Lord Kelling’s question had Hugh’s smile shattering.
“You mean, the person who began this rumor about me?”
Lord Kelling nodded.
“Might it be the same person who spoke ill of you before?
At this, Hugh quickly shook his head.
“No, I do not think it could be. Last Season, it was simply a case of mistaken identity. Someone must have seen Miss Simmons – or someone who looked like Miss Simmons – coming out of a townhouse. They mistakenly believed that it wasmytownhouse when it was not. Thus, my name was pulled in towards that of Miss Simmons and as such, the rumors began.”
“Then you do not think there could be any connection?”
Hugh shook his head no to Lord Elmsford’s question.
“I would doubt it.”
“Which begs the question what are you going to do?” With a look to Lord Kelling, Lord Elmsford rose to his feet and went to pour another measure of whisky. “Are you going to find out who is responsible?”
“I would not know how to go about that.”
“It is simple enough, though it might take some time. All you would need to do would be to ask each person in turn who they heard the story from, beginning with Lord Elmsford,” Lord Kelling explained. “Lord Elmsford?”
“I overheard it rather than being told directly,” Lord Elmsford said, sitting down again, his glass of whisky refilled. “I heard Lord Gallagher and Lady Yateley speaking together of it.”
“And was it Lady Yateley telling Lord Gallagher, or the other way around?”
“The other way around. It was certainly Lord Gallagher telling Lady Yateley the news, for she appeared greatly astonished.”
“Then that gives us something we can do,” Lord Kelling said, flinging a triumphant look to Hugh. “You will need to ask Lord Gallagher where he heard this rumor from.”
“Or I can do so,” Lord Elmsford suggested. “That way, he might be more willing to speak with me rather than telling someone who the rumor is about!”
“That is true enough, I suppose.” Hugh gestured towards Lord Elmsford. “Well, if you are willing to do such a thing, I would be grateful.”
Lord Elmsford nodded.
“But of course.” A hint of a smile brushed at his lips. “And tell me, what of Miss Simmons?”
A little confused at Lord Elmsford’s tone, Hugh frowned.
“What do you mean, what of her?”
“Was she pleased to be dancing with you? She did not say much to me.”
Hugh looked down at his whisky glass.
“I think she was, in the end.” Recalling how tight her expression had been, how her eyes had darted from one side of the room to the other, he shook his head. “She was very anxious initially. At the end of the dance, however, she was a good deal happier.” His smile grew gently, glad that she had managed to relax a little and lose some of her anxiety. “I believe that it was the first dance she had stepped out to – save for yours, Elmsford – since she had first heard that rumor spreading across London.”
“I am glad to hear it. I have wondered if…” With a shake of his head, Lord Elmsford dropped his gaze to his whisky glass. “It does not matter.”
A little confused as to what it was Lord Elmsford had been going to say, and why he had stopped himself, Hugh opened his mouth to ask him to explain, only for Lord Kelling to interrupt.
“I did not manage to dance with the lady myself, but I have every intention of doing so at the next ball,” he promised, as Hugh smiled his agreement. “You are quite right, the wallflowers ought not to be ignored if there is nothing thattheyhave done that deserves being ignored. I promise I shall stand up with Miss Simmons at the next ball we both attend. Perhaps I shall converse with her thereafter for Lord Elmsford has stated that she is rather beautiful.”
Hugh’s eyebrows lifted high as Lord Elmsford snorted and rolled his eyes.
“I mentioned that she was pretty, I think. I am sure you would not disagree, Blackmore?”
