Page 9 of A Question of Worth

The words pricked Nathaniel, and he drew the brandy to his lips again in an effort to hide just how much they had affected him. He did not much like being where he was at present, in this dilemma where he wanted to find out the truth but was being pushed back by the very people who could convince him of it. There had been no choice for him but to leave Lady Newark's drawing room the previous day but he had certainly not wanted to do so. He had wanted to linger, had wanted to practically demand from Miss Fairleigh that she tell him the truth in its entirety.

"I cannot believe her words," he muttered, half to himself and half to his brother. "They asked me to take my leave much too soon after the conversation began. Even that means that theymust be hiding something, some information that they are, for whatever reason, reluctant to share."

His brother nudged him. "Look, is that not Miss Fairleigh now?"

Nathaniel turned — not only his head but his shoulders, his hips, the full weight of his attention swinging around — before he caught himself and stilled the movement, pulling one shoulder back. He wanted to see her, wanted to understand her so that he might know how to approach her again — but, as he glanced about him, Nathaniel quickly realized he was not alone in his observation. Around him, the whispers of the ballroom floated like a soft, insistent hum, growing in strength as Miss Fairleigh walked beside her aunt, moving slowly around the ballroom as one did when one arrived. It seemed the very moment Miss Fairleigh had entered the room, she had become the sole object of interest for countless scrutinizing eyes.

"Did you hear about Lady Warrington's bequest to her?"

Nathaniel turned his head, wondering who had spoken such a thing, only to see two ladies with their heads close together, whispering to each other without so much as a glance towards him. It was as both he and his brother had feared, then. Someone within their company that day had begun to speak of Miss Fairleigh's inheritance, and soon, Nathaniel had no doubt, all of London would know of it.

"There must be some connection," the other lady muttered. "A dark connection, mayhap, that has been hidden from us all."

The words were cutting, even whilst spoken in whispers, and Nathaniel frowned, disinclined towards joining in any such gossip. He could see the way the crowd's interest was being turned towards her. Those who did not know of the lady's inheritance were now being told of it, the news spreading through the room at great speed. Other young ladies stood in clusters, exchanging glances and whispering remarks behindtheir fans. A few of the older matrons looked on disapprovingly, making no effort to mask it.

"Not a lady of society at all, I daresay," a gentleman remarked, as he and a companion walked directly in front of Nathaniel, looking towards Miss Fairleigh. "To be given such a fortune must speak of something hidden, something which may lessen her claim to be one of the gentry."

"Mayhap Lady Warrington wanted to reveal that to us all," said the second, as Nathaniel threw back the rest of his brandy, feeling the words stinging at him although he could not explain why. Was it because his own aunt's name had been mentioned? Or because he wished society as a whole would not turn into a dark, malevolent creature without warning, consuming entirely those who displeased it?

Miss Fairleigh's eyes caught his and surprise leapt into her expression. She pressed her lips together and then looked away, saying something to her aunt — no doubt, Nathaniel considered, telling her thathewas present.

"Good evening, Ashcombe. Watching a debutante, I see."

He turned quickly, pulled out of his thoughts as a gentleman he knew well grinned back at him, lightening Nathaniel's mood in an instant. "Keswick! Good heavens, I did not expect you to be in London this Season!"

"I know, I was meant to be on my 'great adventure', was I not?" His friend's smile grew rueful. "I confess, I did not much enjoy being in another country so I decided to return to England and cease my complaints about how dull and dreary society can be." Chuckling, he slapped Nathaniel's shoulder and then tilted his head. "You are not wed as yet, however. I thought that this Season, you were quite determined to find yourself a bride just as soon as you could."

Nathaniel chuckled wryly. "Yes, indeed, that was my intention. First, however, there was the matter of my great-aunt's will to be read, and I thought that, once such a formal matter was completed, I would be able to fix my thoughts entirely on my endeavors. However, there has been a slight... concern which I fear will take me from my task for a time."

"You speak of Miss Fairleigh."

Nathaniel's eyebrows shot towards his hairline.

"I only heard of it this evening," his friend explained. "I ascertain that she has been given a small fortune by your great-aunt, even though there is no familial connection. Is that true?"

"It is." Nathaniel turned his head, looking for Miss Fairleigh again in the crowd, but she had been swallowed up by it. "My brother and I are most concerned about what this will do to our family, however. Lady Warrington being our great-aunt means that any shame or disgrace that is uncovered by Miss Fairleigh's connection to her will, in some way, fall upon us also."

Lord Keswick nodded slowly, his brows furrowed. "I can see why that would be a concern to you."

"I have gone to speak with the lady already," Nathaniel told him, knowing that he could trust his friend to be discreet. Lord Keswick was just as disinclined towards gossip as Nathaniel was himself. "She insists that she knows of no formal connection between herself and Lady Warrington — but I cannot believe that. Theremustbe something, and for whatever reason, she is disinclined towards speaking of it."

Lord Keswick's furrowed brows deepened. "I do not know if I would agree, my friend." He set down his glass. Nathaniel blinked in surprise, having expected his friend's concurrence. "I can see that this gift from Lady Warrington to Miss Fairleigh will cause her nothing but difficulty — at least, in the beginning. The only reason I have heard of it is because of society gossip which will, sadly, only increase as time goes on." His lips lifted in a sad smile. "That is, until society finds something better to speak of —but this news will be of great interest to the gossipmongers, and I fear they will chew upon it for some time."

Nathaniel rubbed one hand over his chin, trying to understand his friend's thinking. "Do you mean to suggest that if either Miss Fairleigh or her aunt knew of some reason as to why Lady Warrington wanted to bless her with such a fortune, they would speak of it?"

"Precisely," Lord Keswick said, with a small smile. "It would put an end to society's whisperings, would it not?"

"I — I can see that it might," Nathaniel replied, his own forehead furrowing. "But if the truth is upsetting, then would they still be so inclined?"

Lord Keswick set down his glass. "The truth would be better than any gossip thrown towards them by society. No young lady wishes for her reputation to be tarnished, for society to whisper about her as though she is their plaything, free to be tossed from one person to the next. No, my friend, I cannot believe that she has anything to hide, not in this matter. To my mind, keeping silent would be the very worst thing for her to do so for myself, I would believe her when she says she does not know of any further connection."

Nathaniel closed his eyes and blew out a long breath, seeing the sense in his friend's thinking. "But that does not offermeany hope," he muttered, as Lord Keswick chuckled dryly. "I want to discoverwhyLady Warrington offered her such a fine inheritance when she is in no way connected to my great-aunt. That way, I can make certain my own family name is protected from any damage or whisper of scandal."

"Something that is important for every gentleman to do," Lord Keswick agreed. "But in this situation, I fear it will be very difficult indeed."

Nathaniel nodded but said nothing more, his eyes once more finding Miss Fairleigh. She was standing to the side of theroom, looking at her aunt with wide, frightened eyes. His heart softened, no longer holding anger towards her, no longer filled with frustration over the belief that she was hiding something from him. He inhaled deeply, the decision forming within him as he thought on all his friend had said. Evidently, he had been wrong. An apology was required, but he was hesitant to do it. The crowd would see him approach her, society would take note of his presence — but all the same, duty must be done.

"I think I must excuse myself for a few minutes, Keswick," he said reluctantly. "I must speak with Miss Fairleigh. As much as I do not wish it, I think it right that I apologise for my manner towards her." He saw his friend's eyebrow lift. "I fear that I have been much too quick to believe that she was disingenuous — something that she is quite well aware of." He winced. "It is my duty. Pray, do wait for my return. I should like to hear more about your adventures — or lack thereof — on the continent."