The Truth about the Viscount (Whispers of the Ton #4)

Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

“ G ood evening.”

Daniel inclined his head as Lord Gilmerton and his wife took their leave of him, relieved that the conversation had gone well. He had been bold and had chosen to step out into society again, despite Lord Newforth’s warnings. After his conversation the previous day with Lady Patience, and his understanding that she had not written those words about him as he had thought, Daniel had been emboldened. Yes, he was still going to be careful and cautious and yes, he certainly was not about to fully step back into society, for his feelings on that remained the same, but neither was he about to hide himself away. It was not for his own sake that he did that, however, but solely for Isabella’s who, at this very moment, was standing beside him, seemingly delighted with every moment of this ball.

“Your own betrothal ball is in a fortnight,” Daniel murmured to her, her hand on his arm as they made their way around the ballroom, solely so that Isabella might nod and smile at others, though Daniel’s expression remained somewhat fixed and a little clouded. “I do hope that it will go well for you, Isabella. You deserve to have nothing but honor and happiness.”

“I am sure that it shall.” Isabella smiled up at him, her eyes bright as the candlelight flickered across the copper in her hair. “Mama is pleased with the match, society is pleased with the match and, if I am to be entirely truthful, brother, I should say that I too am truly delighted with Lord Milthorpe.”

Daniel stopped walking at once, pausing as he turned his head to look fully into his sister’s eyes.

“I beg your pardon?” he said, speaking quietly, but with great deliberation as a hint of color came into his sister’s face. “Are you trying to tell me that you are happy that you are betrothed to Lord Milthorpe? That the match is, to your mind, an excellent one?”

“It is better than Lord Newforth, certainly!” Isabella laughed, though the color in her face heightened all the more. After a short pause, she let out a soft sigh and then lifted her shoulders lightly. “If I am to be entirely truthful, then I should tell you that my heart has found itself quite contented with Milthorpe. He has long been a friend of mine, as he has been to you also, but there is something in our connection now which makes my interest and, indeed, my affection for him, grow steadily. You may think me a little foolish, for you have never thought or considered love or affection and things like that, but it has been vastly important to me.”

Daniel put his hand over hers as it sat on his arm.

“You quite mistake me, my dear sister. It is not that I think any less of you or that I think you in the least bit foolish. Indeed, it is quite the opposite!”

“Oh?”

He smiled, his heart warming.

“I am glad, Isabella. Overjoyed, I think, to hear that you have found a happiness with Lord Milthorpe that you had always hoped for. I will be entirely honest and state that I am a little surprised, and that I did not expect such a thing, but all the same, I am very happy indeed to hear of it.”

Isabella smiled brighter than he had seen her do in some time, her cheeks flushed, but stars seeming to fill her eyes.

“He is a wonderful man, Hastings. I did not ever think that there would be such a connection between us, but he has proven himself to me, from the very moment that he stepped in to stop Lord Newforth’s dark intentions.”

“He certainly has.”

“Who has? And what has he done?”

Daniel chuckled as the very person they had been speaking about came to join them.

“You must have known that we were speaking of you, my friend, though what we said was all quite wonderful, I assure you.”

“I am glad to hear it.” Lord Milthorpe smiled into Isabella’s eyes and Daniel’s heart lifted at the joy which spread across Isabella’s face. He went to step away, intending to leave Lord Milthorpe to spend some time with Isabella, only for his friend to look back at him. “Did you see The London Chronicle this morning?”

A slight frown touched Daniel’s face.

“No, I did not.”

“There is another drawing in it, and a few sentences written thereafter, though it has been made quite plain now that the writer and the artist are two different people - I do hope that brings you peace of mind.”

Daniel winced.

“If the truth is to be told, I may have already learned that fact from one Lady Patience, who came to beg of me to believe her. And the reason she did such a thing was because I went to her and practically demanded that she give me her reasons for writing those sentences about me.” He shook his head as Isabella’s eyes sharpened, clearly displeased with what he had done. “It appears that she was just as surprised as I to see those words written there.”

“I do hope that you apologized.” Isabella put both hands on her hips. “Goodness, I can already imagine the way in which you said those words to her!”

Looking away, Daniel cleared his throat, aware that he deserved Isabella’s upset.

“I did. Of course I did.”

