Thank heavens I didn’t cancel our ride.
“I never asked, by the way,” Colin continued in his easy, cheerful way. “How was the ball? After Miss Davenport whisked you away, I never saw you. I noticed that she saved you the waltz, though.”
Nathan pursed his lips, some of his good humour filtering away. “It doesn’t mean anything, Colin.”
“Mayhap not. But this is getting towards the end of the Season. I only say it to warn you, by the way, but I think Miss Davenport is trying to catch you. And I think her parents and your mother are happy with the arrangement.”
“Oh, nonsense, Colin. Surely not. What woman would want to pursueme?”
Colin threw him a shrewd look. “Your modesty is a fine quality.”
“I am not being modest. I am realistic.”
“Ah, you seek realism, do you? Very well, allow me to present this for your consideration. You are a lord, remarkably rich, of a good, old family. You have no sisters or interfering brothers to get in the way of a new Lady Whitmore, and you are rather handsome. You are also famously unattached.”
Nathan sighed. “Enough of this conversation, Colin. I do not believe that Miss Davenport is trying to catch me, and if she is, it is only out of desperation. She’ll come to her senses in a day or two, and it’ll be all forgotten. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Very well, very well. Now, before I forget, I have a rather important question to ask you. It’s actually the reason I brought you out here.”
Nathan glanced at him. “Oh, how intriguing. Do explain.”
Colin drew himself up, clearly composing himself to ask something important.
“The wedding preparations are going along well, but some elements are missing.”
“I should love to help, if I’d be of any use.”
He chuckled softly. “I have a proposition for you, Nathan. Would you do me the honour of being my second? My best man, if you will. I envision you by my side at the altar, holding the rings as we all gaze upon Louisa and marvel at her extraordinary beauty. I need a gentleman who possesses a steady demeanour, one who won’t be overtaken by emotion and risk dropping the rings, if you understand my meaning.”
Nathan allowed himself a quick, gratified smile. It was a great honour to be asked, and not one he’d expected. He and Colin were extremely close, but Colin was a gregarious sort of man with a great many friends, and plenty of cousins and so on.
“That’s a fine privilege, Colin. Thank you.”
“So, you’ll do it?” Colin said, looking anxiously at him.
“Of course. Did you think I would say no?”
Colin shifted in his saddle, giving a short, quiet laugh. “Oh, I hardly know. We are friends, to be sure, but there are times when it seems that all you care for is your work, old friend.”
That stung, but Nathan shook it off. He wasn’t about to spoil the day.
“To celebrate,” he said, flashing a grin, “shall we have a race?”
Colin grinned back. “Oh, I certainly would. I suppose the real question is, are you ready to lose?”
“Ha!”
***
“All seems to be in order,” Lord Davenport said, throwing a benevolent smile at Nathan. “This investment is a good one. You’re watching the market closely, though, aren’t you? Taking note of the variables? Things can change overnight, you know.”
Nathan bit back a flare of annoyance at the off-hand question. Lord Davenport would never question any other businessman this way, and certainly not a gentleman.
Steady on,he warned himself.Lord Davenport has known you since childhood.Andhe has seen you fail before.
“Of course,” he responded coolly, sitting back in his chair. “It’s as safe a bet as we’ll find on the market these days. You know how careful I am.”
“I do, I do,” Lord Davenport answered, tossing the papers back onto the desk. “Heavens, business makes me thirsty. Any chance of more tea, my boy?”
