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The final few words floated towards him, and Jonathan let out a small groan which he muffled quickly with his hand for fear of being overheard. His mother was a part of this plan, then.Thatwas why Miss Fullerton had mentioned matrimony. Lady Havisham had thought to bring about a betrothal, clearly considering Miss Fullerton to be the right sort of young lady for him. Last Season, she had come to London and then to Bath in an attempt to introduce him to Miss Fullerton, although Jonathan had done all he could to avoid her and had thus brought an end to such a plan forthatyear, at least. Again, Jonathan tried to laugh, but the sound would not come. Instead, he was angry, irritated, and upset. Whether or not Miss Fullerton thought well of him, she had no right to inform his mother of her opinion of his character! And his mother had no right to encourage Miss Fullerton to consider him as a potential suitor!
Arrogant, selfish, prideful, and with a disdain for others which I cannot overlook.
His mouth tugged to one side as he rushed back into the library, slamming the door hard behind him. Storming across the room, he attempted to sit down in a chair close to the cold hearth, but in the very next instant, he was standing and walking about the room again, in a temper.
“She is a companion,” he said aloud, as though such a thing would help him to consider the truth in its fullness. “It matters not what she thinks of you.” Lifting his chin, he began to pace up and down the library floor, albeit with slow, heavy steps. “Even if your own mother agrees with her, what does it matter? Why are you allowing her words to injure you so?”
His spoken words did not bring him any answers. As much as Jonathan wanted to remove such thoughts from his mind and return to his own considerations, he simply could not. Those words from Miss Fullerton had struck down hard into his heart and refused to be dislodged.
“My Lord?”
Jonathan swung around.
“You should knock, Armstrong,” he muttered, waving a hand towards the butler.
“I did, my Lord.” The butler cleared his throat in an uncharacteristic manner, catching Jonathan’s attention all the more. “You have a visitor, and I did not want to leave him waiting for too long before I came to speak to you, my Lord.”
Rifling another hand through his hair, Jonathan dropped it and then sighed.
“And who has come to call?”
“Lord Harrogate, my Lord.”
Relieved that his friend had come at the precise time that Jonathan required distraction, he nodded.
“But of course. Show him in at once and send for a refreshments tray. He may well not yet have broken his fast.”
Within a few minutes, Lord Harrogate walked into the library, a broad smile settling upon his face.
“Well, old boy! Today is the day, is it not?”
Jonathan frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Lord Harrogate’s smile slipped, his eyes rounding a little.
“The day when the newly introduced young ladies of thetoncome out! Pray do not tell me that you have forgotten!”
“Of course, I had not forgotten. It was only gone from my mind for a moment. I have been caught up with…” he waved a hand, “…another matter.”
“But no matter can be as important as this!” Lord Harrogate exclaimed, making Jonathan chuckle, his troubles momentarily forgotten. “Come now, we are meant to be going into town, for I plan to purchase a new cravat for the occasion, and you assured me that you would do the same.”
“I hadquiteforgotten that, I confess, but I will make ready just the same,” Jonathan told him. “But come, let us eat a little together first, for I have not yet done so this morning.”
Lord Harrogate hesitated, then sank down into a chair, choosing to let himself relax for a short while rather than hurry on back to the carriage.
“Very well. Mayhap you would like to share with me this other matter which has concerned you so?”
Jonathan shook his head.
“It is of no importance.”
“It must be ofsomeimportance, if you have forgotten about the ball this evening because of it!”
He spread his hands, attempting to push away Lord Harrogate’s questions.
“Pray, do not concern yourself.” Seeing the gleam of interest in his friend’s eye, Jonathan sighed inwardly and then tried to smile. “I have heard that a… young lady thinks rather poorly of my character, that is all.”
