Chapter Twelve
Sammerson House
St. James’s Place
Mayfair, London
The next evening, Nathaniel came ’round to the new Earl of Northfield’s house, for his best friend had asked him over for dinner. Diana and her children would be in attendance, but he wished to talk to William beforehand.
After the time spent with Diana last night, he felt as if he could conquer the world.
What they shared went beyond the usual empty trysts or one-night beddings.
The more he found out about her, the more he wanted to know.
What made her laugh? Did she have a favorite dessert?
Which one of her nieces and nephews was her favorite? What was her favorite book?
Above all, would she consider spending far more time with him than a mere affair afforded?
As he came into the drawing room, Nathaniel cast a glance around the immediate area. As of yet, the only person there was William, and a swath of relief cut through his chest.
“Good evening, Northfield.”
William grunted. “Not until my ascension to the title is confirmed by the powers that be, but I can’t see an issue.” Since he was at the sideboard, he poured out another glass of brandy and handed it to Nathaniel. “I’m glad you agreed to come to dinner with us again.”
“Well, I consider you like my family.” It was the truth. “Will your mother join us?”
“Unfortunately, she has retired early and wishes to have dinner on a tray in her room.” He shrugged. “I think she’s not feeling quite up to company.”
“I can imagine the past two weeks have taken a toll on her. Or even perhaps longer than that, since your father was so sick for so long.” Such a sobering thought, living with someone but knowing the whole time that they were dying before their eyes.
He took a healthy sip of brandy and welcomed the burn of the liquor in his throat. “How are you doing, my friend?”
“Well enough.” The answer was standardly noncommittal.
Nathaniel harumphed. “You don’t need to be strong in front of me. I’ve known you since we were children and have known your father just as long. I know what he meant to you.”
“There was no one like my father.” As he spoke, William’s expression crumbled a bit. Grief reflected in his eyes. “I miss him, feel that I didn’t have enough time with him.”
Another fact that was driven home to Nathaniel, and changing him from the inside out.
“What if I’m not as good an earl as he was?” William took a sip of his drink. “It’s something I’ve labored under for more than a few years. Now that my father is gone, panic is my constant companion.”
“I understand that particular anxiety, but that power is in your hands. If you want to be as good as your father, then do so.” Growing up and being friends with William all their lives, he knew the training his friend had been given to prepare him for this very time in his life.
“Your father has already given you the skills, taught you everything he knew. I know you can do this.”
William eyed him from over the rim of his brandy glass. “God, when did you become the voice of reason? Of encouragement?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.” Nathaniel shrugged and saluted him with his brandy glass. “To the next Earl of Northfield.”
William lifted his own. “I’ll have to be confirmed before I can officially take the title. It might take some time. You know this.”
“I do, but it will eventually happen. You’ll be the earl before the end of June when parliament breaks.”
“Perhaps.” Sadness flitted over William’s features again. “How can I do this without my father?”
“We all feel like that, my friend, but we all must go our own ways eventually.” Nathaniel clapped his free hand on William’s shoulder. “I’ll be there as well.”
“Thank you.” Silence reigned between them for more than a few moments before he spoke again. “Let us talk about something—anything—other than my being earl soon.”
Nathaniel nodded, for he did have a purpose in coming here tonight beyond enjoying dinner with his best friend. “Very well. There is a topic I’d like to discuss.” Had he truly summoned his courage to the sticking place?
“Come to think of it, you do appear different than you’ve been for a long time,” William said as he led the way toward a grouping of future. “Why do you seem so refreshed, so… uplifted these days? I know my father’s death affected you as well as it did me.”
“That is true, I suppose, and it’s a two-fold issue.” Damn, how to broach the subject? “When your father died, I think, perhaps, these past two weeks have proved an epiphany of sorts. I want something permanent in my life, to leave a legacy as your father has.”
Speculation reflected in William’s eyes as he took another large sip of his brandy. “And all of that has made you think toward domesticity?”
“A bit.”
Surprise etched through the other man’s face. “Does that mean you’ve found a woman you wish to court for marriage?”
