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Chapter Five
Seth slowly picked up a small apple tart and placed it atop his plate. He then proceeded to appear as though he was looking over the many other offerings Charlotte’s chef had provided. In truth, however, out of the corner of his eye, Seth carefully watched Lord Linfield leave Charlotte’s side and walk directly up to him.
“Sir Mulgrave, is it?” Linfield asked, his tone nasally.
“Correct.” As if he hadn’t heard Charlotte only moments ago.
“I understand you two first met a little over a year ago.”
“Correct again.” Not exactly an impressive bit of knowledge. All of London knew the story of how Seth had stopped a group of highwaymen who’d waylaid Charlotte and most certainly would have killed her had he not happened across them.
“Then, perhaps you will allow me a moment of your time. After all, I have known Lady Blackmore for over two decades. As one of her oldest and dearest friends, I feel responsible for her well-being.”
One of herdearestfriends? Meaning he was so dear to her that she never once mentioned his name this past twelvemonth? Dearest friend, indeed.
“I wouldn’t go saying you’re responsible for Lady Blackmore’s well-being while within earshot of the lady herself.”
Lord Linfield let out a crass noise, something between a snicker and a snort. “No doubt she would object tosomesaying as much.” The man’s gaze drifted over toward where Charlotte still sat beside Lords Windham and Campbell. Judging by their relaxed postures, they’d all agreed to drop the subject of Emma and her visit for the time being. “But when one is born and bred to the same rank and privilege as the lady in question... well, every woman needs a protector.”
Seth’s hand tightened around the cold porcelain plate he held. “If you have something you wish to say to me, Linfield, then say it, and be done.”
Lord Linfield turned toward him, surprise lifting his eyebrows. “Direct. I like that in a fellow man.”
In a fellow man, not a fellowgentleman. Not that it mattered. Seth was done with this conversation, anyway. He none-too-gently laid his plate down on the table and turned to bid the popinjay goodbye.
“Actually, there is something I feel I ought to say before you go,” Lord Linfield said. “Regarding the lady of whom we were just speaking.”
He ought to just walk away, tell Lord Linfield to cast his priceless pearls of wisdom before some other swine, and take his leave of this whole blasted party. But he couldn’t. First of all, he wouldn’t do anything to cast a shadow on the picnic as Charlotte was the hostess. Second, because despite his better judgment, he did care what the man was willing to say about Charlotte behind her back.
“Well?” Seth hated that the man waited until he said it and hated that he acquiesced at all.
Lord Linfield’s small moment of triumph was not lost on Seth. “The committee didn’t used to disregard Lady Blackmore’s opinions so out of hand.”
“That they do now is my fault?”
“A lady’s head is easily turned by acts of heroism... no matter how small. Is it so hard to see how the committee may be concerned that her judgment has been affected as well?”
Seth didn’t bother hiding his scowl any longer. “If that is true, then the committee members are all imbeciles.” Spinning on his heel, he turned toward Charlotte once more. It was time he made his excuses and be done with society for the day—and very possibly tomorrow and the day after as well.
* * *
Seth was still fuming more than two hours later when he finally arrived at Dinah’s London town home. Not that it took so long to get there, but he’d taken a long, winding route through Town in the hopes that the extended horse ride would calm him.
It didn’t.
“I’m here to see my daughter,” he said without preamble to the butler. He’d considered going home to his empty chambers, but just now the way the room echoed didn’t appeal to him. He would do no more than sit and stew. And if he were being completely honest, after living the past two decades in a house full of girls, he was finding it inexplicably hard to adjust to the emptiness of his new life.
“What brings you around this late in the day?” Dinah asked when she entered the parlor, where the butler had deposited Seth.
“I hate London.”
Dinah only laughed. As frustrated as he was, it lifted his heart all the same. Blast, but he’d missed listening to his daughters—to their chatter, their whispers, their laughter. He’d been right in coming here.
Dinah plopped herself onto the settee across from him, her skirt billowing around her as she did. “What happened this time?”
“Anold friendof Lady Blackmore’s was at the picnic today.”
“Oh? Was she much pleased to see him?”
