Rosemary laughed. “Mine? Goodness, no.” She replied as Clarissa’s heart sank. “My brother does what he wishes and will not be swayed by anyone. Not even Aunt Eleanor can convince him to stay in England as he should.”
Clarissa wished to run from the house immediately. She had forgotten how instantly a connection could be made between two people in society. Perhaps Rosemary was innocent in hercomments, but other tongues might be wagging. Clarissa did not need to be associated with any man such as him. The reality of what she had done came crashing down on her as Rosemary continued.
“He is unfairly spoken of, you know,” she said, as though discussing the weather. “Nicholas is not so very bad as they all say. I have heard some outrageous things that I cannot believe are true of my brother. He is a gentleman, and I have only seen him act with extreme propriety.”
Her comments only served to confuse Clarissa even more. His sister clearly did not believe the rumours about him, and she would know him best. Yet he had been away from her for many years—how could she possibly know the truth? Anyone could conceal their true character if they were skilled enough. Many men before Lord Bolton had hidden behind their charm.
“I am sure he is the epitome of a gentleman,” she agreed half-heartedly, and Rosemary beamed at her.
There was a general hubbub about them as the other ladies chatted and drank before the fire. Everyone was in a most amiable mood, yet Clarissa could not reach the same sense of happiness that she had experienced earlier.
She was scolding herself relentlessly for allowing her head to be turned by a handsome face. She had always sworn to protect her family from scandal, and as she watched Emily and her mother speaking to one another across the room, her anxiety only grew. No young girl deserved to live through a scandal as she had done. Emily was young enough for it never to taint her character, and Clarissa would not repeat her sister’s mistakes.
Lord Bolton may be just as Rosemary says he is, but I do not believe it. There is no smoke without fire, and our family has had their fingers burned before. I shall keep my distance from him and ensure we all stay far away from the flames.
CHAPTER SIX
The clack of billiard balls rent the air as Nicholas struck the cue ball.
This was one of his favourite rooms in the house. It was set back from the others and often meant he could hide here when his aunt was looking for him. He watched Henry’s lithe frame skirt the table, frowning as he considered his counter shot.
“My feeling is that the estate should be entirely entailed to Joseph, but father is adamant he will not inherit. The whole business is largely ridiculous. I shall endeavour to ask Mama for help. She is undoubtedly the most sensible one of the family.”
Henry’s father was having tumultuous issues with his inheritance, and Nicholas could only sympathize. Henry, being a second son, was rather set apart from the barrage of abuse his father was receiving from his eldest—Roger. An illegitimate heir had come forward, making Nicholas feel rather lucky that he was not yet a father.
He had been listening to Henry’s woes for a while but found that his mind kept wandering to the dance floor and his charming dance partner.
It was strange to acknowledge how quickly one’s perspectives could change. That morning, he had been reluctant to stay in England. Even the two weeks he had promised his aunt had seemed interminable. But now, with Miss Crompton’s company to look forward to, he felt it might not be so tiresome after all.
“My dear fellow, you are not listening to me again! I dare say you have not been listening to me since you returned. I might as well play billiards with the curtains.”
Nicholas shook himself out of his reverie and attempted tolook contrite.
“Sorry, Addison, is there any proof of his claim?”
Henry gave him a wan smile. “I have already outlined it to you in detail. Whatever is the matter with you, old boy? Did you not wish to play? I’m happy to have a glass of port before the fire if you prefer.”
“Not at all. I am being abominably rude; you have my apologies.”
“Is anything the matter?”
I cannot stop thinking about a woman who seems entirely indifferent to me.
“Not a thing. Let us play. I have not trounced you in far too long.”
Henry gave a sharp bark of laughter and proceeded to pot two balls at once. Nicholas managed to get through his next two turns without incident. Still, as the snow began to fall more heavily outside, the snowflakes put him in mind of the sparkling jewels on Miss Crompton’s gown, and he grew irritated by his mind’s inability to focus.
He wasn’t sure what it was about her that intrigued him to such an extent. As Henry took his customary few minutes to assess the table, Nicholas tried to plot it out in his head. Miss Crompton was beautiful in an ethereal, perfect way that unmanned him.
He concluded that the paleness of her skin and the darkness of her eyes were the most captivating. But that was not a reason to obsess over a woman. So what else?
The first thing that had interested him was the way she looked away so quickly whenever he was near. He was rather chagrined to discover that he was more interested in her because she seemed so uninterested in him. He was not used to women dismissing him. Usually, they fawned about him in a most unflattering way, and he did not enjoy that either.
Miss Crompton had a quietness about her that spoke to a place deep inside him. It was like a ripple of something he had long pushed below the surface, something he had hidden for many years. Ever since Victoria’s treatment of him, he had tended to favour bolder women. He liked to know he would not break a heart and that his own would not be broken in return.
Lady Wilde was just the sort of lady he would have had his eye on a few months before. But now, as he absorbed the quiet beauty of the English countryside, things were awakening in him that he had not anticipated. He liked that Miss Crompton was reserved; her shy manner intrigued him.
He had always enjoyed a challenge, and Miss Crompton most definitely presented one. Even during the dance, she had not said a single word to him. It was infuriating and yet utterly appealing.