Did it? After spending the time with Diana, he rather thought he wanted her in all the ways that mattered.
It had happened so swiftly and so quietly that he hadn’t suspected that’s what he was feeling—along with desire and pure lust, of course—but now that he knew what it was, it was rather… lovely. But he nodded. “Perhaps.”
“Ah! Tell me.” William tossed back the remainder of his drink then rested the empty glass on a nearby table.
“Uh…” Perhaps he should be vague until he could work out his thoughts.
“Let us just say there is a possibility, an inkling of a dream of a woman I would like to take to wife.” The idea of having Diana in his life exclusively cause his lips to curve with a grin.
“Obviously, there are matters I’ll need to work through, but I hope fate will let this come to fruition. ”
“I’m glad for you.” William perched on the bolstered arm of a sofa. “Will you let me meet her?”
Well, shit.
That’s when Nathaniel’s courage gave out. Perhaps he wasn’t ready to tell William that he wanted his older sister. “In time,” he said in a graveled voice. “This is all new, and I don’t wish to ruin it by talking about it prematurely.”
“Fair enough.” Yet William still regarded him with skepticism. “Does that mean you’ll give up your rakish ways?”
“For this woman? I would do much merely to win her favor or see her smile.” Fuck me.
Had he admitted too much? Would William suspect?
“She is quite different from anyone I’ve ever met.
” And what was more, all of what he’d said was true.
He was ready… if that was what he ultimately wanted for his life.
Not having children would prove an issue, though. Would that prove a sticking point?
Slowly, William nodded. “I’m impressed, old chap. Concerned about you being of sound mind, of course, but impressed. However, I will not follow in your stead, at least not right now.”
Nathaniel allowed a grin as he collapsed into one of the delicate chairs.
“Thank you. I’m looking forward to discovering what else I am capable of in this new realm.
” And he couldn’t wait to see Diana at dinner tonight.
He might not be able to give away his secret to the rest of the family or even have time alone with her, but it was better than nothing.
“Well, once Diana marries again, I’ll be the only hold-out, which means Mama will turn her attention to finding me a match.
A new countess will require someone with the right pedigree, but at least it will help her through the grieving process.
” He pulled a face. “I don’t want that yet, of course, not with everything else, but I’ll need an heir, and you and I are both getting up there in age. ”
“As if we’re ancient bachelors…” Then the words sank into Nathaniel’s brain. What had William just said? He frowned. “Did your sister mention something about marrying again?”
“Not in so many words, and she is dragging her feet, postponing things, for that was the sole reason she wished to go back into society. Papa’s death will further delay it unless she wishes to have a quiet wedding.
” He shrugged. “However, I believe one of my friends will be the perfect husband for her, and what’s more, he’s a few years older than she, has a decent income, will treat her like a queen. ”
What sort of shit was this? The urge to be ill came over him. “Who is it?” He could barely spit out the words around his clenched teeth.
“The Marquess of Treverston. I met him at my club a couple of years ago. As I said, he’s a decent chap, and I think he’ll get on well with Diana.”
“I know of him. He has three young children, all under eight, because his wife died suddenly a year or so ago. That’s why he wishes to wed.
” In some agitation, Nathaniel stood. He slammed his brandy glass onto a table.
Some of the remaining, amber-colored liquid jumped over the rim to splash onto the wood.
“Diana has already raised her children and been a mother. She doesn’t need to wed some man merely to do all of that again. ”
William huffed. “It’s only a part of it.”
“No.” He shook his head as hot anger built in his chest. “That’s not fair to her.
She should enjoy this time in her life, do things that make her happy.
Frankly, your sister deserves every good thing.
What she doesn’t need is an elevated title with some nob who drinks more than is good for him and wants a new mother for his brood.
” Under no circumstances would he allow Diana to toss the remainder of her life away on something as unfulfilling as that.
“What the hell, Holdcraft?” William glared at him, looked as though Nathaniel had suddenly grown a second head. “Why fly into the boughs? It doesn’t concern you. My sister is an acquaintance at the least and family at best.”