Letting his mind go back to that moment when he had spoken to Lady Patience in the shop, he also remembered how she had caught his hand in hers. It had been unexpected, but at the same time, Daniel had found it somewhat… delightful. There had been something about her nearness, the hope shining in her eyes, and the warmth of her hand held fast in his that had made his heart suddenly yearn to be closer to her, though he had tried to untangle such desires quickly, confused by them. The desire to apologize had, of course, been legitimate, and he had felt deep shame over what he had done, and how he had acted, though Lady Patience had not held anything against him. Instead, she had been gracious and kind, helping him with his gifts for Isabella and his mother. The edge of his lip curled slightly as he thought of how her blonde curls had bounced gently as she had shown him one thing and the next, how her eyes had glowed with a sense of clear delight over a pair of new gloves, though Daniel had not truly understood her fascination. It had been on a whim that he had asked her for her help, and it had been a wise decision to do so. The time he had spent in her company – though it had not been overly long – had been delightful, and had brought him out of the darkness which he had held fast to for some time.

“Hastings?”

With a slight jerk, Daniel’s eyes flared as he saw his sister and Lord Milthorpe exchange a look.

“Yes?”

“You were quite lost in thought.” Isabella’s eyebrows lifted lightly. “Was there something specific that was occupying your thoughts?”

Daniel shook his head no, having no desire to disclose that he had been thinking solely of Lady Patience.

“Then shall we–”

“ There he is.”

A loud voice made Daniel spin around, astonished that someone should think to behave in such an ill manner, only for something hard to thump into his chest, pushing him back. He stumbled, caught by his sister and Lord Milthorpe as he fought to gain an understanding of what was happening.

“You owe me a great deal of money.” A gentleman that Daniel did not recognize, a tall, broad-shouldered, and angry fellow, pointed one thick finger in Daniel’s direction. “Did you think you could run from my establishment and do nothing about paying the debts you owe?”

“Establishment?” Daniel frowned, irritated not only by the gentleman’s physical actions but by the words coming out of his mouth – words that could be heard by a good many others. “I do not know what it is that you are speaking of.”

“You know very well what I speak!” Daniel took a closer look at the fellow, sensing a slight loss of refinement in the gentleman’s manner. Who was he? And what establishment was he speaking of? “You were there yesterday afternoon!” the gentleman bellowed, making a few heads turn. “You enjoyed your time with my ladies, drank a good deal, and then left the place before paying me a single penny!”

Heat poured into Daniel’s face as all of those who had been listening suddenly began to whisper to one another, as others too then came a little closer to Daniel and the gentleman, clearly eager to hear what it was that was being said.

“Yesterday?” Daniel drew himself up, determined now to defend himself. “You are quite mistaken, sir. I have not been in your establishment and, indeed, do not even know what it is that you speak of!”

The gentleman let out a roar of evident rage, his eyes narrowing into sharp slits.

“How dare you give such a pretense, Lord Hastings? You know my establishment very well! If I have to, I can get one of the ladies there to confirm that you were present with us yesterday afternoon, but that you had to depart in the evening to attend some soiree or ball or some such thing.”

Certain now that all of those who listened were sure that this fellow was speaking of a house of ill repute, Daniel swallowed hard.

“You are mistaken, sir.” His chin lifted, his hands balling tight. “It was not I who was present there. I have never frequented such a place and never shall.”

“Then where were you, Lord Hastings?”

The voice of Lord Newforth sent a prickling heat cascading down Daniel’s back as he sent a hard, angry look in the gentleman’s direction, aware that he was the reason that this fellow had chosen to come and bellow such dreadful things. Lord Newforth had arranged it all, determined now that he would do whatever he could to shame Daniel in front of all of society.

Except Daniel was not about to permit him to do so.

“I was walking through London,” he said, firmly. “I frequented a shop and thereafter, returned home. I did attend a card party last evening, however, and was seen there by a good many people.”

“But that is not what is being asked.” Lord Newforth tilted his head just a little. “It is not the evening that is being spoken of for, as you say, you were seen at this card party. It is the afternoon and all you can offer us is that you were in one single shop, and nothing more?”

Daniel’s jaw tightened as he glared at Lord Newforth. Evidently, the gentleman had done a great deal of careful consideration and study, seeing where Daniel had been in the evening and recognizing that to declare him at some dark establishment at that time would do no good. Thus, he had settled on the afternoon.

“I think that you will find that I was seen by a good few members of the ton yesterday afternoon, Lord Newforth,” he said, as calmly but as decisively as he could, turning his head to look into the other gentleman’s face. “I am afraid that I do not even know your name, sir, but I can assure you that you are mistaken.”

“I cannot be mistaken!” The large, angry fellow took a step closer to Daniel, his eyes narrowing. “I know your face, I know the name you gave me and–”

“Someone might very well have been using my name for their own purposes,” Daniel interrupted quickly, catching the scowl that ran into Lord Newforth’s expression at this statement. Perhaps this was precisely what had been done, Daniel considered, and Lord Newforth was now quite frustrated that his actions had been understood so easily. “You are mistaken, good sir. I was not at your establishment, and I do not owe you any money.”

