Chapter Three

Joseph scowled. "Mother, I must insist that you desist!"

The Duchess ignored him, walking up and down the drawing room, wringing her hands.

"I am aware that this is not something that pleases you but it is done now. It cannot be taken back."

"This will quite ruin our family! Our reputation!" The Duchess closed her eyes tightly, standing still for a few moments as the shock of it all seemed to hit her all over again, even though it had been over a sennight since his unfortunate encounter with Lady Hannah. "Your brothers..."

"My brothers are wed and settled, so there is nothing to concern yourself with there," Joseph said firmly, attempting to pull his mother out of her upset and frustration. "You are behaving nonsensically."

"Nonsensically?" The Duchess whirled about on her heel, color flooding her cheeks. "I do not think that you understand what it is you have done! First of all, you ought to be ashamed of your treatment of Lady Sara for it is utterly despicable and, were she not already wed, I would insist that you marry her. Secondly," the Duchess continued, taking in a deep breath, "you should consider all that the ton is saying of you! You had something of a roguish reputation already, which concerned me, but now you are being called a scoundrel and a worthless man, which given your title and your family, is of great concern! However are you to marry if you continue to be spoken of in this way? If you continue to behave in this way?"

Closing his eyes, Joseph spread out his hands. "Mother, for the last few months, you have done everything in your power to make my life nothing short of miserable – and you have succeeded, I might add. You have found every way possible to frustrate and irritate me, going so far as to sell my most beloved pair of horses and stating that I had given you permission to do so! In my anger, I consented to coming to London to seek a bride and even though I have done as you asked, you still complain now about the whispers you find here about me." Despite the fact that he did not much like being called a reprobate with the very worst sort of character, Joseph had accepted it as a consequence of what he had done. His mother, however, simply could not. "Either you will determine to find me a bride regardless of this or you will leave me be and I will do just as I please in London." He lifted his chin a notch as his mother closed her eyes again and took in a shaking breath. "Now, I have no time to debate this further. I am going to attend Lord Wilson's ball and if you wish to join me, then might I suggest that you make your way to the carriage directly."

"And just how am I to find you a bride with all of these rumours?"

Joseph did not answer. Instead, he simply made his way directly from the drawing room, and down the staircase towards his carriage. Yes, he knew that those in society would be looking at him this evening, that there would be many a gloved hand hiding whispered words from their mouth but what could he do? This was something that he could not hide from and his pride told him that he certainly could not hide himself away! That would make things all the worse. Climbing into the carriage, he waited for a few moments and was about to raise his hand to rap on the roof, only for his mother to then appear at the door. She was handed in by a footman, though she scowled darkly.

"I do wish that you would show some remorse over this!" she exclaimed, as the carriage began to roll forward again. "Quite how I am to find someone willing to marry you, I do not know... but, despite my concerns, I am determined to try."

Joseph let out a low groan, not hiding it from his mother but making it quite plain that he had no desire for her to do such a thing. This, unfortunately, did not have the desired effect for she began to berate him all over again, right up until they reached the townhouse of Lord Wilson. Filled with frustration at his mother's harsh words and a sense of gnawing unease – which he did his best to ignore – Joseph climbed down from the carriage, lifted his head, set his shoulders and walked towards the house, leaving his mother behind. He had no interest in hearing anything more of what she had to say, no desire to allow her to drag him this way and that in the ballroom in the hope of finding a young lady to introduce him to. No, this evening, he might sink back into the shadows and hide himself away just a little, until the rumors and the whispers finally began to die down.

***

"Ouch!"

Turning, Joseph's elbow connected with something solid and another soft cry was heard. He stepped back, putting his hands to his waist, elbows out as a young lady rubbed at her side, a frown on her face as she held his gaze.

"You should be watching where you are going, sir," she said, curtly. "I would prefer you not to have stepped on my toes and then elbowed me in the side! You are not the only one here."

"So it seems." Joseph sniffed, then forced himself to incline his head though no words of apology came to his lips. "Though," he continued, finding himself a little irritated, "is it not a little unusual for a lady such as yourself to be standing back here... alone?" A sudden interest sparked in him as he took her in, seeing the light brown curls, the faint color in her cheeks and the soft blue eyes. Her gaze, however, quickly hardened as though she knew precisely what it was he was thinking, her stance growing a little stronger in the way she pulled back her shoulders and stood as straight as she could.

"I am chaperone to my sisters. They are both dancing this evening."

"Chaperone?" Joseph studied her again, thinking her a little young to have such a responsibility. "Then is your husband not present with you?"

A stiffness came into her frame, her eyes narrowing. "I am unwed."

