Chapter 2

Chapter Two

" Y ou are too much in your cups to dance!"

James laughed and rolled his eyes.

"I certainly am not!" He stood tall, not swaying an inch. "I may have imbibed a little too much at the ball yesterday evening, but I am quite determined not to be so overcome again."

His friend narrowed his eyes at him, though there was still a playful lilt about his mouth.

"I am sure that I saw you with a glass of brandy only a few minutes ago."

"Mayhap you did, but I set it down," James told him, seeing his friend grin. "I certainly did not throw it back!"

This had them both laughing aloud, each knowing full well that James would never have done such a foolish thing as to leave a glass of brandy unattended! That was what the Season was for, was it not? It was a chance to do just as he pleased, to eat, to drink, and to make as much merriment as he could. He had enjoyed many a Season thus far and yet, still, he had not grown tired of it.

"I am still not certain that you should dance," Lord Kingshill stated, folding his arms across his chest though he continued to grin all the same. "There are too many young ladies present who could find themselves injured by your foolishness! And you have a reputation to think of."

James snorted.

"Ah yes, my pristine reputation which I must keep hold of," he answered, making Lord Kingshill laugh. "Come now, you know as well as I that I have no intention of worrying about such things this Season."

"Nor next year, no doubt," Lord Kingshill chuckled. "When the time comes for us both to find a bride, I am not certain that either of us will be able to do so! Our reputations will be so terribly damaged that even the wallflowers will reject us!"

Considering this for a moment, James shrugged.

"I have no concerns. When I offer my hand to some young lady, I have no doubt that she will accept. The same could be said for you, for you have just as high a title as I, though I have a good deal more coin than you."

Lord Kingshill's eyes flared.

"Is that so?" he asked, shoving James backward, making him laugh. "I think you are a little too bold – or mayhap a little too prideful – there, my friend."

Knowing Lord Kingshill was only mocking, James did not take offense.

"Mayhap I am," he grinned, "though what I am doing my utmost to express is that you, the Marquess of Kingshill, only has to look at a young lady for her to smile back at you with big, bright eyes."

"Until their father or mother realizes who I am and pulls her back from me," Lord Kingshill muttered, his good humor evaporating. "Mayhap I should be thinking a little more about my reputation this Season."

Feeling suddenly alarmed, James' eyes grew wide, and he took a step closer, putting his hand on Lord Kingshill's shoulder.

"You are concerned about nothing," he said, firmly. "I assure you that your title, your good fortune, and your large estate will do you very well when the time comes to seek a bride."

Lord Kingshill shook his head.

"No, I do not think so." He ran one hand through his hair and, letting out a long, slow breath, turned his head away to look out across the ballroom. "I have never thought about such a thing before, but now that you have said such things, I find that I am a little concerned. I am well aware of my responsibilities, now that I have taken on the title, but the last two Seasons, I have chosen to deliberately forget them."

"That is not true," James interjected, speaking as firmly as he dared. "You have always managed your estate well. Your finances are excellent, and the investments you have made have proven to be more than satisfactory."

"But that does not detract from the fact that I have not considered my future, nor the requirement to produce an heir." Lord Kingshill shook his head again, his expression tight. "I have only a sister, so if something should happen to me, then my family line will pass to some distant relation!" His shoulders dropped. "I have not been thinking seriously about such things at all. Now, mayhap, I ought to be doing so."

Feeling himself a little panicked now, frightened that his friend was being so quickly pulled into this deep way of thinking, James tried to find something to say that would encourage him not to go on considering his present situation, but nothing came to mind. Instead, he closed his eyes and frowned, waiting for clarity to come to him.

"It is not something that you need to rush into," he said, eventually. "There is no requirement for you to be hasty in this, I assure you. You are being much too severe and–"

"No, Childers." Lord Kingshill turned quickly, one hand slicing through the air between them, his eyes sharp now. "No. For the first time, I have been thinking clearly. It has come upon me rather unexpectedly, certainly, but I see now that I cannot continue as I have been. It was foolishness of me to think that I could do so."

In an instant, all that James had thought of for the upcoming Season, all he had considered that might be, went up like smoke. He was not going to have his companion with him, was not going to be able to pursue nothing but laughter and pleasure in the same way that he had done previously. Somehow, without having any intention of doing so, James had managed to speak into Lord Kingshill's conscience and now, it seemed, his friend was going to behave very differently this Season.

