Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Victor Valemont, Duke of Nightford, was standing in the corner of the hall. He held his glass of champagne like a shield, only taking small sips because he did not like to indulge himself in things that addled the mind.
The undulating crowd irritated him. The noise scratched at the back of his skull.
The clothes he wore were rigid and uncomfortable.
Time seemed to crawl, and he could not wait for this interminable evening to end, but such events were sometimes a necessity.
The only thing that brought him relief was knowing that it would eventually pass.
“Did you arrange that?” Harry said, emerging from the crowd.
There was a pained look in his eyes, and his cheeks were flushed.
He leaned towards Victor with the bearing of a man who wanted a fight.
Victor was not troubled by this. Even Harry would not stoop so low as to quarrel boisterously in public.
“Arrange what?”
“The Duke of Stonewood just introduced me to his sister. Did you put him up to it? I don’t need you interfering in my life Victor, not again,” Harry said pointedly.
Victor cringed. However, his jaw clenched, and there was an uneasy knot in his stomach. Everyone else might have seen an intimidating, unruffled man, but Victor knew how precarious life could be, and he saw himself as the shield that needed to protect his family.
“If you did not make it necessary to interfere then I wouldn’t have. I did what was best for you, Harry. That’s what I have always done,” Victor said in a flat tone.
Harry shifted his weight between his feet and pressed his lips together.
“I never asked for that. I’m a grown man. I can make my own decisions.”
Victor looked Harry directly in the eyes.
“And as your elder brother, it is my duty to make sure you make good ones. I have no idea whether meeting and engaging with the Duke of Stonewood’s sister would be a good decision or not. Although, given what I know of the Duke of Stonewood, I’d urge caution.”
“Some of us want more than caution in our lives,” Harry muttered, rolling his eyes. “Besides, Edmund is married now. He’s respectable.”
Victor scoffed and wore a disbelieving look.
“People cannot change their nature so easily. I pity his poor wife. She must have to endure much. No, it would be better if you stayed away from his family. It is too much of a risk.”
“Well, I didn’t intend to get close to the family although I’m tempted now that you have forbidden it,” Harry said testily.
Victor sighed.
“I have not forbidden anything, Harry. I simply aim to advise you. Unless you have forgotten—”
Harry rolled his eyes again.
“No, I haven’t forgotten. How could I forget? But there must be an end to this at some point, Victor. You cannot keep me on a leash like a dog.”
Victor furrowed his brow and recoiled a little.
“Do you really believe that is how I see you?”
“How can I not?” Harry opened his palms and wore a pained look. Victor stroked his chin and raised his glass to his lips although he did not take a sip. He simply breathed in the aroma of the champagne.
“Harry, all I want is for you to be happy. It’s just that we must measure ourselves,” he said.
Harry inched closer to Victor and lowered his voice.
“If you were deeply concerned with my happiness, then you would have allowed me to marry for love. You worry too much, Victor. I do not seek to plunge this family into scandal. I am not like Father.”
Victor bristled with tension. His blue eyes became darker and he gritted his teeth.
“Do not speak of our father like that.”
“Why not? Isn’t that what you’re afraid of, that people will end up associating our family name with wretchedness? By doing so, you are keeping us in the shadows. You might protect us from scandal, but you prevent us from living our lives, too.”
“I prevent you from making mistakes. That is my duty as the Duke and your older brother.”
“It should have been my choice,” Harry said bluntly.
Victor glanced around uncomfortably, aware of the people around him, fearing that they might overhear the conversation.
They were keeping their voices low for the time being, but Harry was becoming more agitated with every passing moment, and so his voice might erupt with emotion at any time.
“You would have allowed yourself to be ruled by your heart. There was no rationality at all, no reason.”
“Because there was love,” Harry countered.
“There needs to be more than love. She filled your head with those flimsy notions because it suited her.”
“Don’t speak about her like that. You don’t know her.” Harry jabbed a finger in the air. Victor turned his body, hoping to hide the gesture from anyone who might have been looking in their direction. He leaned towards his brother and spoke through gritted teeth.
“I know her enough. I know her type. She thought she could climb above her station and secure a privileged life for herself.”
“You should not speak about her like that, Victor. If there were not so many people around, I would strike you for saying such awful things. And if you continue in this vein, I might be unable to restrain myself.”
“Think clearly, Harry. A common woman like that would see you as an opportunity. You might have married for love, but can you honestly say the same would be true of her? I’m sure that if you sought her out, you’d probably find her trying the same scheme with someone else.
I saved you, even if you cannot see it.”
Harry’s arms were locked straight beside him, and his hands were clenched into fists. He trembled with rage, and his cheeks bore a shade of scarlet.
