Page 15 of An Enchantress for an Earl

Chapter Six

“Did you hear me, Violet? You are staring off into the distance in a remarkably improper way.”

Violet started, and turned back to Iris. The small ballroom was crowded as the guests partook of the refreshments, and they were tucked into a corner near some potted palms and a decorative drape. Not far away, Thorne stood talking to Merryfield – about the Weights and Measures Bill, and the Bills attempting to limit military training, as far as she could tell.

Merryfield was a puzzle – a deeper and deeper puzzle every time she saw him – for nothing he did or said spoke of a character which would lead to a man getting sent down. Far from it. He seemed studious, and most focussed on matters of importance. All that tempered with a quiet sense of humour, as far as she could see. Which made her even more curious than before about exactly what he had done, to get sent down – what had he argued about?

“I didn’t, I’m sorry, I was wool-gathering…”

“About Lord Merryfield?”

“No. I…”

Iris gave a quiet snort of laughter.

“Of course not… that’s only where you were looking…”

“If we were at home, right now I would throw a cushion at you, my dear sister.”

“I know. I’m taking advantage of the fact that we are in public.”

“Really – sometimes you’re as bad as Thorne! But what were you saying before?”

“I was telling you that I have discovered that Lord Greenleigh is a Marquess, and unmarried. I think I’m in love. Any man who looks as good as he does, and can play a pianoforte with such consummate skill deserves my attention. I simply must find someone who can introduce us!”

“What! Do you mean to say that Thorne doesn’t know him?”

“It appears not… that’s rather a first, isn’t it?”

“It is. But I’m sure that you’ll find a solution. Just don’t do anything… improprietous…”

“Violet! Are you suggesting that I might step outside the bounds of good behaviour? I am shocked.”

“Iris, where it relates to both music, and a handsome man, I am quite ready to believe you capable of such a thing.”

Iris shook her head, but there was a gleam in her eye that made Violet hope that she hadn’t just, inadvertently, set her sister on a very unwise course. Interesting men were remarkably dangerous, she concluded, even as her eyes went back to Lord Merryfield.

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“Arryn, there’s a new round of rumours circulating a White’s. And I’ve no idea where these have come from, any more than the last lot. This time, they are implying that you were involved in some sort of wrongdoing, to finance a life of debauchery in Oxford. And that I probably knew about it, and did nothing.”

Arryn looked up, and met his father’s concerned gaze.

“That’s… that’s complete madness. If anyone at Oxford lived less of a life of debauchery than me, I’ve yet to meet them!”

“I know. I can only assume that someone wants, very badly, to make people question anything that you or I say, or do. What I don’t know is why. You haven’t received any messages of any kind? Nothing to indicate what these rumourmongers might want?”

“No, nothing. And at social occasions, whilst I can’t say that everyone flocks around me, they mostly treat me with an ordinary degree of courtesy. There has been no indication that anyone bears specific animosity to me.”

“Then we will just have to continue as we have been, and hope that either the rumours stop, or that at least we receive some indication of why they exist. Without knowing that, I can see no way that we can act to stop them.”

“I agree. I’ve nearly got that report ready for your committee, by the way, and there seems to be a clear leader in the options for anti-forgery methods – so you’ll have something to recommend, at least as a trial. I should have it ready tomorrow.”

“That’s good – I just hope that all of these rumours have not caused too many of the Lords to doubt my capacity to lead the committee. I suppose I will see, when it comes to our next meeting.”

“Indeed.”

Lord Westerhazy turned, and left the room, but Arryn sat for some time, staring at the door before him, and contemplating his father’s words. Guilt weighed on him that, somehow, his actions had brought them to this, to his father’s reputation being publicly besmirched. And the worst of it was that he did not know why, or who, held such an enmity for him as to do this.