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Chapter Three
Seth was sure to tip his hat in the direction of every lord and lady he passed on his ride home. It kept his head on such a swivel he’d barely been able to steer Brushfire. Life had been far simpler before he’d been knighted and met so many people about London.
He’d had better things to do all day than call on neighbors and swap gossip, too. Yes, he’d just been to see Charlotte and learned of the strange letter a Mrs. Lewis had written to her regarding an orphan named Emma. But that wasn’t all pointless gossip. That was two good friends struggling to understand the heart of a problem.
It was an odd one, at that.
Seth finally arrived at the house where he rented a small room and quickly dismounted. When he’d first come to London, he’d taken a town house for himself and his daughters.
But now they were all three married and settled, the town house, which had felt snug, had done nothing but drain his limited financial resources and remind him of how very alone he was.
So, he’d let it go. It hadn’t been hard. Then, he’d taken a room here, something sensible for a bachelor who only required the service of a single manservant and nothing more.
It suited him, even if it, too, reminded him of how very alone he was, in its own echoing way.
But tonight, it wasn’t going to get to him. He’d only be here for a moment to change, and then he was off to take dinner with Dinah and her husband, Lord Stanton, and their family. It would be good to see them again. Not that it had been long since the last time, but Seth did enjoy seeing his girls happy and well provided for. It was the dream he’d spent nearly his entire adult life working day and night to achieve.
Seth waited patiently until his manservant, Allen, came and took Brushfire away for a quick watering and brush down, then he pulled off his hat, swiping a hand over his forehead in the sweltering August heat. Slowly, he moved up the stairs toward the front door. His left knee was a bit stiff today; he must have strained it more than he’d realized while riding that morning. Seth silently shook his head at himself—age was no longer on his side.
Still, he managed to change, swallow down a quick drink, and was soon off again.
Not an hour-and-a-half later, Seth hurried up a different set of steps, this time the ones which led him to Dinah’s door. His knee twinged slightly again. But again, he all but ignored it. He would have blamed dancing at Charlotte’s ball last night for the small pain in his knee, only he hadn’t danced even once. It must have been the ride.
He gave a firm knock, and the door was quickly opened to him.
“Good evening, sir,” Rutley said as he bowed before Seth. “Lord and Lady Stanton are awaiting your arrival in the parlor.”
“Thank you, Rutley.” Seth handed the butler his hat. “There’s no need to announce me.” He made his way quickly to the parlor. It had taken Seth several discussions before he had been able to convince the old and staid butler that Lady Stanton didn’t need to be reminded of her own father’s name every time he visited.
“Father,” Dinah said cheerfully the moment Seth entered the room. She set down the teacup in her hands and stood. Hurrying over, she placed a quick kiss on his cheek. “We were beginning to wonder if you were coming at all.”
Seth inclined his head toward his son-in-law. “Stanton.”
The earl inclined his head in return. “Mulgrave.”
Seth supposed most people may have found their greeting a bit cold, but it was more a relationship of respect and directness. There had been a time when Seth deeply loathed his son-in-law. But then Lord Stanton had risked everything he owned, including his own life, to save Dinah. After that, Seth had to concede that the man wasn’t all bad.
Seth took the second wingback chair by the fire, but before he could say anything, Dinah took control of the situation.
“We’ve been invited to Lady Campbell’s two days hence for a dinner party. I inquired if you might join us, and she said you could.”
Seth cringed inwardly—both at the thought of his daughter pressing the limits of propriety to ask if he might join and at the thought of attending a dinner party at all.
“You didn’t need to go through all the trouble,” he said, trying to hide his discomfort. “I am quite content to stay home.”
Dinah let out a small snort. “You stay home,alone, far too often. It’s not good for your health.” The youngest of his three daughters, Dinah was ever one who spoke her mind.
“It’s better for my health than most company.” Secretly, he agreed that he was alone too often. But better that than with the likes of Lady Campbell and her dinner parties.
Dinah swatted at his arm. “Don’t be like that. I know there are some individuals among society you enjoy spending time with.”
There were some, but frightfully few. There were his three daughters—Eliza, Rachel, and Dinah—and their husbands. There was a gentleman or two he didn’t mind sharing a drink with at White’s.
And of course, there was Charlotte. He never got tired of speaking with her, hearing her thoughts on matters, walking beside her as the sun set.
His face heated at the thought.
Seth coughed softly and shifted about in his chair. There were some secrets a man carried to his grave.