Joseph's eyebrow lifted just as fresh color rushed into the lady's cheeks. "I see." He found himself smiling inwardly at the way this remark sent her gaze tumbling away from him, her hands clasping tightly in front of her. Clearly, his presence made her a little uncomfortable though, Joseph considered, it was not the first young lady who had felt that way and he had managed to conquer all of them thus far.

Might I be so bold as to try? It is not as though society is going to be willing to accept me, is it? So why should I not?

" Might I enquire as to your name?"

She threw him a look, her lip curling just a little. "If you wish to be introduced, then might I suggest you do so properly?"

"But I do not know anyone who is acquainted with you."

The lady closed her eyes, a heavy breath escaping from her. "In case I have not made myself plain, sir, I have no interest in being acquainted with a strange gentleman who has not only injured me but, thereafter, seeks to do whatever he can to disconcert me."

Joseph blinked in surprise, his smile fading.

"You did not truly believe that I have been entirely unaware of your intentions thus far, did you?" A note of mirth entered the lady's voice, making Joseph scowl. "Quite why any gentleman would wish to do such a thing, I cannot imagine, especially when he has caused pain and harm to a lady but, given that you have done so, I suppose that must only mean that you are not much of a gentleman!"

The shock of her boldness made Joseph's mouth drop open, astonishment flooding him. Never had he been spoken to in such a way by any young lady and yet this stranger, this blue-eyed young lady thought that she could do so with boldness and determination. It was so utterly shocking that Joseph did not know what to say, finding any sort of response fading from him as the lady let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head at his reaction.

"I do hope that my son has not been troubling you."

Joseph cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure as he turned his head to see his mother approaching, a light frown on her face. "Mother, please do not interject yourself into all my conversations. It is entirely unnecessary."

The only response to this, however, was a long, cold look and Joseph was forced, in the end, not only to pull his gaze away from her but to drop his head.

"Your son was just about to apologise for injuring me," the lady said, gesturing to Joseph as the Duchess caught her breath. "It was an accident, of course, for he did not see me here in the shadows."

Joseph inclined his head again, realizing that he had no choice now but to speak words of apology. "It was quite by accident, as you have said. Nonetheless, I deeply apologise for what occurred. I did not mean to injure you in the least. I was simply stepping back from society for a short time."

"Hiding, you mean." The irony in his mother's voice made Joseph scowl and he turned away from them both. "I should take my leave."

The thought of lingering here was not a pleasant one and despite the fact that he was a little concerned about what he might come up against as he made his way back through society, Joseph made his way into the middle of the room, trying to ignore the sidelong glances.

"I must say, old boy, if you do not remove that scowl from your face, you will never find any young ladies to consider you!"

Joseph turned sharply, about to make a sharp retort in return, only for his face to split with a smile, his spirits lifting instantly. "Quillon! Whatever are you doing here? When did you return from the Great Adventure?"

His friend – someone who had long been his closest friend before he had decided to take his leave of England and travel through foreign lands in the hope of excitement and adventure – grinned broadly. "Did you not hear? I became dreadfully ill in France and had to return home to recuperate!"

"You did?" Joseph's smile fell away as his friend nodded. "No, I did not hear. I thought you might have written but –"

"I was much too weak, I am afraid." A sudden somberness came over the Marquess of Quillon's expression. "It was a rather dangerous, difficult time but I am recovered now, as you can see." He grinned again, a lightness returning to his voice. "And my first thought was to come to London, to delight myself with society again and find myself happy. It has been some time since I was not free of fear or the like. I was sure that I would find you here also, though I must say, I have heard some rumours about you which I found a little… surprising?"

Joseph winced. "A lot has happened since you went off on your Great Adventure. You were gone for nearly two years now, were you not?"

"I was."

Lifting his shoulders in a shrug, Joseph tried to dismiss the stab of embarrassment which pierced his heart at the thought of informing his friend that the rumors he had heard were, unfortunately, true.

"You were always something of a rascal but I did not think you would ever become a rogue."

Joseph rolled his eyes and pushed aside all thought of embarrassment. "Please tell me that you have not come to London in order to berate me?" he said, pushing a note of humor into his voice. "I have already got my mother here and she is both ashamed of me and vocal with it! I do not think I can take any more criticism."

His friend tilted his head, studying Joseph for a moment before, with a shrug, he nodded. "Very well, we will not speak of what I have heard, nor the rumours that you have pulled to yourself." Turning, he spread one arm out wide towards the ballroom. "Do you intend to dance this evening? Shall we wait here to see which young ladies might be bold enough to come and speak with you so you might, thereafter ask them to dance? Or have you had enough of the ton' s attention for the evening?"

"The latter, I assure you," Joseph muttered, catching yet another lady giving him the cut direct as she made her way past. "The card room, mayhap?"

Lord Quillon grinned. "Capital. Come then, you lead the way."