“I loved her, Victor. I still do. I will never forgive you for what you did,” Harry said. He turned on his heels and marched away. Victor exhaled deeply. His heart was beating quickly, and a dull thrum pounded behind his eyes. He pinched the bridge of his nose.
If only Harry could understand… such a union with a common woman would have brought scorn and shame upon their name.
Things were precarious enough considering what happened with their father, and the last thing they needed was to have scandal associated with their house.
If Victor had allowed Harry to proceed with his own plans, he and his young woman would not have been able to show their faces in London again.
Although he mused, that might not have been such a terrible thing.
The noise was becoming intolerable, and the glittering jewelry irritated his eyes.
He searched briefly for Harry, but the man had already disappeared.
Victor had never wanted to be his brother’s enemy, but unfortunately that was the role in which he had been cast. He couldn’t simply let Harry get away with everything he wanted.
Victor was the Duke. Victor had to think about the bigger picture.
Thank Heavens that Harry was not in control, otherwise they would have fallen into ruin.
Goodness knows what that woman would have done.
She would have plundered their estate and spent every coin extravagantly until they were bankrupt.
Well, he just had to hope that in time Harry would see sense and realize that Victor had done what was best.
Victor took another sip of champagne. The liquid danced upon his tongue, but it did not bring him the relief he sought.
He noticed a few people glancing towards him, trying to catch his attention.
It would not be long before they approached him.
That was the problem with being a host, everyone wanted to offer their gratitude and compliments.
In fact, coming his way was an older woman.
She was dressed in a gown that he believed was too extravagant for her years.
In his opinion when women reached a certain age, they should dress more conservatively.
She might have been beautiful once upon a time, but her heyday was long in the past. He deduced that she was of a similar age to his uncle.
“Your Grace, it’s such a pleasure to meet you, and I must say you throw a grand party. I’m Agatha, Agatha Hartley,” she said. Victor’s ears pricked up at this, linking her to Edmund, the Duke of Stonewood, and his sister… What did Harry say her name was again?
“It’s an honor to meet you. It pleases me that you are enjoying the event,” he said, forcing a smile to his face. The thrum behind his eyes was getting more powerful, and his throat was becoming scratchy.
“Of course, I don’t have as many opportunities to attend these events as I used to. But I would like to speak about my granddaughter, Lydia. As far as I’m aware you are unmarried, yes?”
“Yes, but—”
“Good,” Agatha continued, not allowing him to finish.
“Lady Lydia is intelligent, beautiful, and you will never encounter a kinder soul. She is only two-and-twenty, a perfect age for a wife. She is young enough to offer her health and vitality but old enough to be able to hold mature discussions. I’m sure that she would prove to be a capable partner and offer a quite stimulating life. ”
“I am sure that is true, but I believe your grandson has already introduced her to my brother, Lord Harry.”
“Is that so?” Agatha’s eyes narrowed for a moment before her happy demeanor returned.
“Well, I’m sure that no vows have been exchanged yet,” she chuckled.
“Believe me, Your Grace, if you allowed your brother to win her hand before you, you would regret it for the rest of your life. Perhaps you would indulge an old woman and come to meet her?”
“I’m sure that you mean well, but I’m afraid I am needed elsewhere at the moment.
Perhaps if you leave your details, we can arrange a meeting for another time.
It has been a pleasure to meet you.” Victor spoke quickly, not offering the old woman the opportunity to interrupt.
He turned away as he spoke and left her open-mouthed.
“I shall fetch her and find you!” Agatha cried out, making sure that he could hear her words.
Victor placed his fingers against his temples and massaged them, deciding to exit the hall.
He ducked into the outer corridors and felt better immediately as the loud noise receded.
He pressed his back against the wall and arched his neck, taking a long breath before he continued his retreat.
These hallways were not quite safe from his guests either.
Even here, any one of them could have pestered him.
“The last thing I need is to make my life even more complicated,” he muttered, shaking his head at the thought of getting married.
The only wife that interested him was a quiet, obedient one.
Although, in his experience, these were not as common as one might think.
He took himself away, leaving the party to continue without him.
He trudged up the stairs and walked down the long corridor, reaching the door of his bedchamber. He yawned as he opened it and was greeted by a quite unexpected sight. A sight that, in fact, shocked him so much it caused him to drop his glass of champagne.
The glass smashed near his feet, and the sparkling liquid flowed out and onto the carpet. The girl gave him a stern look. It was not her presence that perplexed him the most but the baby in her arms.
As he studied her, it became clearer that she was not a girl at all but a young woman. She had defined cheekbones and deep eyes that might have been beautiful had they not been so harsh while the child was turned into her chest.
What on earth were they doing in his private chamber?