Page 10 of A Gifted Earl

Venetia’s stomach clenched.

“Good day to you Aunt, Cousin. What is so very important that you had to insist on dragging me from my well-earned rest? And why on earth is the parlour cluttered up with your luggage? Why hasn’t it been taken to your rooms?”

“Jasper. I see that your manners have not improved since your childhood. But that aside, the reason I asked for your presence is the same reason that our trunks are here. The rooms which we have been allocated are inadequate to our needs. I lived in this house for twenty years – do you not think that I recognise it when I am being offered the worst suites in the building? You will, thank you, immediately change that allocation to better rooms, ones close to each other with at least one private sitting room, and a small room attached for our maid.”

Jasper spluttered, shocked at being so addressed by a woman. If I remembered aright, his mother had always spoiled him.

“I do not see that you are in a position to make demands, Aunt.”

“Simply the fact that I am your aunt entitles me to be treated with appropriate courtesy and consideration. We are here to introduce Venetia to society, now that our mourning is over – we require rooms which will allow us to do that effectively, and in comfort. This house is large – you have no need to relegate us to the smallest rooms – the only reason which I can see for doing so is spite. And spite is a remarkably unbecoming thing in a gentleman.”

Jasper looked rather as if he might explode, either from outright anger, or perhaps simply from being challenged.

His eyes narrowed, and he turned his sharp gaze directly upon Venetia.

“Introducing her to society? Whatever are you thinking, Aunt? She is, quite clearly, disfigured. Her form is pleasant, I’ll give you that, but no man is going to want a woman with a disfigured face – unless, of course, she comes with a substantial dowry?” He paused, waiting for a few seconds, then laughed nastily. “No? I didn’t think so. Perhaps she should resign herself to being some man’s mistress, unless she wants the life of a shrivelled old spinster?”

Her breath left her. It was if she had fallen from a horse, landing in that way which resembles a fist to the stomach, and steals breath in a blaze of pain. Such cruelty in his words! She turned her eyes to her mother, to see Lady Hardenwell standing calmly, her shoulders tensed and her eyes hard.

“It is not up to you to judge so. Not all men are as narrow-minded and mean-spirited as you apparently are. And do not think that I am unaware of your behaviour, and… reputation. I will, for now, pretend that your inappropriate and unpleasant words were never spoken. But I will not forget. And if you do not at least behave with basic civility, I do believe that some of that behaviour may be noticed by the gossips of the ton. Which would be unfortunate, would it not? Especially if they should learn of the scale of your debts? I would suggest that you direct the staff to prepare the burgundy suite, and the gold suite with the adjoining sitting room, and the attached maid’s rooms. That will allow us to remove ourselves and our luggage from your presence. We will be quite happy to be as inconspicuous as possible, once we are in those rooms – we would not want to disturb your daily… activities.”

Jasper had been getting redder in the face by the moment, until Lady Hardenwell got to the part about his debts – how her mother knew of them, she could not imagine, but she was glad that such information was to hand, as Jasper’s face lost all colour at those words. His debts, Venetia surmised, must be of truly terrifying proportions – and perhaps those debts were not known to his parents?

He stood there as she finished speaking, his face twisted, obviously fighting an internal battle.

Then, he gave another sharp, mocking bow.

“I see that you have the advantage of me, for now, Aunt. But I will not forget either. I will direct the staff as you suggest, and I will, most definitely, appreciate it if you do remain inconspicuous.”

He turned on his heel and left the room.

Venetia and her mother collapsed onto the couch again, and it was only then that Venetia realised that her mother was shaking. She reached out, refilled her mother’s tea cup, and handed it to her.

“That, Mother, was most courageous of you.”

Her mother laughed.

“That was pure outrage speaking. I let my anger carry me, so that I did not think too closely of what I was doing – after all, he could as easily have chosen to throw us out. I… I don’t actually have information on his debts – that was a guess – but I took one look and was sure that he’d have some, and that he’d have kept them from his father. Now I’ll have to discover the details, in case I actually need to use them.”

Venetia laughed, startled and delighted, nearly spilling her tea.

“And you berate me for being rash and taking risks! I think, Mother, that I now know where I got that trait from…”

*****

“Good evening, Lord Templewick. It is so good to see you again, even though still being in half-mourning no doubt limits your social activities somewhat. Might I introduce my daughter?”

He bowed, his eyes flicking to the young Lady who waited behind the woman who’d spoken – Lady Horsham, he thought – with a demure expression. He would allow an introduction, as he did for all of them, and be kind to her, without giving any indication of being interested in her. It was only polite to do so.

“Of course, Lady Horsham – and thank you for your consideration with respect to my mourning.”

Lady Horsham nodded, and waved her daughter forward.

“Lord Templewick, this is my eldest daughter, Lady Petrina Bellwood. Petrina, please be known to the Earl of Templewick.”

He bowed over the girl’s hand, watching a blush stain her cheeks. She was plumper than was fashionable, and her skin was that unfortunate shade which went instantly blotchy when she blushed. She was quite obviously aware of what would be perceived, amongst the ton, as her shortcomings, and looked embarrassed.

“Lady Petrina – I am delighted to meet you. Are you having a pleasant evening?”

She took a deep breath, as if steeling herself for something.

“I… I am, Th.. Th.. Thank you, Lord Templewick.”

The slight stutter explained the embarrassment. The poor girl – it was the sort of imperfection which would be judged harshly by the ton. He chose, therefore, to ignore it. He knew full-well that imperfections did not make horses, or people, incapable – far from it – it was often those with such challenges who were the most talented in various ways.

They spoke for another few minutes, and her stutter eased as she realised that he would not mock her, and that he was genuinely interested in what she had to say. He hoped, for her sake, that she would find a man who could see past the stutter to the person. From the sound of it, her life was rather dull, and the need to find a husband a terrible trial to her. She did not have the sort of personality which appealed to him, but he would not simply cruelly push her aside – he suspected that all too many men had already done that, as soon as they had heard her speak.

By the end of the evening, he had been introduced to many young women – and had concluded that the next few months were going to be even more painful than he had originally thought.