Chapter Twelve
They were headed to another ball. Hugo had not known there would be balls two nights in a row.
He worried about being thrust into a crowded room again with so many others.
It always took him time to recover from being around large groups.
Though he had planned to recuperate this afternoon, since he had slept until almost eleven that morning, his mother had other plans for him.
She had insisted he be present in the drawing room while Dilly received her suitors.
For once, he agreed, wanting to see the type of men who turned out to visit with his sister.
The room had been filled with various gentlemen coming and going, along with multiple bouquets of flowers.
Apparently, when a gentleman was interested in a lady, he sent flowers to indicate that interest, as well as dropping by during morning calls.
Hugo had kept to himself much of the afternoon, keeping a watchful eye on Dilly, as Mama seamlessly guided her daughter about the room as he sat in the corner and observed the proceedings.
Only one man had even noticed Hugo’s presence and had made an effort to come and introduce himself as the Earl of Forsythe.
The earl had spent as much time talking with Hugo as he eventually did Dilly.
Hugo watched their interaction closely and decided Forsythe would be a good candidate for his sister’s hand.
“My earrings look wonderful with this ballgown, Mama,” Dilly said. “Thank you again for giving them to me.”
Mama laughed. “Darling, diamonds go with simply everything. When you have a husband, tell him so. It does not mean you do not wish for him to buy you sapphires or opals, but diamonds make every gown special.”
“What did you think of the suitors who showed up this afternoon, Dilly?” he asked, eager to learn if she favored any, and hoping to hear Forsythe’s name come from her lips.
Hugo assumed his sister and mother had talked about this at length during tea.
He had made an excuse that he had to see his solicitor and had left the townhouse, walking the deserted streets of Mayfair.
Teatime seemed the only time traffic died down in the fashionable part of town.
As he had made his way home, however, he began to see carriages again, all of them heading in the direction of Hyde Park.
He recalled Mama telling Dilly something about carriage rides in the park.
At least he now knew to avoid the place after teatime and only use it as a refuge when others were not in the park in such droves.
“I found more than a few to my liking,” Dilly said, answering his question. “But one gentleman truly stood out to me. I saw you speaking with him, Hugo.”
Pleased, he said, “Ah. You mean Forsythe.”
“Yes, Lord Forsythe. He is the one I shared supper with last night. I wish we could have spoken more, but we were at a table which seated eight. The conversation included all sitting at the table.”
“That helps you get to know others,” Mama said. “If Lord Forsythe is thinking of you as his potential countess, he will ask you to dance again this evening, Delilah.”
“I hope he does,” Dilly said, eagerness in her voice. “He is quite charming. I also find him to be most handsome.”
Hugo had thought Forsythe’s looks average.
He was of medium height, with brown hair and brown eyes, but apparently, he had caught Dilly’s eye.
That meant Hugo needed to mention the earl’s name to the Duke of Millbrooke.
He or Viscount Dyer might know more about Lord Forsythe.
Matthew, too, might also know something of the earl.
He had watched Matthew dancing with both Dilly and Lady Tia last night. His friend had mentioned it might be time to consider marriage. Despite his liking Lord Forsythe, it would be wonderful if Matthew would consider Dilly as his duchess. Then again, Matthew had not called upon her this afternoon.
What if he had visited Lady Tia instead?
A surge of jealousy rippled through him, startling him. Why would he care if Matthew had called upon Lady Tia? Yes, his friend had danced with her the previous evening, as he had Dilly. Yet Matthew had not visited the Drake townhouse to see Dilly this afternoon.
Hugo would find out tonight if Matthew had called upon any young lady today. If he learned that his friend had visited Lady Tia, he would make certain he did not judge Matthew in any way. After all, Lady Tia was his sister’s friend. She was nothing to Hugo.
Yet he itched to see her again.
Again, he questioned why he seemed so addled when it came to Lady Tia.
It must be because he found her quite attractive.
