Gideon barely glanced at his friend.
“I did not think that I would be permitted entry, but it seems that your willingness to pay my debt has allowed me entry to White’s once more.”
Lord Wiltsham waved his hand, dismissing the remark.
“But of course. As I have said, I am more than willing to be generous at this present time, given that I know the depths of your circumstances.” Barely lifting his gaze, Gideon acknowledged his thanks with a murmur. Lord Wiltsham immediately ordered two whiskeys and then sat down in the chair opposite. Gideon said nothing, continuing to stare in silent contemplation at the empty fireplace to his left. “You have been melancholy these last few days. What ails you?”
Gideon did not pull his gaze away.
“I beg of you not to ask me. I have been so very confused, and it has taken my mind from my current task.”
“Then I find myself all the more interested in what it is that is troubling you so.” Lord Wiltsham arched one eyebrow. “It could not be something to do with Lady Sara, could it? I ask only because I saw her leave the ballroom the previous evening, looking most distressed.”
A knot of guilt tied itself around his heart, but Gideon shook his head.
“No, of course not.”
That was nothing but a mistruth, but given the circumstances, he had no wish to go into detail about what he had shared with her.
“I see.” Lord Wiltsham nodded slowly, as though he understood what Gideon was saying by stating such a thing. “So you have finally identified that her insistence on knowing a little more about you is rather endearing,” he continued, as Gideon scowled. “And do you find yourself a little confused?”
There was no point in hiding the truth from him.
“Not only a little,” Gideon groaned, as Lord Wiltsham chuckled. He had not meant to speak so openly, but the words had come to him before he could prevent them from being spoken. “It has been agonizing.”
“And have you said something to her about this? Have you told her of your feelings?”
“I have no feelings.”
Those words were nothing more than a lie and Gideon grimaced as he spoke them, allowing Lord Wiltsham to chuckle.
“Very well.”
“Or shall I say that they came upon me so suddenly, so forcefully, that I am not yet certain as to what they are?”
That was a better explanation, for Gideon had found himself dancing with Lady Sara, looking down into her eyes and trying to make sense of the rush of emotion which had completely captured him. When he had pulled her a little closer, she had not resisted, and his eyes had been continually drawn to her lips.
It had all been most disconcerting.
“Then I shall allow you time to consider them,” Lord Wiltsham replied, as Gideon shot him a small smile. “You say that you are struggling to concentrate on the matter at hand, then?”
Glad to move onto what would be a much easier discussion, Gideon shifted in his chair and looked directly at his friend.
“I am glad that Richards has recovered, but he is unwilling to say anything more. He stated previously that he had very little care about what happened to him as a consequence of speaking to me, but now that he has been injured, I believe that attitude may have changed.”
“As well you can understand,” Lord Wiltsham admitted, nodding slowly. “The threat is much more easily dismissed than the suffering of physical harm. I believe it will take him some time to fully recover, however, yes?”
“Yes, that is so – another reason why Richards is so unwilling to speak. He did not think that anything so severe would happen to him.” Sighing, Gideon shrugged. “However, what he told me back in the East End was of interest. I was there one evening and a gentleman took me into another room. A short time later, I was flung from the premises, clearly injured. The only description Richards could give me of the perpetrator was the fact that he had dark hair, was rather tall and slender, and mentioned a lady by the name of Clara. Oh, and he also recalled that Lord Montague was present, which certainly confirms to me that this fellow, whoever he is, is the man who not only injured me, but took my fortune.”
Lord Wiltsham nodded again, rubbing one hand over his chin for a few seconds.
“If only the description had been a little better,” he murmured as Gideon let out a frustrated sigh.
“Yes, that is exactly my feeling. I am so close to something and yet so very far away.”
“Are you talking about the matter of your fortune or the situation with Lady Sara?” Lord Wiltsham grinned, then shook his head, immediately, holding up one hand, palm out, towards Gideon. “Forgive me. I ought not to question you so.”
Gideon chuckled.
