“I don’t want an argument either. I may outrank him, but he knows how to spend the social capital he has. He could damage my prospects as easily as he could damage yours. That’s why I invited him to my dinner party. He heard me talking to the others and joined the conversation, and it was either invite him or tell him explicitly that he wasn’t welcome to come.”
“I would have told him that,” Thomas said. “I wouldn’t allow him anywhere near my home.”
“You’ve always been very stubborn,” Henry said. “The best thing to do with a man like that isn’t to get into a fight with him.”
“Then what is the best thing to do?”
“Let him think he’s in charge,” Henry said. “When he asks to attend a party—let him come. That way, I don’t make an enemy of him.”
“I don’t know why you wouldn’t want a man like that to be your enemy.”
“Yes, you do,” Henry said. “Of course you do. He’s cruel, Thomas. You see how he is to people he considers his enemies. The way he treated Lady Valeria—would you want him to do that to you?”
“Of course not,” Thomas said. “But if I stand aside for him, if I allow him into my life, I show Lady Valeria that my company is not a safe place for her, and that I have no objection to the presence of people who will say hurtful things to her. She’ll be at that party too, you know.”
“Of course I know,” Henry said. “I’m the one who invited her. She’s the reason I’m having a dinner party in the first place.”
Thomas darted a glance at his friend, but Henry appeared not to realize that he had said anything that might cause anyone alarm.
He’s having the partybecauseof Lady Valeria.
There were many things he would have liked to say in that moment. He wished he could tell his friend of his own feelings for Lady Valeria, ask Henry to consider standing aside for him. After all, Thomas had admired her for years. Henry’s affection for her was a new thing—at least, Thomas thought it was.
But it wouldn’t be right to make such a request. Lady Valeria has already indicated that she has no interest in me, so how can I ask Henry to stand aside for me now?
Instead, he said, “How can you invite Lord Milton to a party that’s meant to be for the benefit of Lady Valeria?”
“I’ve told you already,” Henry said. He was beginning to look rather exasperated. “I didn’twantto invite him. He nearly invited himself. He saw me talking to everyone and asked what time he should arrive!”
“And you couldn’t tell him that he wasn’t welcome after the way he behaved at Earlington Manor?”
“Thomas, if you don’t understand why I’m unwilling to expose myself to such unpleasantness, I really can’t help you,” Henry said. “But rest assured, it is my intention to keep as much distance as possible between Lord Milton and Lady Valeria while they are in my home.”
“How do you intend to do that?”
“You’ll help me, won’t you?” Henry asked. “You’ll keep Lord Milton aside? You’re a good conversationalist. I know you can keep him occupied.”
“Let me see if I understand. You expectmeto spend the evening talking to that man?”
“Oh, Thomas, it won’t do you anyharm,” Henry said. “And it will keep him from plaguing Lady Valeria. Which is what you want, is it not?”
“Of course it is,” Thomas sighed. “You know that.”
“Then you’ll help?”
“I can’t stand that you’ve put me in this position.”
“But youwillhelp.”
“Of course I will,” Thomas said. “You knew that I would when you asked. You knew I wouldn’t be able to bear the idea of leaving that poor young lady to cope with Lord Milton by herself.”
Henry smiled. “There, then,” he said. “It won’t matter that both of them are present, because we’ll ensure that they don’t have a chance to speak to one another. She won’t be bothered by him at all.”
“I hope you’re right,” Thomas said.
“Come, don’t worry so much,” Henry said. “Let me buy you a drink. I meant to buy a round for all three of us, of course, but as Duncan has decided to stay home tonight, it will be just you and me.”
Thomas nodded. “Very well,” he said. Ordinarily, he would have told Henry that he would like to purchase the second round of drinks, but he rather felt that he had done his friend enough favors for one day. It was because of Thomas that Henry would be able to spend a whole evening speaking to Lady Valeria. Thomas would hardly have the chance to talk to her at all.
