Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

" I cannot believe I allowed you to talk me into doing this," John mumbled. He stood next to his dearest friend, Frederick, the Viscount Newley, and watched as his companion's eyes lit with levity.

"But think of what you would have missed," Frederick returned in a jovial manner. He swept his arms wide, indicating all those ladies and gentlemen circulating around them in the drawing room. "It is my understanding that London will be practically empty this week because everyone has adjourned to this estate, and if we had stayed at home…we would be by our lonesome."

Taking a step closer to his friend, John grumbled, "Better to have stayed at home then enter this Society and be ridiculed."

"Ridiculed?" Frederick's eyes grew comically large as he laid a hand to his breast in a mocking way. "Who would dare censure you or me? We are but two amiable gentlemen who…"

John snorted dryly. "You know well what we are as does everyone else in this room." He nodded directly at a woman who was giving him a disapproving stare. "I am fairly certain that lady just told her daughter to stay away from us."

"Really?" Frederick pivoted, suddenly keenly intrigued by returning the lady's forceful gaze. "Do you think she has told her daughter we are a pair of rakes and are not to be trusted at any costs?"

A small groan escaped John's lips. "Why must you jest?"

"Because it is funny," Frederick retorted. "To be painted a rogue is to be…"

"Stop," John insisted. "By making a mockery of our situation, you only make matters worse."

Frederick laughed brightly. "I do not know why you care what the ladies in this room and their meddling mamas think of you."

"If we were still in London, I might not care a jot, but…"

His mutterings were interrupted when he overheard a pair of women whispering. The ladies skirted awfully close to the spot where John and Frederick were standing, but all at once, realizing their proximity to the rogues, the women squawked in dismay then scuttled as far away as they could.

"See?" John watched the two women hurry to the farthest reaches of the room. He watched the way their skirts swished back and forth as they hustled, and that made Frederick laugh.

"Do you see?" he countered. "You cannot be faulted for your nature. Even when you are scorned and derided by the members of the ton, you admire them as they walk away."

"Yes, well let's see how they behave when I turn about." He spun on his heel, determined to stalk out of the drawing room, summon his driver, and demand his carriage be brought back around hastily. But John stopped when Frederick put a strong hand on his forearm.

"Do settle yourself, John," Frederick lectured. "At least, when the people in this room whisper about you, they call you the Charming Rake." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "It could be much worse, my friend."

"But how am I to endure their gossip?" John begged to know. "We have been here but a few moments, and already I am…"

"There is our host," Frederick interjected, giving John a sporting smile. "Let us go greet the dowager, and I am sure, once you do, that you will feel much better."

A derisive grunt was John's only reply.

He knows once I speak to the dowager, she will not allow me to slip away from the house party.

Dutifully, John trooped right alongside his friend, Frederick, as they wove their way across the room. The Dowager Countess of Langford was surrounded by an entire congregation of revelers, and John could see she was in her element. While he had been displeased to the point of wanting to leave a moment before, he had to admit, it was nice to see her so happy.

"Darlings!" she called, spying the pair moving toward her and immediately stepping away from her admirers, so she might greet them properly. "When did you get here? How did I miss your entrance?"

Frederick bowed graciously, and when the dowager offered him her hand, he brushed a gentle kiss on her knuckles. She tittered coquettishly.

"Hello," Frederick said in his most dashing manner. "I do appreciate you extending the invitation to include me, Lady Langford. I have been longing for a good house party all these months and leave it to you to fulfill my deepest desires."

"Save your sweet musings for my guests, Viscount Newley," she returned while lifting her chin regally. "I think you will find that all of Society is in attendance, and many a young lady will be thrilled to have you speak thusly toward them."

"I may cavort with the others," Frederick returned while beaming at her, "but I will save all my best lines for you."

"Shocking!" the dowager countess exclaimed, swatting at Frederick playfully with her gloved hand. "If I had not known you since you were a boy, I should think there was more to your words."

"Who is to say there is not?" Frederick challenged.

John strode forward then, elbowing aside his friend. "Pay him no mind, Auntie Aggie," he whispered as he took up her hand and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles, just as Frederick had done. "We are both pleased you thought to invite us, and as you can see, my friend here is amused by the gathering already."

"Oh?" Aggie's eyes widened. "Do tell." She scooted closer to the two of them. "You boys may have only been here for a minute, but already, you have found a lady who sparks your fancy? Is that it?"

He could see the delight shining in Auntie Aggie's eyes, so John decided it would be best to shield her from the knowledge of his discontent. "We have not mingled with the young ladies yet, but I am sure you will remedy that soon enough."

