“You are right that you ought not to, for the situation is still very serious, but I shall forgive you for the moment. Besides which, there is no situation with Lady Sara.” His smile dropped. “I have told her about my lack of fortune. I am sure she will not wish to consider me any longer, now that she knows of it.”
“You have told her about your lack of fortune?” Lord Wiltsham’s eyebrows lifted. “That was very trusting of you.”
“I had to make certain that she did not prolong her interest in me, and to remove any flicker of interest from my own heart also. There is nothing that can be between us, not when I have no coin to speak of.”
“And you believe that will push her interest away? Have you not already told me that she is the inquisitive sort?”
“I amsuremy circumstances will put her away from me entirely,” Gideon replied with a good deal more confidence than he truly felt.
“And is that what you wish for?” Lord Wiltsham tilted his head. “You wish for her to remain far from you. You desire to push her away so that you might also lose all that you feel for her?”
Gideon opened his mouth to reply that this was exactly what he wanted, only to snap it closed again. The strange feelings which had overwhelmed him came back in a moment, filling him with a deep regret when he thought of how far Lady Sara would be from him now.
“Ah, and now I see your struggle.” Lord Wiltsham’s voice had become softer. “You may be surprised, for Lady Sara may be less inclined to do as you anticipate. These young ladies, I find, can be rather unpredictable.”
Gideon shook his head, refusing to allow himself even to consider it.
“I am quite sure that she will be more than sensible. There is no good reason for her to consider me or feel anything for me. I can offer her nothing.”
“But oftentimes, reason has naught to do with it,” came the reply. “I am certain that you did not expect to feel anything of the sort for the young lady, but now you are in a situation where your feelings are so astonishing that you cannothelpbut consider them.”
Gideon looked away, his shoulders lifting just a little. He had not intended to speak of these things with Lord Wiltsham, but somehow, he had managed to do so regardless.
“We were dancing, and I found myself very eager to be closer to her than I ought,” he muttered, still not looking at his friend. “Upon realizing what I felt, I pushed her away from me and informed her of the truth of the situation, so that she might decide to pull away from me also. I cannot be certain that she has done so, of course, but I believe that knowing I have no fortune will encourage her towards another.”
Something kicked at his heart but Gideon studiously ignored it.
“But if you could regain your fortune….”
Lord Wiltsham wiggled his eyebrows, and Gideon, catching this, could not help but chuckle, albeit a little sadly.
“If only it were as easy as that. The only description I have of the fellow who did such a thing to me was that he was tall and slim with dark hair and mentioned a lady named Clara.”
“That is a little frustrating. I suppose you have taken note of all the young ladies in London for the Season who are named Clara, have you?”
“Yes, I have done so. At present, there are six young ladies named Clara. I have not acquainted myself with all of them at present, but I have observed them a little. None keep the company of a tall slim gentleman with dark hair. Indeed, one of them is betrothed and another is in her fourth Season and therefore unlikely to be in the company of any gentleman. The others are either in their first Season or eager to be courted during what is now their second Season.”
Lord Wiltsham grunted.
“And Richards will say nothing more to you.”
“No, he will not, and I cannot force him to do so either. His boldness has disappeared entirely, now that he has been so badly set upon. I have only what he told me that night in the gambling house.” Lifting his head suddenly, a breath caught in his chest. “Although I could still speak to the proprietor! I had quite forgotten about him! The last time I was present, he told me of some threats made to his person and dared to suggest that I was the sort of gentleman who would appear in his establishment with every intention of demanding he do as I ask.”
A frown danced across Lord Wiltsham’s brow.
“You mean to suggest that he has been forced to act in a certain way? Forced to do as he might not otherwise have done?”
“Yes, that is precisely what I am suggesting.”
Lord Wiltsham’s frown did not lift.
“May it not be, however, that this fellow has been threatened by Lord Montague? We already know that Montague is a gentleman who was eager to behave in such a manner. It might well be that he threatened this man, but given that he is now on the continent–”
“I do not believe it can be Lord Montague,” Gideon interrupt quickly, sitting forward as excitement grew in his chest. “The owner spoke as someone whose situation at present is continuing,notas someone who no longer has such a threat hanging over them.”
“You believe the situation is ongoing then?”
Gideon nodded.
