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On the other hand, seeing Thomas would have meant, at least, that Thomas was not with Lady Valeria.

Don’t be silly. Of course he isn’t with her. He couldn’t be.

He shook his head and went over to the bar, raising a hand to indicate to the barman that he wanted a mug of ale. A moment later, one appeared in front of him. He cradled it between his hands and took a long drink, closing his eyes and doing his best to let the burn of the ale wash away his worries.

I wish I knew why I was allowing this to trouble me so much.

It was unusual for him to worry this way about ladies and courtship. Though he didn’t like to brag, Thomas and Duncan were quite right—he had always been able to attract the interest of any lady who caught his eye. It had never been a struggle. But with Lady Valeria, he felt for the first time as though he might not get what he wanted.

I should just forget her and move on to someone else.

Yes, maybe that was what he should do. Maybe he shouldn’t let her occupy his thoughts like this. After all, there were so many other ladies that he could be assured of. If he went to any of them, he would know for sure that they would respond, that they would be grateful for his attention and would receive it happily.

No one else would prefer Thomas over me.

This was such an unworthy thought that he couldn’t bear it. He quickly drank more of his ale and was relieved when his thoughts began to settle. He was able, at last, to focus on the here and now, to keep his attention on what was around him instead of thinking about Lady Valeria or the events of last night.

And then he heard his name.

“—Lord Harlston didn’t do anything—well, he wouldn’t, of course, he’s always been the most levelheaded of that crowd—”

“He let it happen, though, didn’t he?”

“Well, yes, certainly, but in truth, he had very little control in that moment. I wouldn’t have intervened, either, if I had been in his position. He did the wisest thing anyone could have. The other one—quite unhinged.”

“Hush,” someone said rather urgently. “He’s here, John.”

Henry turned to face the men whispering in the corner, a knot forming in his stomach. He thought he knew who he was about to see.

He was right. There, at the center of the group, stood Lord Milton.

“Good afternoon,” Henry said quietly. “We keep meeting, don’t we, Lord Milton?”

“I suppose we do, at that,” Lord Milton agreed. “Will you come over and join our group, Lord Harlston?”

“I believe you were just talking about me,” Henry said. “That might be easier if I wasn’t with you.”

“Nothing unfavorable,” Lord Milton said. “Come and join us. You really shouldn’t drink all by yourself over there. I’ll buy the next round, how about that?”

Henry hesitated—but the truth was that he did want to know the details of what was being discussed.

“Very well,” he said. He picked up his mug of ale and walked over to join Lord Milton and his friends.

Chapter 16

“The thing that must be determined,” said John, Earl of Milton, as he turned his mug of ale slowly between his hands, “is very simple. Do we permit this criminal element to remain in our midst? Can we take a chance that, as Lady Earlington and her son have claimed, the lady is so unlike her brother? Or do we act quickly, and in our own defense as a town?”

The others nodded, as he had known they would. This group of gentlemen comprised some of his favorites to spend time with, because they were so easily malleable. He could all but rely on their willingness to do anything he suggested. Already, they looked ready to jump from their seats and spring into action against Lady Valeria.

Sycophants.They disgusted him.

But if a gentleman wanted to get anything accomplished, sometimes he had to work with those he would have preferred to avoid.

For proof of that, one had only to look at the outcomes of those two pestilential dinner parties!

He couldn’t believe that no one—no one atall—had stood by his side when he had raised concerns about Lady Valeria. It was as if they simply didn’t care—and for all he knew, perhaps they didn’t. Maybe they were content to dwell in the society of such trash.

Well, John was not. He had always paid attention to the company he kept, and he didn’t intend to stop now.