Chapter 2

“Good evening, Lord Yeatman.”

Frederick smiled and inclined his head.

“We have been friends for many years now, Lord Gibson. I do not think that we need to be so formal!”

Lord Gibson chuckled and stuck out his hand, shaking Frederick’s very firmly indeed.

“I suppose that is true. How good to see you again!”

“And in White’s,” Frederick chuckled, as his friend grinned. “You find me in my favorite place in London, Lord Gibson, and I confess that I have not yet ventured out much into society.”

“No?”

Frederick shook his head.

“I much prefer having a few days to myself when I first arrive. It gives me time to consider what it is that I wish to accomplish, and to take note of who else is present!”

“Ah.” Lord Gibson tilted his head and looked at him, a glint in his eye. “Might I ask you if there is anyone in particular that you are attempting to take note of?”

Frederick laughed and shook his head.

“No, you mistake my meaning entirely. I have no particular interest in courting. I am merely interested in who is present, as I can be rather particular with my friendships and the like, as you well know.”

Lord Gibson chuckled and then sat down in a chair beside Frederick rather than remaining standing beside him.

“That is something I well remember. I do not think that you considered me a friend until we had been acquainted for at least two years.”

“And spent many hours together,” Frederick agreed, laughing along with his friend. “Yes, I am afraid I am a little too discerning when it comes to such things. Mayhap I ought to be a little less so, but I find that it is simply a way that I have settled into, and I do not think that I can change any time soon. You know very well how this came about.”

Lord Gibson nodded, a solemnity in his expression now.

“Your father.”

“Precisely. He was acquainted with Viscount Taylor, thinking him a decent fellow, only of the scandal to not only affect Lord Taylor but also my own father’s reputation. Given that my father was inordinately wealthy, the ton believed that he funded Lord Taylor’s schemes though, of course, he did not.”

“Lord Taylor was the guilty one, what with his cheating and brutish behavior,” Lord Gibson reminded them both. “He hid it very well, though I was sorry that the scandal affected your own father. That was unfortunate.”

“It was.”

“But it has led to you being rather discerning, and that is no bad thing, especially since you now carry that burden of wealth,” Lord Gibson said quickly. “I think that is probably very wise, given society and those within it. There are many rogues and scoundrels who ought not to be a part of our circles, certainly. And there are mayhap some young ladies who ought to be avoided also!”

Frederick looked back at him in surprise.

“Young ladies? Do you mean those who are widowed and perhaps, a little more free with their attentions?” Catching a footman’s attention, he clicked his fingers and ordered a brandy for them both before turning his attention back to his friend. “I am aware that there are more than a few such ladies, though I do not know their names as yet.”

Lord Gibson shook his head.

“No, you misunderstand me, though yes, certainly, there are some young ladies in the situations you have suggested who ought to be avoided, should one wish to keep a perfectly presentable reputation, which I am aware that you do.”

A little puzzled, Frederick frowned.

“Then what do you mean?”

Letting out a long sigh, Lord Gibson winced and then gestured down to his boots.

“My boots are splattered with wine and brandy because of one particular young lady.”

“Oh?”

Lord Gibson scowled.

“We were dancing together and, thereafter, I was leading her back to her mother when a footman carrying a tray approached us. For whatever reason, instead of taking one glass, the lady managed to knock the entire tray of drinks onto the floor, and they shattered all over everything.”

“And splattered their contents all over you?” Frederick enquired, as Lord Gibson nodded. “Goodness, that was rather unfortunate.”

“Yes, it was.” Lord Gibson rolled his eyes. “I ought to have been more careful. The young lady in question is known to have something of a clumsy reputation, and I should have been a good deal more cautious in asking her to dance.”

Frederick’s eyebrows lifted.

“A clumsy reputation?”

Lord Gibson nodded fervently.

“Yes, indeed! She has been tripping over this and knocking over that, injuring this person, and causing various damages - though I do believe that not all of those were her doing.” He shrugged. “All the same, there does appear to be an ungainliness about her which seems to have spread from last Season to this.”

“Then I shall have to be cautious!” Frederick laughed, taking the brandy from the footman, and handing it to Lord Gibson. “Might I ask the name of this fearsome creature?”

Lord Gibson took a sip of his brandy and then let out a small, contented sigh.

“A Miss Fairley,” he said, waggling one finger in Frederick’s direction. “Though not the elder one but the younger.”

“I see.” Frederick took a sip from his glass and then let out a slow breath, smiling contentedly as a feeling of great relief settled over him. “I shall make certain to stay away from the lady, then. I do not want to end up in any sort of difficult situation because of her, though I do pity someone who is so very ungainly. That must be rather trying.”

