Page 100 of Discovering Her Earl

Yes, Miss Wendell was lovely and she was no doubt competent in embroidery and playing the pianoforte as she’d been raised to do. It was an injustice the way noble families treated their daughters as if they were to be nothing more than frills. Substance was frowned upon. Miss Wendell would be a proper countess, just as any of them would be.

But she wouldn’t be the perfect partner in life. Not for him.

He left the ball soon after and returned home. Bentley came in to assist him.

“Are you all right, my lord?” the man asked.

“No. In fact, I wish to change into something for the club,” he said as Bentley hung up his evening jacket.

“Very well. I’m sure whatever is bothering you will be much easier to contemplate with a head full of whisky.” The man didn’t even attempt to veil his sarcasm.

“Why do I keep you, Ben?”

“Because I tell you the truth.”

“I could do with a little less truth at the moment.” The truth was time was running out. His thirtieth birthday was imminent. He needed to find his bride so there would be time to see to the wedding. But he couldn’t bring himself to make a decision.

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Can you make Elaina Bantham a proper countess?”

The valet let out a sigh and shook his head.

“No. Though I daresay if she were a proper countess, you would probably not find her as alluring.”

“You are probably right. I am between the proverbial rock and hard place. I need to do the right thing for the people who are counting on me.”

“Which is not the right thing for you?”

“It isn’t. The longer I’m away from her, I’m sure she is the only right thing for me.”

“It is a difficult decision. I have faith that you will choose correctly.”

Julian nodded though he didn’t have the same faith.

The way he saw it, he had two choices. The honorable one and the selfish one. The honorable one led to a life of disappointment, and the selfish one was piled high with guilt.

At his club, Julian waved off invitations to sit with the other bachelors. They certainly wouldn’t have any answers.

He was heading to a private booth when he spotted Lord Darlington sitting alone at a table by the window.

“Good evening. I didn’t know you were a member here,” Julian said, startling the man who offered a smile and gestured to the open seat in front of him. Julian sat and poured them each a drink from the bottle he had purchased.

“I rarely need to come. It is my place of solace when things at home are in turmoil.”

Julian’s heart rate picked up. “Has something happened? Is everyone well?”

He waved his hand in a soothing gesture.

“Yes. Everyone is of good health, if not good humor.” He shook his head. “My wife is quite put out with me and my niece… Well, I’m not sure if she will ever forgive me. Apparently, I am at fault for giving her freckles and not seeing that she was proper enough, of all things.” He rubbed his temples. “I thought I was giving her a good life with us. But perhaps I should have raised her like the rest of the young ladies of the ton.”

“She is perfect the way she is.”

“I thought so. And, of course, my wife agrees. But she also thinks I allow my dear niece to hide away from her problems. When her come out didn’t go well, I allowed her to give up. But who can look into those trusting brown eyes and deny the girl anything she asks? A stronger man than I for sure, because I can’t do it.”

Julian laughed and shook his head. “Nor I.”

“Lainey is in pain and since my wife cannot help her, she is blaming me. But things will settle now.”