Aunt Aggie laughed. "You know me so well." She patted John and Frederick's arms affectionately then took a step back and continued speaking, "Allow me to introduce my friend, the Dowager Countess of Tottingham."

The woman who had been standing at Aggie's side slipped forward and nodded courteously at them. John vaguely recognized the dowager countess because she had been at the dinner party leading up to Benedict and Rose's wedding. The introductions went smoothly enough until Aggie lifted her hand in a beckoning manner. "Ladies!" she called. "Do join us."

"Really, Auntie," John hurried to say before the young women could be brought nearer, "this is unnecessary. Frederick and I are perfectly capable of introducing ourselves to these ladies and their mothers, so you need not…"

"Yes," Auntie Aggie said softly, "I know you young men need no encouragement in your endeavors, but I should like to introduce you to some young ladies who are worthy of your attention."

John's eyes flicked around the room, and he noticed for the first time that he was already acquainted with most of the people here. His gaze fell upon Lady Abigail, and he took a long look at her. She was beautiful, but throughout the Season, she had kept her distance from him. He did not know why she'd stayed away, but as his eyes lingered on her, she looked up, caught him staring, and sent him a challenging glance of her own.

Hmm…what to make of that?

In those first few moments, John had fancied his reputation was so abominable, the young ladies would be flocking away from him the entire week. But the discernible dare in Lady Abigail's eyes told him otherwise.

At least one lady is interested in getting to know me better.

Because he had not been paying attention, John missed it when the ladies Auntie Aggie summoned appeared before him. But he rejoined his companions just in time to hear that the lady on the left was called Miss Edith Templeton. She was introduced as the daughter of Viscount and Viscountess Gilwood, and because John knew of her parents but had never met them, he merely bowed respectfully to her. Then when his eyes slid sidelong, so he might observe her companion discreetly, he encountered someone he had once hoped never to meet again.

"Lady Olivia," he said, without waiting for his aunt to proceed with the formal introduction, "what are you doing here?"

"Lord Frontershire," she returned tartly, "I imagine you already know the answer to that question." She paused, as if waiting for him to divine the reasoning on his own, before proceeding in a clipped tone, "I am an invited guest."

While processing that waspish remark, John eyed Lady Olivia coolly. She looked just as he remembered her. Today, she was wearing a simple, white muslin frock, much like half the others young ladies in the room, but somehow, she managed to stand apart from the rest. Her black tresses were twisted and wrapped loosely around the crown of her head, save one that fell elegantly over her left shoulder, discreetly drawing his attention to the collar of her dress. Her light blue eyes glittered because of the way the sun slanted through the windows, and had John never met Lady Olivia before, he might have offered right then and there to take her for a stroll through the gardens. But he had made her acquaintance previously and knew even though he found her attractive, she was not the sort of companion he would seek out for a bit of pleasure.

"But I am surprised to see you," he continued. "When last we met, it was my understanding that you disdained the company of the peerage. You shunned Society so that you might sit in your library and entertain yourself."

"I never said I spent all my time indoors," Lady Olivia retorted.

"Ah yes." He tapped his chin knowingly. "You were determined to go out into the nearby town and educate the villagers. How is that endeavor coming along? Have you tamed the savages?"

John knew that his last comment was a tad over the line, but just seeing Lady Olivia again had brought out the resentment he had felt during their last debate. She had argued most vehemently, and even when he had presented solid, sound thinking, she had remained resilient and defensive.

"There are no savages living near my home, Lord Frontershire. I only tend to meet those when I come out into civilized company." She narrowed her eyes and glared at him. "And look…here you are. Taking time for your busy schedule to grace us all with your presence."

"I…oof." John meant to come up with his own snappy retort, but he stopped immediately when Frederick elbowed him roughly in the ribs. "What?"

"Try being polite to the lady," Frederick whispered. "Is the old saying not you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar?"

"Why would anyone want to catch flies?" John was dumbfounded when he and Lady Olivia uttered this phrase in unison. He looked at her, not bothering to hide his surprise. Then, just as he was about to continue bantering with her, his auntie moved nearer.

Whether she was able to pick up on the air of hostility brewing between himself and Lady Olivia, John could not be sure, but he was marginally relieved when the dowager countess lifted her hand and summoned a second set of ladies to join them. "Allow me to introduce…" she began, but again, that was when John stopped paying attention.

