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One
One year later...
Daniel Andrews, the Earl of Hampstead, leaned back in his chair. Pain had started to pound inside his head. More specifically right behind his eyes. The responsibilities of the Hampstead estate were extensive, but what he hated the most involved the accounting. The ledgers were filled with numbers. All kinds of numbers... Funds going in and out of the estate coffers, the amount of grains needed to feed the animals on the estate, the supplies needed for the kitchen, or even the sheer amount of candles they used on a weekly basis. It never ended. There were too many things to keep track of and not enough hours in the day to go over it all. Overseeing it all had taken up the majority of his time, and he wish he didn’t have to undertake so much on his own. He had been born into the title, and while he understood that it was a privilege, he still hated most of it. Sometimes he wished he had been born a second son with less responsibility.
“Daniel,” a female said in a soft tone.
Speaking of responsibilities... “Yes, Calliope?” He lifted his gaze to meet hers. His sister stood in front of his desk with her hands behind her back and a pensive expression on her lovely face. Her golden blonde curls pinned on top of her head, but most of it was plaited and twisted into a chignon. Her day dress was a cornflower blue that matched her eyes. He adored his sister, but his head already hurt. He wasn’t certain he wanted to add her current dilemma to his already long list of duties.
“About the invitation to the Christmastide...”
“No,” he interrupted her. The last thing he wanted was to attend a Christmastide house party. All right, that wasn’t true, but it was a close second. It would be a fortnight of socializing and putting on a smile, as if nothing in the world bothered him. “We are not going.”
“Please,” Calliope said in a pleading tone. “It’ll help me. In a few months I’ll have my come out and this will give me a chance to learn some of the social skills I’ll need. These are people you socialize with regularly, isn’t it? Why don’t you want to go?”
Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose. The pain had intensified with each word she spoke. “I hate Christmastide,” he reminded her.
She pouted. “Then be grumpy the entire time. It is what you do every year, anyway.” Calliope placed her palms on his desk and met his gaze. “I want my season to be successful. Please don’t be difficult and help me.”
Calliope would be eight and ten in a month, and her first season would be, as she said soon. The Christmastide party was informal, and she had been invited along with him. She was right, of course. It would be beneficial for her. She could become more acquainted with the Duchess of Lindsey, the hostess of the event, and that connection at her back she would be nearly guaranteed a success. Daniel wanted the best for his sister, and that meant he would have to agree to attend the blasted party. “I’ll consider it,” he told her.
She rolled her eyes. “Consider fast. We will have to depart London soon if we’re going to travel to the Duke of Lindsey’s home in the country.”
“Is that so?” He fought a smile. “I hadn’t realized that. If you need an answer now, I believe I already gave you one.”
She groaned. “Why are you being so difficult?” She plopped down on a chair near his desk. “I thought you loved me.” Her tone was full of the exasperation she projected quite dramatically before him. “Why can’t you just say yes?”
“Has anyone ever told you that patience is a virtue?”
She pinned him with a glare so ferocious he nearly winced from the impact. “Has anyone ever told you that your behavior is tedious?”
His lips twitched. “Yes,” he replied in an amused tone. “You have. Several times in fact.”
“It bears repeating,” she said in a droll tone. “Now about the house party?”
Daniel shouldn’t have allowed this conversation to continue. He had ledgers to go through and expenditures to approve. Instead, he had decided to tease his sister a little, and the pain in his head continued to beat on. He rubbed his temples, but it didn’t help. Nothing seemed to ease the pain. Perhaps he should take a break. “All right,” he conceded. He had planned to, but his sister didn’t need to know that. “We can go. We will even leave early.” The dratted ledgers could wait until they returned. “Lindsey asked me to come before his wife’s family descended upon them. Have your maid pack your trunk. We will leave at dawn.”
She clapped her hands in excitement. “Have I ever told you that you are my favorite brother.”
He narrowed his gaze. “I am your only brother.”
“Then it is fortunate that I like you.” She stood. “Thank you,” she said in an earnest tone. “Christmas isn’t your favorite time of the year. I want you to know I do understand that.” She smiled. “It sounds as if the duke does too. Is that why he asked you to come early.” She tilted her head to the side. “Wait... If you already planned to go, why did you tell me no?”
He shook his head. “I was going to write to Lindsey and decline the invitation. I received his missive earlier today. I haven’t had time to respond.” His friends did know why he hated Christmas, but he doubted that was why Lindsey asked him to arrive early. “Instead, I’ll send it ahead of us so they know to expect our arrival.”
“Oh, all right,” she said absentmindedly. “Then I’ll let you finish your business and I’ll have Lucy start packing for me. I’ll see you later for the evening meal.”
After she left, Daniel blew out a breath. He closed the ledgers and organized his desk. With those tasks done, he left his study and went to his room. He would have to prepare to leave in the morning as well, but he would have to rest. Otherwise, his head pain would never go away...
* * *
Iris staredout of the window in the sitting room. She hated this time of the year. It used to be her favorite, but ever since last year and her little excursion on Scandal Lane, she had grown to dislike it. A lot. The Earl of Hampstead was a large part of that hate. For a few brief moments, she had thought everything would be perfect. The kiss had started out wonderful. Until it had all fallen apart before her eyes. She would never forget that look on his face. As if she were something distasteful, and he had to wipe that foulness from his mouth.
It had hurt so damn much...
He had tried to apologize at the ball. Had even danced with her. It was a waltz that had seemed as if it went on forever. If it had been pleasant, she would have liked that part. Instead, it had been awkward and unbearable. She had to pretend it was enjoyable, though. Her face had hurt from forcing herself to smile through the entire dance. Any conversation they’d had...well, it had been stilted and formal. Luckily, during the season the Earl of Hampstead had been absent. That part hadn’t surprised her. The earl didn’t attend social events as a rule. The ball she had planned during Christmastide was an exception. He had accepted the invitation well before the incident on Scandal Lane.
Next season though... His younger sister would have her come out, and then he would attend several social gatherings. He would have to escort her to them. She could not avoid him for much longer, and in that she was dreading the upcoming season. He would probably also be at the Christmastide house party her good friend, Francesca, the Duchess of Lindsey, was hosting. As much as Iris would like to attend the party, she would have to decline. If she went, she would be miserable the entire time.