“Trying for those around her, certainly!” Lord Gibson laughed, as Frederick chuckled quietly. “Now, you say that you are not here to consider courtship and such things. Does that mean that you are only here to enjoy yourself?”

Frederick nodded.

“For a short while, yes. The estate is doing well, and the crops are likely to be very successful this year, so my tenants and servants tell me. Therefore, I thought to give myself a little time away from my estate to simply enjoy myself with old friends and new. Though,” he continued, with a small shrug, “if a young lady comes to my attention, I will not reject the idea. It is a responsibility of every titled gentleman to marry.”

Lord Gibson rolled his eyes.

“My mother continues to plague me with such words,” he said, making Frederick laugh. “She is why I have come to London. She will not remove to the Dower House until I am wed – such is tradition – and I can barely abide her presence for more than a few minutes for the conversation always turns to young ladies and whether I am soon to provide her not only with a daughter-in-law but also a grandchild. She has always been foolish in doting upon children in the way she does. To her, it is less about the heir and more about the sound of children’s laughter within the house!”

Frederick smiled quietly.

“I do not think that is such a terrible thing,” he said, seeing Lord Gibson’s eyebrows lift. “Though I can understand that it must be rather trying to hear it over and over again.”

“And how does your own mother fare?”

That sent a small stab of pain into Frederick’s heart.

“She has not returned from my sister’s house as yet,” he said, seeing his friend smile sympathetically. “Ever since my father passed away some three years ago, she has not felt quite at home in the estate. When she received the invitation to visit Charlotte and Lord Hartwood, that was the first time I had seen her smile in many a month. The truth is, I do not think that she will return to live at the estate again. When I marry, she may wish to remove to the Dower House, or she may continue to reside at the Hartwood estate. I think my sister is more than contented to have her present.”

“That is a blessing, I suppose, though I am sorry for the pain that such a loss brings,” came the reply. “I would much prefer that, I think, than to care very little for the passing of one’s spouse.” He wrinkled his nose. “I do not think that I have ever seen my mother happier than the day my father was buried. There was no affection between them.”

Frederick shifted in his chair, finding himself a little uncomfortable. He had never truly given much thought to his prospects and desires when it came to matrimony, but one thing was for certain; he had no eagerness to be wed to someone who did not care one jot for him!

“I do not think that I would demand love from my betrothed,” he said slowly, finding himself being a little more honest with his friend than he had intended, “but I should certainly like an interest to be there.” Seeing Lord Gibson frown, Frederick spread out one hand, the other still holding his brandy glass. “What I mean by that is to say that I would not like to have a bride who cared nothing for me in the least, and was only marrying me out of obligation or by arrangement.”

Slowly, his friend began to nod, his gaze becoming thoughtful.

“I believe that I understand and yes, I think that I should agree with you there. After all, when one marries, it is meant to be for a good many years, should God’s blessing be on you, and I should think it would be more of a dire struggle to have a bride who has no interest in spending even the smallest amount of time in your company!” That thoughtful look was soon chased away by a broad, bright smile as a twinkle came into Lord Gibson’s eye. “Though why we are even talking of or considering such things, I do not know, given that you have no real intention of pursuing it and neither do I!”

Frederick chuckled, the somber moment gone from them.

“Indeed, you are quite right. Goodness, here I am sitting in White’s, a brandy in my hand, and in fine company, permitting myself to think the most foolish things and bringing my spirits down low. How ridiculous that is!”

“Indeed,” his friend said, firmly. “We must give ourselves happier things to talk about. Tell me, are you going to be throwing any balls, soirees, or dinners while you are in London?”

Frederick blinked.

“I have not thought about doing so, but I suppose I could consider it.”

“Though you would, no doubt, have to be very cautious and careful as to whom you would invite,” Lord Gibson chuckled, making Frederick laugh again. “That may prove a little difficult for you, I think.”

“So long as I do not invite that very clumsy young lady… what was her name again?”

Lord Gibson laughed aloud, his eyes twinkling.

“Miss Fairley?”

“Yes, that is right,” Frederick grinned. “So long as I do not invite Miss Fairley, then I think any dinner party would go very well indeed, would it not?”

This had his friend dissolving into laughter and, though Frederick joined in, he found himself still a little intrigued by the idea of meeting Miss Fairley. She certainly had made an impression upon Lord Gibson, and though it might very well not be the right impression, Frederick was still a little curious as to who this young lady might be.