AllFreeNovel
Share Us
One
Four months later…
Jonah Adams, the Viscount of Goodland, and the last of the rumored scandalous gentlemen was…bored. All of his friends, every last one of them, had gone and fallen inloveand were happilymarried. It was…stomach churning. Where did that leave him? He didn’t have any other friends to attend bawdy soirees or rollicking card games with him. It couldn’t mean that he should follow suit, fall in line, and, god help him, marry. He visibly shuddered.
No. That was not his fate or his intentions. He would not fall as they had. Though, if he were being honest with himself, he very much feared he would. Jonah would never have guessed four of his friends, the famously wicked, scandalous gentlemen would topple one by one, and leave him alone to stand against the marriage minded misses of the ton. They had all vowed to never marry and look at the four that had fallen. Blissfully happy and mooning over the women in their lives. It was justwrong. So, so horriblywrong.
He should be happy for them, and in a way, he supposed he did feel something of the sort. However, that didn’t erase the disappointment roiling through him, along with, the loneliness. If he was never to marry, then this would be his daily life. He could pay a call on anyone of his friends, but it wasn’t the same. It would never be the same again. They would forever be married, and he’d be…well alone. Jonah fully intended to keep the pact even if they had deviated from the original plan. There were reasons he had vowed to never marry and they were still very much valid ones.
He tapped his finger on the table at his club. It wasn’t the first time he sat their unaccompanied, and probably wouldn’t be the last. The Earl of Winchester, the Duke of Lindsey, the Marquess of Merrifield, and the Earl of Hampstead…all four in that order, had deserted him. They all had far better things to do these days.
“Why are you so forlorn?” a man asked.
Jonah glanced up and frowned. Now this was unexpected. “Hampstead,” he said in a droll tone. “Wife tired of you already?”
The Earl of Hampstead had married Lady Iris Keene—now the Countess of Hampstead, after a scandal four months earlier at the Christmastide gathering at the Duke of Lindsey’s castle. The wedding had been swift, and by special license. The bride hadn’t been particularly blissful at the time, but Hampstead had worked wonders in convincing her they could live happily-ever-after. It had been nauseating, but Jonah had kept a smile pasted on his face through the entire ordeal. He didn’t want his own feelings to ruin his friend’s happy event.
“No,” he began. “She’s helping Calliope today. They’ve gone to the seamstress to have her debut dress altered, and a few other errands I’d rather not attend. It’s difficult to believe that in less than a month my sister will officially be launched into society.” Hampstead shrugged. “Unfortunately I cannot keep her hidden from the world. So I’m here. It’s been a while since I’ve been to the club. It’s fortuitous I found you here.”
Not fortuitous at all. What else was Jonah to do with himself? “Then it’s good I’m still here.” He hadn’t intended to leave, but Hampstead didn’t need to know that. Jonah smiled, though he didn’t truly feel it. “Join me then?” He gestured toward the empty seat.
“What have you been up to lately?”
Wallowing in self-pity… Jonah was certain that Hampstead didn’t want to hear that. “Not much at all. How’s married life?” If he could get the earl to talk about himself, Jonah wouldn’t need to answer any uncomfortable questions.
Hampstead lit up. His joy evident as his eyes practically sparkled with the pleasure his marriage apparently brought him. So much for misery loving company… He’d not have a compatriot to wallow in self-pity with him. He should be happy for his friend, and he was, but Jonah’s misery couldn’t be shaken either. Oh well, nothing to do about that.
“It’s been wonderful,” Hampstead said. “I couldn’t be happier.”
“So you now recommend the institution?” Jonah lifted a brow. He needed to get foxed. Perhaps that would help him forget everything. “It wasn’t long ago you thought it revolting.”
Hampstead shrugged. “With the right woman it’s not. I was wrong.”
“I must admit I am surprised to hear you admit how happy you are,” Jonah said. “It’s refreshing.” It was everything but that…
“There’s no reason not to. I suspect it is evident by looking at me. It’s hard to hide it when happiness is overflowing,” Hampstead said. If Jonah were blind he’d still see that shiny glow on the earl. It was unmistakable…
Jonah couldn’t argue with Hampstead’s pronounced happiness. It was quite obvious. He wished he could feel something remotely close to it, but he feared he never would. Not with how much darkness that had surrounded him since he’d been born. An only child with an arse of a father... One that was more drunk than not most days, and that had died with a bottle of whisky in his hand and a broken neck from falling off his horse. No one had been surprised and not many had mourned. Jonah had thanked God the day his father had died. It had freed him from agony no child should have to endure, and finally he could heal. At least his body could, his soul would forever be tormented. Some things couldn’t be easily forgotten, especially in sleep. The nightmares haunted him every damn night. He’d never had a moment of peaceful rest.
“How much time do you have?”How long can you spare your lonely friend?Jonah wouldn’t beg, but he would drink up whatever time Hampstead could spare him.
“Not a lot,” Hampstead admitted. “I would appreciate it if you attended Calliope’s ball. An invitation will be sent.”
Jonah would rather chew on broken glass. Lady Calliope Andrews was a beautiful woman, and tempting. Too appealing for the likes of Jonah. He should stay far away from his friend’s little sister. “I’ll try,” he offered. Jonah didn’t want to make a promise he was unlikely to keep.
Hampstead sighed. “I realize that it’s not your scene, but it would mean a lot to me. I can use your help keeping the scoundrels and fortune hunters away from her.”
Jonah lifted a brow. He wasn’t a fortune hunter, as he had more money than he could spend in his lifetime, but he was most definitely of the scoundrel variety. “You would trust your sister with me?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Hampstead asked. “You would never hurt her. You’re my friend, and I know you. She means a lot to me, so you’ll ensure she’s protected.”
Damn him. He was right of course. That was why he had to stay far away from Lady Calliope Andrews. Because Jonah wanted her, and he couldn’t have her. “I’ll try,” he said again.
“All right,” Hampstead replied. “But I do hope you come.” He sighed. “I must go now. My wife will be expecting me.” With those words he left Jonah alone. He had a lot to think about, and a decision to make. One that didn’t make him happy, but he was used to that feeling. Nothing was ever easy for him.
Calliope’s heartraced inside her chest. It was the day. Her official day. The one she had been waiting for, it seemed like, forever. Tonight her debut ball would finally commence, and she would be able to attend balls, garden parties, soirees, and everything imaginable. She’d have suitors, and be able to dance.
The Christmastide house party she had attended had helped prepare her for what was to come. She had met some wonderful ladies, one of them now her brother’s wife. Iris had been a font of information and had helped her pick out her gowns and prepare her for this day. She had been to a few small dinner parties since then, but no actual balls. With her launch into society more wonderful things would befall her. Callie just knew it.