As the next set of young ladies hurried closer, fawning over him and Frederick, John watched Lady Olivia and her friend, Miss Edith Templeton, move further away. He could see the pair whispering to one another, and the look on Miss Templeton's face told him whatever Lady Olivia was saying was less than complimentary.

What does she mean by poisoning Miss Templeton against me? I have never done Lady Olivia a bad turn.

John understood fully that the scene which unfolded between them just now was less than cordial, but he had not disparaged Lady Olivia. He had only, quite snidely, followed up on their previous conversation and asked how she had been spending her time. While he mentally reviewed all that had just occurred, John kept watching Lady Olivia and Miss Templeton and did not give up the endeavor until Frederick harkened.

"Frontershire, would you not like to meet Lady Abigail?"

"Forgive me," he said in a rough, raspy voice. "I just had an unfortunate encounter with Lady Olivia, and it has taken me a moment longer than expected to recover."

"Oh…" Lady Abigail's eyes widened infinitesimally. "I too have suffered the misfortune of meeting with Lady Olivia and her sharp tongue." She inclined her head slightly, subtly giving him and his form a full, appreciative glance. "It seems that we have much in common, Lord Frontershire…and plenty to discuss."

"Indeed," he agreed. "Let us hope that we can successfully make it through the rest of this week without encountering Lady Olivia again."

"I will safeguard you if you will do me the same honor," Lady Abigail purred. Had Frederick not chosen that moment to snicker, John might have taken advantage of the situation and implored Lady Abigail to adjourn with him to another area of the house…any would do…but his friend called attention to her words by guffawing.

So, all John could do was say, "Let us befriend one another, Lady Abigail."

Once John and Frederick had been introduced to a substantial number of ladies, including those they already knew, the dowager countess dismissed them and returned to entertaining those guests who were gathered closest to her sides.

As John and Frederick sauntered away and took up a post near the windows, Frederick said, "Now, will you explain exactly what happened back there?"

"I was about to ask you the very same thing," John replied. "You could see that Lady Abigail was being charming, and I thought you might step aside, so she and I could…"

"I am not talking about Lady Abigail," Frederick interceded. "I wish to know why you and Lady Olivia had a bit of a row."

"Oh." John snorted. "I do want to discuss that matter further. Only…" He paused and turned to fix his friend with a serious stare. "Only keep me away from Lady Olivia this week. She sparks my anger in a way that…" He shook his head forcefully. "Let us just say that the last time we met, at Dewsbury Manor, I engaged in a debate with her, and it was not diverting. When she rushed from the room, I felt ashamed of having ruined the meal we were meant to share with our hosts, and I was truly hoping never to see her again." He glanced around the room, sighting Lady Olivia immediately then turning away once more. "Promise to help me steer clear of that woman."

Frederick laughed fitfully. "But my friend, you make the situation seem so dire."

"It is," John returned. "That woman vexes me greatly. She arouses something within me that…" He paused, then started once more, this time determined not to let his feelings for Lady Olivia cloud his speech. "You know why I allowed you and my auntie to prod me into joining in the revelries this week. And if I get distracted by Lady Olivia and make a fool of myself…"

"No need to fret," Frederick assured him. "There are plenty of pretty young ladies flocking about us. In time, you will not be able to see Lady Olivia through the crowd."

"Yes," John agreed. "That is the hope." He gazed around the gathered multitude, sighting several young women who were blushing with innocence. "Any one of these lovely little dolls will make me a proper wife. A pleasing attitude. Polite manners. And someone who wishes to marry quickly, so we might produce an heir soon. That is the lady I hope to find this week."

Frederick made a tsk-tsking sound. "You have taken all the fun out of the hunt, my friend," he chided. "By aiming to seek out a docile bride, I fear you will wind up with someone who does not intrigue you…who merely obeys your every command."

"And what's so wrong with that?"

Sweeping his hand wide, Frederick gestured toward the ladies at large. "All I am trying to say is that you should not put such parameters on your search. Yes, we have established that Lady Olivia is not for you, but before you tie yourself to the most mundane lady in the bunch, allow yourself the pleasure of exploring all your available options."

"Yes," John mused as his eyes drifted from one young lady to the next. He saw Miss Sampson, Miss Beauchamp, Lady Katherine, and then he paused when he beheld Miss Edith Templeton. He knew she was standing near Lady Olivia, but he flatly refused to glance at her. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Miss Templeton and added, "Let us enjoy ourselves this week, Frederick. There is no need to rush into marriage contracts or betrothals just yet."

"Well said," Frederick agreed. "Spoken exactly as one would expect the Charming Rake to do."