As he walked about the library in great agitation, the door opened to reveal Henry, who entered with purpose. He had clearly seen Nicholas come into the library alone.
“Whatever is the matter, old chap? You look positively wild.”
Nicholas did not reply, running a hand through his hair, at a loss as to what to say.
“Whatever is it?” Henry asked, although he gave him a knowing stare. “You have been rather distracted today. Or at least, when Miss Crompton was not in the room, you were rather attentive. Your attention seemed to shift rapidly the moment she arrived.” He grinned, but the smile faded quickly as he took in Nicholas’s expression.
Henry came toward him with concern as he looked over his face.
“What is it, Bolton?
Nicholas opened his mouth to deny it. He usually would have made light of the situation, brushed it aside, and carried on, but he could not do it. Henry’s understanding gaze was penetrating, and he sighed, shaking his head.
“She is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen,” he confessed. Henry’s eyebrows raised in obvious surprise but then he smiled broadly and clapped him on the shoulder.
“That is excellent, my friend. Surely this is to be celebrated?”
Nicholas shook his head vigorously and resumed pacing.
“You know of my reputation, Henry. You, better than anyone. Indeed, you spent some time with me in Paris, and we had… well, it was an enjoyable month.”
Henry chuckled. “It was, but I have always known the reason for it. That hideous woman undid you for the longest time. I very much hope Victoria Maddox, as she is now, is utterly miserable in her Highland castle.”
Nicholas gave him a warning glare as he passed him, his feet unable to remain still.
“I wish I had never met her. I wish that I had had more sense, but I was a young man and believed my heart to be broken.”
“Was it not?”
“I did not feel for Victoria what I do for Miss Crompton. That is all I can attest to at the moment.”
Henry kept smiling, but his eyes were confused. “My dear Bolton, this is a good thing.”
“How so?” Nicholas cried. “Why would a woman like Miss Crompton look at me? She must know that every good woman in society sees me for the rake I am.”
“The rake you were,” Henry insisted. “You are not like that any longer.”
“I would have been,” Nicholas said guiltily. “I anticipatedreturning to Paris to meet with many women I had known there. It was my primary target when I came back. I wanted to go to Italy and continue as before. I have not been so very bad as some have said, but I am hardly proud of myself.”
Henry scowled and came forward, taking hold of his shoulders.
“Nicholas,” he said firmly, “you are one of the best men I know. You have guarded your heart, and you have always been honest with any lady you have been involved with. That is far better than many others I know.”
“Precisely,” said Nicholas, shaking him off. “I am the better portion of a very long list of men who I am sure Clarissa Crompton would avoid at all costs.”
“Well then, if you do like her as you say. What will you do?”
Nicholas stopped, turning to his friend in consternation. Henry shrugged.
“If you enjoy her company, and you see a future with her of any kind, how will you convince her that you are a changed man? No matter what you say about your plans for the continent I have believed you to have changed. You are not the witless man with a slighted heart who went to France to find a distraction. You have grown up since then and are becoming the earl your father expected you to be.”
“You are too generous.”
“I am not. You are my best friend. I would not lie to you. Perhaps you have done some things you are not proud of. So have I, as have many. Miss Crompton is a sensible woman. She shall perceive that your character has ample merits to commend it, without perpetually dwelling upon your former transgressions.”
Nicholas rubbed a hand over his forehead. “Perhaps. I do not know. I detest the idea that she might wish to avoid me for things I can no longer change. But I can understand it, too.”
“I will not lie to you. There will be challenges. The Cromptons have been through a great deal of gossip and conjecture these past few years. True, their name is rarely mentioned now, but there was a time when I could not enter a ballroom in London without hearing it.”
