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Florent got caught up in the flurry of activity that surrounded his energetic sister who exclaimed over his presence.
“I didn’t think we’d ever see you here, Flor. It’s good to see you. How is Father? And Alcott? Mama said something about lambs or foals or something?”
Even as he listened to Daisy, Florent heard the tinkle of Constance’s laughter as she drifted away from them. He wondered if she was amused that Daisy hadn’t even bothered to note which problem had kept him away. Florent shrugged internally. It was much the same as Lady Constance had remarked upon about other people’s lack of attention. No one ever cared which problems he took care of as long as he did so without disturbing their peace. Even his father, the present Viscount Alcott, didn’t much care what Florent did on the estate, merely appreciating that his heir managed to keep the family coffers full enough that he no longer had to concern himself with his own spend-thrift ways.
It was the way of things and Florent had stopped letting it bother him nearly a decade ago when he had first started taking over things, little by little. Now, in all but name, he was Viscount Alcott, and everyone in the county respected him as such. If he were to go anywhere else, he would be nothing but the Honorable Mr. Alcott. Not that there was anything wrong with that. He rather liked being called honorable. There was a certain ring to it. But there were times when he longed for the full authority the title would give him. If only it didn’t require his father’s death to achieve that position.
He tried not to sigh as he listened to his sister. Florent made an effort to focus on what she was telling him. It was unlike his baby sister to babble, but that was what was happening. If only their mother wasn’t so caught up on her own pursuits. She ought to be more attentive to her youngest daughter or Daisy would end up an eccentric spinster like Lady Constance.
Not to say there was anything bad about Lady Constance. Florent quite liked what little he knew of her. But this was not the life he wanted for his sister. And he knew it wasn’t the life Daisy wanted for herself. She struck him as an odd combination of independence and traditionalist. Unlike their other sisters, Daisy didn’t even want a love match. But she definitely wanted a match. He needed to keep an eye on her so she didn’t settle for just anyone. Even if she wasn’t terribly concerned about loving the gentleman, there were certain criteria which would make him acceptable or not.
He pulled his circling thoughts back and tried to pay attention to his sister while also staring around the wide hallway at Everleigh. He needed to quickly ascertain who might be present and whether or not they were possibly good candidates for his sister’s hand. He doubted her friends would have invited anyone unacceptable, but Florent didn’t trust others to do the jobs he needed to see done himself.
He had told his mother he was at the house party to relax, but he could already see that was unlikely to happen. Between feeling strangely fascinated with Lady Constance and not wishing his sister to be equally intrigued while also hoping to keep his sister from any rash decisions, it wasn’t probable to be restful.
But it would be interesting, he couldn’t deny that.
