Victor felt a knot twist inside. He did not have a friend to spend time with like Lydia did with Rose. The only person he considered a friend was Harry, and at that moment, things were fraught between them. Being alone had never troubled Victor, but in this instance, he was beginning to think that he would like some company.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. The Duke of Stonewood poked his head through. An impish grin followed tousled hair, and Victor started to regret his wish for company.
“You must have done enough work for the day by now, old chap. Let’s enjoy a drink and a game,” he suggested.
“There are many things that require my attention,” Victor argued.
Edmund pushed the door open more fully and started to take some books off the shelf. Victor noticed that he was putting them back in a different order, and this irked him.
“There’s nothing so important that it can’t be put off until later, and since you are my host, you must entertain me,” Edmund grinned.
Victor got the impression that Edmund wasn’t going to leave him alone, and in truth, he didn’t think he would be able to pay the required attention to his work. He pushed his chair back. Edmund clapped his palm against a book, creating a loud thud.
“You are correct, Edmund. I should not allow work to get in the way of my duties as a host,” he said. They left the study, but just before Victor exited the room, he took a moment to rearrange the books properly.
He and Edmund walked to a parlor. Victor got a servant to pour some drinks while Edmund dealt cards.
“So how is married life treating you?” Edmund asked.
“It is fine, I suppose.”
“I hope you’re taking good care of Lydia.”
Victor arched an eyebrow. “She is healthy,” he said. Edmund chuckled and shook his head.
“Relax, Victor, I didn’t come here to check that you are treating Lydia properly. I know she can take care of herself. Although I’m glad that you two seem to have found some common ground.”
“It has been an adjustment, but we are both finding out way forward.”
“Indeed, you are,” Edmund agreed, leaning towards Victor and lowering her voice. “You know, she was quite upset with me for letting this happen. She wanted to run away and become a nun. Can you imagine! I wasn’t about to let her throw her life away like that. There would be no coming back for her. But anyway, let us speak frankly. Have you tracked down the mother?”
“I’m afraid not. I have agents circling London. I shall leave no stone unturned until I discover this child’s origins.”
“Have you considered that the mother might have left London? She could be anywhere in the country. Why, she might even have fled to Ireland or France. She could be anywhere in the world by now.”
“The thought had occurred to me,” Victor replied dryly, although he didn’t find it helpful. “I have to assume she remained in London. I cannot give up the search. Not yet.”
“No, no of course, you cannot. I do want you to know that I have been trying to straighten things out with people of theton, but my efforts have been as successful as your search. They think I’m just trying to cover up the scandal for Lydia’s sake. I am afraid that you’re still talk of the town.”
“Indeed. I could do without theton’stongues wagging, but unfortunately, that is the nature of the beast.”
Edmund waved a dismissive hand in the air.
“It will pass. I have faced a number of scandals in my time, and they always subside although I haven’t ever had to endure a scandal of this magnitude.”
“Your words are reassuring,” Victor said although his voice dripped with disdain as he meant the opposite. He could not understand how anyone could welcome scandal after scandal and live a rakish life. He was well aware of Edmund’s reputation of course, and it vexed him that someone of his ilk could get married and suddenly be seen as respectable while Victor had lived a strict life and had been condemned after one unfortunate incident.
Theton’ssavage nature had risen again, and this was especially trying given the lengths Victor had gone to in order to protect his family from the effects.
“Now then, there is another matter we must discuss, and it is about my sister, although not her wellbeing. I understand that we agreed to make this marriage into a temporary arrangement,but I’m fully aware how temporary arrangements can sometimes become permanent. Have there been any stirrings of love?”
Victor’s throat went tight. He pressed his legs together and held his arms close to his body. There was something about the question that seemed invasive. He wanted to deny it, but he could not. He could not stop his mind from drifting back to the moment when Lydia’s dress had gotten wet, and it clung to her figure, accentuating her femininity. The image of the perfect curves of her breasts as well as her narrow waist had been seared into his mind, and it was as though they haunted him.
“I don’t believe it’s appropriate to discuss such things,” he replied tactfully.
Edmund leaned back and ran his hand through his hair.
“Oh, come now, there’s no need to be like that. We’re both men, and while I don’t need to know all the details, I would just like to know if familiarity has caused some affection to rise. It would be nice to know that I have delivered Lydia to a happy conclusion, rather than curtailing her chance of one as she believes at the moment.”