Of the women he had seen or met last night, she was by far the most beautiful.
He shook his head, wishing he could knock some sense into himself.
Lady Tia despised him. Moreover, she was the daughter of a duke.
She would have her pick from a cluster of eligible bachelors and never think to consider him.
Wait. Consider him? It was not as if Hugo were in the market for a bride.
It was the exact opposite. The only time he had bothered dancing last night was with Lady Tia, and that was only because he felt he owed it to Millbrooke to do so since the duke had volunteered to dance with Dilly.
The rest of the time, Hugo had watched from the sidelines, making certain each of Dilly’s dance partners returned her to him after each set finished.
What if Lady Tia had learned she was the only woman he had danced with? Would she draw some sort of erroneous conclusion? Think that he might wish to woo her?
No, she seemed to be fairly level-headed.
She would understand he had danced with her specifically to issue his apology to her.
It eased his worry when she had told him she believed the apology to be sincere.
It had been. Hugo had meant every word of it.
He realized Lady Tia was a lively sort of girl, and Dilly had always been gregarious and unreserved herself.
It was nice his sister had found a kindred spirit, especially after discovering that other girls making their come-outs had no interest in being friends with her.
“Merriman, keep an eye out for this Lord Forsythe. I am not familiar with his family. I shall do a bit of sleuthing myself.”
“Mama! Do not be obvious,” Dilly warned.
Their mother arched one brow. “I will be the soul of discretion, Delilah.”
“I plan to mention the earl’s name to Millbrooke and Dyer. Reddington, as well. By the end of tonight—or tomorrow at the latest—I should know more about him.”
Dilly’s nose crinkled. “It all seems so . . . detached. You and others looking into the earl.”
“We must remain objective about Forsythe for the moment,” Hugo told his sister. “You, too, must not wear your heart on your sleeve, Dilly. You do not wish to encourage this gentleman, only to have to discourage him if we find out he is not suitable for you.”
“But I truly like him,” she complained.
“I will admit I do, too,” he said. “Still, I want to learn a bit more about his character. His background. If he is in need of a bride’s dowry or if his family’s finances are in order.
Be kind to him. Dance with him if you wish.
Just do not become too overly fond of him until we know more about him. ”
She crossed her arms. “Oh, all right,” she said, sounding all of five years of age.
Hugo bit back a smile. His gaze met his mother’s, and she nodded approvingly. It made him feel as if he were taking the appropriate care of his family.
Suddenly, the idea of family tugged at his heart.
Though he adored Dilly, she would most likely be leaving his household soon.
Mama was pleasant but a bit distant. A wave of loneliness swept over him.
He had been alone for most of his entire life.
His years in school had been a nightmare.
His university years had turned out pleasant, though, with Anthony and Matthew by his side.
But eventually, the two of them would wed and have families of their own.
Hugo realized that he, too, wanted a wife.
Someone who would be a close companion whom he could turn to in good times and bad.
And children. While his own father had been a poor example as to what a parent should be, he believed that he could be a decent father.
Better than decent. He wanted to play on the lawn of Merrifield with his children.
Teach them to sit a horse. Read to them.
And if by chance one of them stammered, he would know exactly how to address the situation and intervene during the child’s early years.
This might not be the Season to take a bride, but he would start giving the idea more thought.
The qualities he would seek for Dilly’s husband might very well be the same ones he wished in his own wife.
Excitement filled him. As the Earl of Merriman, he was not the timid boy he had been.
He was a powerful peer, with wealth at his disposal.
Surely, he could attract a woman’s notice.
Lady Tia Worthington came to mind, and he pushed the thought of her aside.
She was not for him. He was merely infatuated with the unattainable.
Hugo thought he might look amongst the wallflowers.
Not every wallflower was plain of face. Some were bluestockings who did not appeal to many gentlemen of the ton.
Others had small or no dowries, which also cost them the attention of most eligible bachelors.
Some of them might merely be shy or withdrawn.