Page 36 of A Gifted Earl

Chapter Twelve

In the parlour of a respectable home, not too far from Hardenwell House in London, Lord Jasper Chater sat with Richard, Viscount Wilborough, who he classed as a friend. As much, that was, as Jasper regarded anyone as a friend – mostly, Jasper saw people as useful, or not. Lord Wilborough was generally well respected, and knew all of the ‘right people’ but was also not averse to an evening of gambling – or to occasionally lending his friends money.

They each held a glass of brandy, even though it was not quite evening yet, and had been discussing the coming Christmas season, and what entertainments it might bring, when a tap at the door interrupted their musings. Wilborough raised an eyebrow, seeming startled.

“Enter.”

The butler came in, carrying a tray.

“My Lord, a letter has just arrived for you.”

He held out the tray, and Wilborough lifted the letter from it, waving the butler away. When he just looked at it with a frown, Jasper, impatient as always, spoke.

“Well? Are you going to open it? Or just sit there and stare at it as if it might bite?”

Wilborough laughed, shaking his head, and broke the seal. He read for a moment, then looked up with a grin on his face.

“Well now, this seems to solve our problem of what to do for entertainment – at least for the week or so before Christmas, anyway.”

“It does? How? What is it?”

Wilborough waved the paper.

“This, my friend, is an invitation to a house party at Templewick Grange. The way it reads, it could be a respectable party, or a not so respectable party – but Templewick seems a decent enough man, so I think that we should go. I’m sure he won’t mind me bringing a friend, and if it turns out to be dull, we can always leave. I’ll send off an acceptance, and tell him I’m bringing a friend.”

Jasper rubbed his hands together.

“That sounds excellent. And if it’s dull, I am sure that we can find ways to liven it up, eh?”

They both laughed and lifted their glasses in a toast.

“To Christmas entertainment.”

*****

“I will write an acceptance immediately! This is the miracle we have been praying for, surely. Templewick Grange is not too far to travel, especially as, so far, there has been no snow, and not too much rain, so that the roads should be passable.”

Lady Hardenwell rose, and went to the escritoire in the corner of the parlour, with the invitation in hand. Venetia was still stunned by the fact that the invitation existed – not only was it another chance to meet people, and to potentially find a man she could marry, but it was a chance provided by the one man she actually found interesting. Did this invitation mean that, perhaps, he found her interesting too? Or was it just courtesy?

“Do you think that he chose to invite us for a specific reason?”

Lady Hardenwell looked up with a smile.

“We can hope so – are you wishing that this is because he likes you more than he had indicated before? Or simply because you like him?”

Venetia felt her face flush.

“I do, indeed, like him – but that is of no import unless he likes me far more than the friendship he has offered so far would indicate. Which doesn’t mean that I am without hope. There must be a reason that he chose to invite us, after all.”

“That’s very true. This house party is little more than a week away now – you’d best start planning what clothes to take, to look your best.” She paused, and looked at Venetia closely. “At least your scar has faded a lot in the weeks since we returned from London – perhaps people will be less judgemental now.”

Venetia swallowed a sudden urge to tears.

“I certainly hope so. I will leave you to write and send our acceptance, and I’ll go and start preparing my things right now.”

*****

Acceptances had begun to arrive, and the fact that he would soon have a house full of near strangers to cater for had suddenly taken on a reality which it had not held before.