"I shall have to find a suitable young lady." Lord Kingshill raked one hand through his hair and let out a hiss of breath. "I am suspicious that it shall be very difficult indeed to do such a thing. The ton is well aware of my reputation as a rake! They think me nothing but a scoundrel, so how shall I ever find a young lady who will think well of me?"

"Does such a thing matter?" Giving up on the idea of pulling such thoughts from Lord Kingshill, James shrugged his shoulders as his friend scowled. "You can make an arrangement with a young lady's father and, thereafter, proceed into marriage without having any sort of courtship or the like. The young lady herself need not even agree to wed you! So long as her father is contented, the arrangement can be made and all will be well."

Lord Kingshill rubbed his chin.

"I suppose that is one consideration."

" And ," James continued, finding himself a little less concerned now that Lord Kingshill had agreed to his previous statement, "once that is done and the arrangement made, you can continue on just as you please! You need not be a devoted suitor, not if it is an arranged match. After all, it is not as though you are going to care for the lady, is it?"

His friend turned to him and, after a moment, began to nod.

"I can see the wisdom in what you are saying. Heaven knows that I do not want to become a very staid, dull fellow who only thinks of his wife and her requirements!"

"You could even leave your wife back at your estate during future Seasons!" James exclaimed, warming to the conversation now that his friend appeared to be a little less concerned. "That way, you will be free of her for a few months and can continue with all that you enjoy."

Lord Kingshill nodded and, after a moment, offered James a small, wry smile.

"I think you are more concerned about your own lack of company than my enjoyment of whatever situation I find myself in!"

James laughed, though a flicker of embarrassment entered his heart.

"Mayhap some of that is true, though I am truly concerned for your welfare," he promised, as Lord Kingshill chuckled. "You do not believe me, I understand, though it is quite true. I do not want you to become a frustrated, ill-tempered fellow who is no longer able to do as he pleases! Find yourself a match, arrange it with the lady's father, and thereafter, return to all that you enjoy."

"I think I shall."

"And I shall help you, of course," James said quickly, the desire to do such a thing coming solely from his intentions for an enjoyable Season alongside his closest friend. Once the arrangement was made, once Lord Kingshill was betrothed, both he and James himself could return to simply enjoying the Season and to the roguish reputations that they both enjoyed.

"Well, I thank you." Lord Kingshill scowled, his expression dark. "I do not want to do such a thing but now that I see the situation clearly, I think that I must. Though all the same, I do think that it will be rather difficult to find a young lady to betrothe myself to without courtship and the like. They will all expect such a thing, and I do not have the desire, nor the inclination, for such things."

"Then find a young lady who will accept you without the requirement for courtship! Find someone who will be quite willing to accept your hand, for she will have no other options available to her."

Lord Kingshill frowned.

"What do you mean? You wish me to marry someone impoverished? Someone who is well below my title of Marquess? While I understand where such a thought comes from, I have no desire to marry the daughter of a Baronet or a Knight! I would not demean myself in that way."

James shook his head.

"No, that is not what I mean. Why do you not find a wallflower?" He watched as the idea brought the light of understanding to Lord Kingshill's face. "You see what I mean? There will be a reason behind each wallflower's presence, of course, but so long as it is not entirely disagreeable, there is no reason not to pursue such a young lady. She will have no other gentlemen pursuing her, and will be very glad to accept you – as will her father, whoever he may be, I am sure."

It was with relief that he watched Lord Kingshill begin to nod slowly, rubbing one hand over his chin.

"A wallflower," Lord Kingshill mused aloud. "Yes, I see that such a young lady might be more than suitable for my requirements."

"And would agree to it all very quickly," James interjected. "You could find yourself betrothed by the end of the sennight, should you wish it!"

Lord Kingshill chuckled, flinging his hands out.

"Then what is it that we are waiting for? Come! Let us go in search of a wallflower at this very moment!"

With a chuckle, James followed his friend, relief surging through him. This conversation had been most unexpected, but James was sure that it would be resolved very quickly indeed. His friend would secure himself a betrothal, the wedding date would be set, and then both he and Lord Kingshill could enjoy the rest of the Season, just as they had always planned.