Lord Newforth sniffed, spreading out his hands.

“We can all understand why you might wish to defend yourself, Lord Hastings, for there are so many of us here – and so many listening – but that is only your word. If you were out in London yesterday afternoon, then you must have been in company with someone? There must have been many who saw you, yes?”

Daniel opened his mouth to speak, only to shut it tight again. Frustrated with himself for the way that he had tried to hide himself away from the watchful eyes of society, he recalled hurrying into the haberdashery shop to avoid the young ladies who might otherwise have seen him. How had Lord Newforth known he had done such a thing? Had he been watching him? Aware of every step that Daniel had taken?

There was Lady Patience.

Triumph ran through him.

“Yes, certainly, Lord Newforth. There was one person I spoke to in particular and I am sure that they will be able to confirm that I was in town, as I have said. I certainly did not waste my time and my money in such a dreadful establishment as this gentleman speaks of!” He gestured to the burly fellow as he spoke, ignoring the way the man let out a low growl in response. “Though quite why I need to inform you of such a thing, I cannot understand. A gentleman’s word is just as good as his bond, is it not?”

Lord Newforth only chuckled at this.

“Lord Hastings, that sounds as though you are trying to make excuses, to defend yourself and make us believe that you were doing just what you have said instead of being present in this gentleman’s establishment!”

Giving Lord Newforth a small, tight-lipped smile, Daniel glanced all around him. The ton was listening to every word that both Daniel and Lord Newforth spoke, with many already whispering behind their fans. News would soon spread of this interaction throughout society and, were he not careful, then he would find his name covered in disgrace and shame, rather than it being held in respect. He hesitated, wondering whether or not it was right to speak Lady Patience’s name in such a way. Yes, it was what he needed to do to defend himself but, at the same time, did it not mean that there might be some difficulty set upon her shoulders thereafter? Some might wonder why she had been alone in a shop with him, why no chaperones were present. There might be whispers about her thereafter and that was certainly not what Daniel wanted.

“Lord Hastings?” Lord Newforth’s voice was loud and determined, making Daniel’s lip curl. “We are all waiting to hear your defense! Baron Stillforth states that you were at his establishment yesterday afternoon, that you were with the ladies of his house and drank much of his fine brandy and the like. Thereafter, you returned home to prepare for the card party which you attended and did not pay him a single penny of what you owed.”

“All of which is a lie. He must be mistaken.” Daniel threw out his hands. “I have told you the truth and quite frankly, I now demand an apology from both yourself, and from you also, Baron Stillforth. To shame me in such a way with these despicable lies is more than a little improper and I demand that you retract your statements at once!”

“But you cannot prove it!” Lord Newforth took another step closer to Daniel, his voice seeming to echo around the room. “You say that you were in town, at only one shop, and that you spoke to someone there, but you cannot tell us who that was!”

“It was me.”

Daniel’s heart leaped up into his throat as Lady Patience emerged from the crowd, her face pink but her gaze determined.

“I was in the haberdashery shop, and can confirm that Lord Hastings was present there – and for some time also,” she continued, coming to stand beside Daniel and Isabella. “The shopkeeper can confirm it also, if you wish, Lord Newforth for Lord Hastings made some purchases while he was there.”

A slight smirk crossed Daniel’s face as Lord Newforth’s smug, confident expression changed in an instant. Instead of appearing proud and determined, he shrunk just a little, his brow furrowing and his shoulders dropping.

“You are mistaken, sir,” Lady Patience continued, looking now to the Baron. “Whoever it is that gave you Lord Hastings’ name must have done so to put the blame onto him, just as you are doing now.” She glanced at Daniel and then back to Lord Newforth. “If you will not take my word for it, nor the word of the shopkeeper also, then you might wish to speak with my mother and my aunt, for they both saw Lord Hastings as he walked out of the shop with his purchases.”

The Baron blinked, then threw a look at Lord Newforth, confirming to Daniel that the gentlemen shared a connection in some way. This had been planned and now, thanks to Lady Patience, it had shattered completely.

“Thank you, Lady Patience, for confirming that.” Daniel smiled at her, then looked back to Lord Newforth, his eyebrows lifting just a little. “Now, the apology, if you please?” He turned his gaze to the Baron. “And from you also. I should like you to inform everyone listening that it is clear now that you have made a mistake, and I was not the one present.”

The Baron gave another look to Lord Newforth, only to then shrug and drop his head. “I apologize,” he muttered, his shoulders rounding now. “I must have either been deceived or made a mistake.”

