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“I still do not know what has you so exercised, Simon. This is embarrassing,” Alice said.
“It is enough that I tell you that you are not permitted to be alone with this man. Will you destroy your reputation? Leave yourself a social pariah, growing into an old maid?”
“Old boy, we are verging on dangerously insulting territory. I am not sure that I can permit such slurs against my good name to continue,” Harold said mildly but showing teeth as he smiled.
“Then I will remove myself and my sister before further offense is caused,” Simon said. “Because I will not censure myself while in your company. Nor will I lie and pretend to my sister that you are a man of honor.”
Harold laughed. He could do nothing else. The gravity of the insults being hurled at him were staggering. Coming from a man that he did not know, had never met even, not so far as he could remember, made them even more severe.
This Hathway chap is simply insane. He appears out of nowhere and treats me like a mortal enemy.
The laughter had to be curtailed at the clenched fists and, almost purple expression on Simon’s face. There was a man pushed to the limits of his control and readying himself to do or say something from which there would be no return. Harold bit back his mirth and schooled his face to stillness.
“I will not apologize for being alone with your sister. Nor will I explain myself to a man who treats a woman as I have seen you treat her. Once upon a time, I would thrash you the length of this room. Or simply call you out and put a pistol shot through your eye. Now, I choose to simply walk away from you. Do not pursue, nor speak further, lest my control break.”
Harold’s tone was icy and, though Simon opened his mouth angrily, he snapped it shut again immediately. Harold turned to Alice and gave her a formal bow.
“Alice Hathway. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening and this incident has not marred it. I enjoyed our conversation. I shall take my leave.”
He strode from the room without looking back. At the door, a pregnant woman stood, peering into the room. She gasped when she saw Harold leaving. He ignored her and swept past. A servant was crossing the room and Harold called to him. He was about to ask for his hat and coat but then stopped. Simon had been deep in conversation with Norfolk.
Who is the silly little boy? Perhaps Norfolk can illuminate me.
Dismissing the servant, he changed his course. Taking a deep breath, he re-entered the ballroom. The music had recommenced and the room was full of whirling, stamping, skipping dancers. Harold negotiated a path through those who stood around the room’s edges, clapping to the music, eating, drinking, or talking. It took perhaps half an hour to locate Norfolk.
A mane of silver hair framing the tanned skin of an Englishman who spent most of his time in tropical climes. Whiskers and a mustache of the same color hid his mouth. He saw Harold approaching and raised a glass of wine in salute.
“Harold, my boy. Maude told me she had seen you but I didn’t believe her. So, you’ve finally decided to join the rest of us, have you?”
“Norfolk, yes, I accepted that sometimes a man must put aside his discomfort and play the game.”
Norfolk chuckled. “Aye, the game. Glad you’re coming around to it. A Duke needs a Duchess and a great house needs an heir. I often think that Oakmere feels incomplete now that the children have all grown up and flown the nest.”
Harold was used to such opinions from his godfather. It had been a frequent topic of conversation, Norfolk regarding it as part of his duty to his old friend, Harold’s late father, to ensure his son was married and the family line continued.
“I have just met the most extraordinary individual,” Harold said, moving the conversation on rapidly lest he be forced to listen to yet more advice. “In fact, I believe I saw you talking to him for quite some time this evening. Hathway is his name, I believe.”
“Yes, Simon Hathway. Viscount Lindley, I believe. I was discussing a matter of business with him, for my sins. He had a proposal for me that may be right up my street. Oh ho!” he suddenly crowed, triumphantly. “I see where this is going. You have your eye on that lovely young lady who is the reason we are all here tonight. Miss Alice Hathway, is that not so?”
Harold shrugged. “I have talked with her. She is pretty enough.”
“Pretty enough. Methinks you are too nonchalant, old chap. She is far more than just pretty. And I see through your attitude. But, let’s play the game. Her brother, Simon. What of him? Want an introduction? Win over the older brother in order to woo the sister?”
“Hardly. I feared that you may be led astray. That is all,” Harold said.
Norfolk frowned, bushy eyebrows drawing down to points. “In what way?”
“The man is somewhat unstable, I fear. I admit that I do not know much about him but when he found that I had exchanged pleasantries with his sister, he flew into the most fearful of rages. I thought he might actually strike me.”
Norfolk stroked his lower lip between thumb and forefinger. Harold knew his godfather’s disposition when it came to partnerships in business. He was a firm believer in buying into the man, not the enterprise. If the standing of the man was shaken, that would be enough to discourage him, no matter what the accounts and ledgers might say about profitability.
“And you did nothing to entice this? Don’t answer that old boy, I know you well enough. Particularly since you took over the Dukedom. You would not have done. Almost struck you, did he? Well, well, well. That is interesting.”
Those words were the coffin nails on whatever enterprise Simon Hathway had been seeking to enter into with the Duke of Norfolk. Harold knew that and felt a twinge of guilt that he suppressed mercilessly. Simon had insulted him gravely and with no cause. He could not let such insolence stand.
And I doubt he or his family will be made destitute by my actions. This affair is grand enough. The Hathway’s clearly have coin.
“Well, I had been thinking favorably of entering into a partnership with young Hathway. I may have to reconsider. Thank you, Harold. Most timely advice. I will look into it further,” Norfolk said, clapping Harold on the shoulder. “Now then, at the next dance, I think you should select a partner for yourself. Unless of course, your eyes are already filled to bursting with a certain young debutante, eh?”
