“As do I, Miss Madeley. As do I.”
Chapter Eight
“Well?” Lord Anderton narrowed his gaze at Phillip. “Do you have any intention of approaching her this evening? I want this done quickly, if you recall.”
It was most unfortunate that Phillip had attended the same soiree as Lord Anderton, but his presence had not been entirely unexpected. Given that both gentlemen were equals in society, it was to be expected that they would be invited to the same functions. It had only been a day since he had spoken to Lady Yardley and as yet, he had heard nothing from either herself or Miss Madeley.
“I have been considering your request.” Knowing that Lord Anderton was waiting for an answer, Phillip kept his chin lifted, refusing to flinch as Lord Anderton chuckled darkly. “It is not particularly fair on the young Lady Jemima, I must say. I find that particularly abhorrent.”
“You do not mean to say that you are averse to it?”
The irony in Lord Anderton’s voice was not hidden from Phillip but, as he grinned, the shadow hidden behind it sent a shudder running through Phillip’s frame.
“I would state that I amverymuch averse to it.” Phillip folded his arms across his chest. “It is unfair to the young lady.”
“And yet you would have said very little about such a thing had this not been forced upon you, I am sure!” Getting to the heart of the matter, Lord Anderton laughed again, and Phillip looked away. “You know very well that you would previously have cared very little as to whether or not the young lady was being courted by another gentleman. If you saw a pretty young lady you wished to embrace, then you would have done so as soon as you could, and without even a second thought.”
“That may very well be true, but that is not my perspective now.” One shoulder lifted. “I am, mayhap, becoming a little less of a scoundrel. I intend to reform myself.”
This statement brought nothing but laughter, and Phillip simply had to stand and endure it, for he could not simply leave the conversation for fear that Lord Anderton would follow him and, thereafter, their ongoing conversation would be overheard by someone else.
“Do not think that you have any power here now, nor that I will believe your words about reforming yourself.” Lord Anderton waved one hand, as if dismissing Phillip entirely. “You are nothing but a scoundrel, and you shall always be a scoundrel. Regardless of your promises and intentions, you will do as I have asked.” He grinned broadly. “I do not think that I need to remind you about the consequences of refusing me.”
Phillip’s jaw jutted forward, his hands clenching into fists as rage began to boil through him.
“Why do you do this?”
“It is not your business.”
“You do not like Lord Williamston, is that not so?Thatis why you are intent on chasing away his young lady. You wish to injure him for some slight he did you, which is why you now seek to separate them.”
Lord Anderton scowled - the first time he had not laughed since Phillip and he had begun their conversation.
“My reasons do not matter. At least they do not matter to you.” His smile returned quickly. “All that concerns you is that you remove Lady Jemima from Lord Williamston. Are you going to do that or not?”
Everything in Phillip wanted to state that he would do nothing of the sort, only to remember that he had no other course but to agree. To refuse would put him in danger immediately, and would also cause great suffering to Lady Gwendoline – someone he had already injured by embracing her without warning.
“If I must.” Gritting his teeth hard to contain his fury, he took a deep breath. “But you should not think that my actions will be hasty. Such things will take time, as I am sure you are aware.”
Lord Anderton shook his head.
“No, you will not take a great deal of time. You will do this as quickly as you possibly can, just as you would have done the previous Season… before you decided that you had a conscience.” An ugly expression wrapped across his face, his eyes growing a little hooded, his lip curling into a snarl. “I have no time for you to wait or to linger in the hope that I will change my mind. You shall do as you are asked, and you shall do so immediately. I want it done by this week’s end.”
So saying, he turned sharply with his back to Phillip and strode away. Phillip closed his eyes, waiting for his ire to ebb just a little, so that he did not go after Lord Anderton, grab him by the lapels, and hiss that he would do nothing of the sort. After some moments, he was finally able to breathe a little more easily and, clasping his hands behind his back, he chose to wander around the room. Many gentlemen nodded to him, and certainly there were a good many ladies who caught his eye, but Phillip did not linger. Instead, his mind remained fixed on the situation with Lord Anderton, silently praying that Lady Yardley had taken on Miss Madeley’s suggestion, as she had said she would do, and that soon, this dark weight would be tugged free of his shoulders. His lips lifted briefly as he thought of Miss Madeley. Her idle remark had been the only thing that had brought light to his mind and, had she remained silent, then his situation might have been very dark indeed.
As he continued to meander around the shadows at the edges of the room, a sudden exclamation caught his attention. He lifted his head, seeing a gentleman being clapped on the back by one or two others and, confused, Phillip made his way towards them. Someone laughed and another made a remark which had one particular gentleman’s face flush red – a gentleman Phillip recognized.
Lord Williamston.
“Whatever is this I have come upon?”
Keeping his tone light, he looked around the small group, his eyes going to Lord Williamston at the last. As he watched, Lord Williamston’s face flushed scarlet and he rubbed one hand over the back of his neck.
“There is nothing the matter.” Lord Williamston shrugged and rolled his eyes. “It is only that something has been suggested, and given that I have not refuted it, I confess now that my intentions have become clear, albeit before I have spoken to the lady!”
Phillip looked from one grinning face to the next, not quite grasping what was being said.
“He does not understand.” Lord Greenwood nudged Phillip lightly. “You have not read ‘The London Ledger’ then? It was only handed out this afternoon, so I suppose that cannot be held against you!”
