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And her father had just suffered a ruinous financial setback, leaving his only child entirely vulnerable, just when Silverton was in need of a wife, and Miss Mandelton was being suggested in more than enthusiastic tones by both his parents. Her dowry was sizeable, thanks to a wealthy aunt, but that was far from the only consideration, they said.
And it was not. Another was that she would be suitable.
It’s what they also said.
And Silverton agreed.
Wearily, he rose and went to his writing desk. There seemed little reason to delay with his answer. Kitty was soon to marry Nash, and he needed a panacea to the pain and disappointment he felt as a result.
Reassuring Miss Mandelton of the sincerest love he’d harbored but failed to show would be just the answer.
Some time later when the room was in utter darkness, he was disturbed by the noise of his butler entering with a candle, startling him when he turned in his chair.
“My Lord? Have you been waiting for a light all evening? I beg your pardon for I’d thought you’d left without telling the household.”
“I’ve been thinking, Briggs.”
“Pleasant thoughts, I hope, my Lord.” His butler crossed the room to draw the curtains.
“Not at all, Briggs. The woman I love is to be married in five days’ time.”
“Miss Bunting.”
“No, not Miss Bunting. A rather unsuitable young lady. An actress, in fact, who is to marry, rather incredibly, into the aristocracy.”
“A second marriage, then?”
“No, not that, even. I think he must be quite mad for courting such scandal.”
“You sound as if you envy him, nevertheless, my Lord.”
“I do, for I’ve only just discovered how my heart is engaged, and tonight it would appear hers is similarly so. With me! Yet I cannot offer her what Lord Nash is offering her.”
“Lord Nash? That is a surprise, my Lord.”
“Yes, isn’t it?”
Silverton looked up at the silence that greeted his ironic words. “Well, Briggs, aren’t you going to advise me? You who have the advantage of at least three decades on me to confer the kind of wisdom my late Pater might have.”
“I would never presume.” Briggs sounded shocked. “But I do think the young lady who visited you earlier is very charming, and it is no surprise to hear you evince the sentiments you just have.”
“So, what should I do? Offer my congratulations at their wedding and then resume my search for a wife?”
“You could...try and offer the young lady some other enticement if her heart is, as you’ve suggested, more engaged in these quarters, my Lord.”
***
Lord Silverton knew he’d lost his opportunity. He couldn’t offer Kitty marriage; therefore he could offer her nothing she would want.
It didn’t stop him being drawn back to the theater, though, and inviting into his box his friend, Lord Ludbridge, and Lord Ludbridge’s brother, Mr. Ralph Tunley, who arrived with a young lady called Miss Hazlett, a distant cousin visiting from the provinces.
Leaning over the balcony, Silverton watched, mesmerized, the woman who would soon become Lady Nash, and throughout her performance, h
is mind went over what might have been had she not been stained with the illegitimacy which precluded a union between them.
“She’s very lovely, isn’t she?” Part way through he turned back to address his guests, and started at the astonishing likeness Miss Hazlett had been sketching. She tried to cover it up the moment she realized he’d observed her drawing, but he was too quick, saying, “You have captured her liveliness as if you knew her intimately.”
Miss Hazlett blushed. “You are very kind, sir, but there are grave deficiencies which obviously you cannot see.” Nevertheless, she allowed him to take the sketch from her so as to study it more closely. “And her necklace!” he exclained. “Goodness, the detail is remarkable. Can you see so well from this distance?”
