier than Midas if that is your concern?"

Jonathan looked as if he might burst. "Daniel knows nothing of true business. He takes no risks and as such, gains no rewards."

"Look over his ledgers and see if you will not change your mind about that," Nathaniel replied, feigning a conspiratorial whisper. "And, as everyone is aware, there is only one graphite mine in England that is worth anything, and that, as far as I know, is not owned by you."

"Another has been found, I assure you!" Jonathan barked.

Nathaniel shrugged. "Maybe it has, maybe it has not, maybe you thought you were sitting on a gold mine when, in truth, you were sitting on a pile of useless rock, but I do not wish to talk of business with you. I am enjoying a quiet afternoon with my beloved, and you are ruining it somewhat."

"She is embarrassing herself," Dorothy muttered, eyeing Leah who had attracted two enormous blue butterflies. They sat upon her hair, making her look ethereal.

Nathaniel's annoyance flared. "You might take a moment to consider your own behavior before remarking upon that of others," he said, startling the girl. "Indeed, if you say another unkind word to the future Duchess of Bergfield, either of you, you might find yourselves in a very unpleasant situation. Leah, Colin, come. It is too suffocating in here."

He turned to leave, Colin and Leah already hurrying on ahead, making for the door that led into the cool of the outside world. Indeed, Nathaniel could almost feel the chilly breeze upon his face when a rough hand grabbed him by the elbow, yanking him backward.

"And you would do well not to say such things to me," Jonathan hissed, nose to nose with Nathaniel. "I know what you are, Your Grace." He spat the last two words, spittle spraying Nathaniel's face.

Refusing to back down, Nathaniel smiled. "What am I? Please, I am eager to know."

"I know you did this to me," Jonathan replied darkly. "I saw you sneaking out the back of the tent. I know that I caused that bruise on your cheek. If you do not enter into this business with me, I shall reveal your identity to everyone. I am quite serious, Your Grace. Or should I call you, the Highwayman?"

Panic twisted Nathaniel's chest into a vise, his heart lurching into his throat, but the fear lasted just a moment before he realized that Jonathan did not have the blackmail that he thought he did.

As such, Nathaniel chuckled, his unease fading. "Call me whatever you like." He paused. "I am not the only one with secrets, Lord Chesterwood. I had a friend of mine do some investigating and discovered a few juicy little morsels about you."

The bluster receded in Jonathan as he took a step back. "What morsels?"

"That you are near destitution, that you are selling off parcels of the Chesterwood Estate, that you are residing in the apartments of Lord Pargeter—who does not know you are residing there, that you have tried to swindle at least six other lords with businesses that do not exist or have already been closed, and that all the fortune your dear Dorothy brought to you is gone. Oh, and that you have a terrible gambling habit that you are not very good at." Nathaniel's chest swelled with satisfaction. "I did not intend to say anything as it was, rather ironically, none of my business, but if you dare to threaten me again, expect the same treatment in return."

Jonathan turned as white as a sheet. "Who told you all of that?"

"That is for me to know." Nathaniel tapped the side of his nose, pleased he had decided to take Bill's advice and speak with Arnold after the Countess' ball was over. As it turned out, there was nothing that Arnold did not know when it came to Jonathan. Indeed, Jonathan had been banned from both of the gambling halls that Arnold owned, and the boxing matches he ran, but having had one too many brandies himself, Arnold had not realized who was fighting Nathaniel until the bout had already begun.

Jonathan glanced back at his wife, who was vainly attempting to get one of the large blue butterflies to land on her. "She does not know."

"I assumed not." Nathaniel narrowed his eyes. "Nevertheless, you should be kinder to her. It is not her fault you are hopeless with money. And I meant what I said about speaking to Daniel—he could give you some advice that might just turn your fortunes around. Of course, if you threaten me or upset Leah again, I might have to tell him not to."

Jonathan's mouth opened and closed like a stranded fish, his throat crackling as he tried to force out the words, "I think… we understand one another. I… apologize for disrupting your afternoon." It sounded like it physically pained him to have to apologize, making it all the more satisfying. "And, please, do not send word to Lord Pargeter."

"I shall continue to distance myself from your woes as long as you agree to never taunt Leah again," Nathaniel assured, remembering his vow to ensure that Jonathan never said a bad word about her or to her again. It was the least he could do to see her happily through the rest of the London season.

Jonathan nodded like a schoolboy being chided by the schoolmaster. "I will hold my tongue. You will not hear anything unkind come from my lips again."

"Excellent." Nathaniel paused, putting a finger to his lips. "And if you were hoping to put your next wager on me to make some coin quickly, you need not. I have retired from the boxing business."

Jonathan frowned. "You have?"

"You, Lord Chesterwood, were my last opponent," Nathaniel said, knowing it was true the moment the words left his mouth. "Perhaps, that might comfort you though it was not much of a fight. You underestimated me. I hope you will not do so again." He peered around Jonathan to where Dorothy was still trying to get the attention of a butterfly. "Have a lovely afternoon, the pair of you."

Dorothy blinked in confusion before a shy smile crept onto her face, like a scolded puppy that had finally received a kind word. "And you, Your Grace."

With that, Nathaniel left, striding into the golden autumn and feeling the cool rush of the breeze on his face. A short distance away, deep in conversation beside a pond with a spouting fountain, he spotted Leah and Colin and made his way toward them with a smile upon his face, feeling as if he had just boxed the match of his life.

"I will not be a moment," Colin said as soon as Nathaniel arrived. "I think I see a newt."

He hurried around the pond, allowing Nathaniel and Leah some privacy. Her chaperone was somewhere nearby, but the older woman seemed to be quite neglectful of her duties. However, instead of smiling back at Nathaniel, a wounded expression dimmed Leah's glow.

"Why did you say that?" she asked.

Nathaniel arched an eyebrow. "Which part?"

"Why did you call me the future Duchess." She clasped her hands together, visibly nervous.

Nathaniel glanced at his brother, who kept looking up, likely not searching for a newt at all. "Oh… that."

What do I say? All words failed Nathaniel as he watched the hope and anxiety vie for control of her beautiful face. There was an answer she wanted; he could see it like an earnest prompter willing an actor on stage to speak the next lines. But it was not an answer he could give. Indeed, he had just informed Jonathan that there would be consequences if he upset Leah in any way, yet Nathaniel suspected he was about to be guilty of the same thing.