“Indeed. I am grateful to you for acknowledging such a thing.” With a look at Lord Newforth, Daniel spread out his hands. “Whenever you are ready, Lord Newforth. I must say, I cannot understand why you appear so very determined to have such mistruths spoken about me in such a public place. I would have thought that a gentleman might seek to defend another member of the ton .” Hearing a slight ripple of murmurings going around the gathered group, Daniel let his lips lift just a little, making it clear to Lord Newforth that, yet again, he had been defeated. Now the ton would be speaking of him rather than of Daniel, wondering the same questions that Daniel himself had just put to him. “The apology, Lord Newforth. I am quite deserving of it, and I will not stand to have you say nothing.”

Lord Newforth stood as tall as he could, clicking his heels together and giving Daniel a somewhat superior look. Daniel lifted one eyebrow, glancing around the ballroom again for just a moment, and seeing how many present were also looking at Lord Newforth to see what he had to say. Waiting patiently and feeling as though even the orchestra had quietened their playing to hear Lord Newforth speak, Daniel’s breath quickened as still, Lord Newforth said nothing.

And then, the gentleman sighed heavily and then inclined his head.

“My heartfelt and most sincere apologies,” he said, in a tone that was nothing but regretful. “How foolish I was to believe this gentleman–” he indicated the Baron, “without so much as considering that there might have been some mistake. Forgive me.” Daniel did not answer, seeing the cold glint in Lord Newforth’s eyes and knowing that he did not mean a single word of what he had said. “Now, if you will excuse me,” Lord Newforth continued, lifting his chin and then turning away. “I shall take my leave, I think.”

The Baron did the same, scuttling away though, Daniel noticed, in the same direction as Lord Newforth. No doubt the two gentlemen would have some things to say to one another, though Daniel fully expected Lord Newforth to be utterly furious.

“Goodness.”

Daniel turned his attention directly towards Lady Patience, who was watching Lord Newforth leave in much the same way as he was doing.

“Lady Patience, I do not think that I can offer you enough thanks for what you have done for me,” he said, putting one hand to his heart as slowly, the crowd around them began to dissipate. “Had you not spoken as you did, then I would now find myself in a very difficult situation, I am sure.”

“You should have said that it was I who had seen you in the shop.” Her clear blue eyes searched his, her face a little flushed. “There was no need to hide that from anyone.”

Daniel shook his head.

“I did not want to speak so, for fear that I might either upset you by speaking of such a thing without your consent or bring the ton to question whether or not we had been alone together in the shop.”

A fire suddenly erupted in his heart as though that very thing – to be alone with her – was precisely what he wanted more of. Lady Patience did not look away, however, though, from where he stood, it appeared that her expression softened a little.

“You are most considerate.” She put one hand on his arm briefly, then pulled it away. “To consider me over yourself speaks of an excellent character, Lord Hastings.”

He looked away then, a little embarrassed to be spoken about in such a way.

“It is a gentleman’s duty, that is all.”

When he let his gaze turn back toward hers, the softness around her eyes seemed to draw him in all the more, practically melding his eyes with hers.

“This is the second time that Lord Newforth has attempted to cause you difficulty, is it not?” Daniel frowned and Lady Patience hastily looked away, her hands now clasping in front of her. “Forgive me, I ought not to be asking such impertinent questions, but I confess that I cannot help my curiosity.”

Not wishing for her to be in the least bit perturbed, not after all that she had done for him, Daniel quickly adjusted his expression and then, when she did not look at him, touched her arm gently.

“Lady Patience, you need not apologize, not when you have saved me twice from Lord Newforth!” He dropped his hand when she smiled. “But mayhap now is not the occasion to tell you all of it.”

The urge to tell her the truth, to explain all that had happened, was strong indeed and he could not help but give in to that desire. There was a connection between them now, he was aware of that, though quite what he was to do with such a connection, Daniel could not say as yet.

“I understand.”

The smile on her face dropped but Daniel stepped a little closer to her at once, keeping her gaze.

“Might you care for a walk through the park tomorrow?”

Surprise leaped into her face and Daniel suddenly feared that she would refuse him, that what he had asked would not be welcomed by her. Beginning to stammer, he stopped when Lady Patience’s smile returned in an even greater beauty than before, relief taking hold of his heart.

“That would be lovely, Lord Hastings. I thank you.”

“But of course.” He swept into a bow. “Until tomorrow, then, Lady Patience. And might I thank you again for your assistance. It has changed everything for me.”

Her smile sent light shining into her eyes.

“But of course, Lord Hastings. You are most welcome.”