“Dohurry.”
Hugh rolled his eyes.
“I am not overly tardy. In case you have forgotten, I have been rather busy attempting to locate my brother.”
Lord Elmsford shrugged.
“I am not unaware of that, though quite why that has made you take an age to prepare for the ball, I cannot know.”
“Because I was finishing one or two letters,” Hugh replied, a little sourly. “I have had two notes from two friends in Bath, both of whom said that they have seen no sign of my brother. I wrote to thank them and to beg them to inform me the very moment they see him, should they do so.”
Lord Elmsford grinned.
“Come now, you know I am only jesting. I understand that these last few days have been very trying indeed, especially with the rumors continuing to fly around you.”
Hugh grimaced at this and, giving himself one final glance in the mirror above the fireplace in the drawing room, nodded.
“I am prepared. Let us take our leave.”
“Finally!” Lord Elmsford walked to the door, haste in his steps. “I am sure that Miss Simmons will be very glad to see you. I – oh.”
Frowning, Hugh watched as Lord Elmsford stepped back, only for the butler to enter. He had been just about to knock as Lord Elmsford reached the door.
“Yes? What is it?”
“Your brother, my Lord.”
Hugh’s mouth fell open but, before he could even exclaim, the familiar face of his younger brother came into view, and to Hugh’s even greater astonishment, he fell on Hugh’s neck and hugged him tightly.
“Alderton,” Hugh managed to say, looking at Lord Elmsford with wide eyes. “Goodness, this is a surprise. I thought I told you to stay in Bath?”
Lord Alderton stepped back, though he grasped Hugh’s hands for a moment.
“It is good to see you, brother.”
There was a throatiness to his voice, one which spoke of a deep upset and Hugh’s heart turned over in his chest. What had happened for his brother to arrive so unexpectedly?
“It is good to see you also.” Glancing at Lord Elmsford, he shrugged. “If you wish to go to the ball, then please do, Elmsford. I will remain here for a little longer.”
With a smile, Lord Elmsford stepped away from the door, rather than go through it, the ball now clearly forgotten.
“Can I pour you a brandy, Alderton?”
“Thank you, Lord Elmsford,” came the reply, Alderton recalling Lord Elmsford. “It has been a difficult few weeks, and to be in your company again, Blackmore, brings me a little relief. I did not know what else to do!”
“I am sorry to hear it.” Taking the glass from Lord Elmsford, Hugh kept his gaze fixed on his brother. “I have been looking foryou, Alderton. I wrote letters to see if someone might be able to spy you in Bath, but I had no success. Where have you been?”
Lord Alderton sniffed, took a sip of his brandy, and then sighed so heavily that his shoulders rounded.
“I have been looking for my wife.”
Hugh’s heart jumped in his chest, and he threw a look to Lord Elmsford who only frowned.
“You seek Lady Alderton?”
“Yes.” Lifting his glass to his lips, Lord Alderton took another sip and then looked back directly at Hugh. “I was foolish in my marriage. I married a lady I thought was the most wonderful creature in the world, only to then find her to be a shrew. She was always nipping at my heels, telling me that I had done wrong in this or that. She was never satisfied with what we had, or what I chose to do. I know you think me foolish in many of my choices, brother, and I will not say that you are wrong, but Elizabeth – that is, Lady Alderton – had laughed and teased me about my jovial and often selfish behavior, even before we were married. She knew the sort of gentleman I was but also trusted that I cared for her, which I believed I did. Once we were wed, however, I continued on the same path as regards how I live and act, but she altered significantly. She did not realize that I bore only a courtesy title. In short, I do not think that she would have married me, had she realized that my elder brother was an Earl. No doubt she would have pursued you instead, for that is the sort of fickle, selfish creature that she is… only I did not see it until after we married.”
Hugh caught the look of regret pulling down every part of his brother’s features and felt his own heart soften with sympathy. Yes, his brother was a fool, and certainly he ought not to have rushed into matrimony with such haste, but there was clear upset and hurt in his heart. It would not be wise or right for him to berate Alderton at this point.
