Chapter 10
Isaac frowned, looking down at his paper and trying his hardest to remember all of the other gentlemen who had been present that night. It was so long ago, he was fighting to recall each face – made all the foggier by the fact he had been enjoying very good brandy at the time.
“There was Lord Wickton, I recall him distinctly,” he muttered, one hand going down the list of names.
“Baron Hogarth and Lord Kinsley.” Frowning, he tried to bring the memory of that evening back to mind, seeing three faces that remained indistinct.
With a growl, he set the quill down sharply, the ink splattering across the paper.
That night had never held such importance to him before, but now that he knew there was a chance for reconciliation between himself and Christina, everything had changed.
Pushing himself up from his chair, Isaac made to walk from his study with the intention of going out to the fashionable hour, only for someone to knock.
“Yes?” Halting, Isaac lifted an eyebrow as his butler came in. “What is it?”
“Lord Wickton and Lord Kinsley have come to call, my lord.” The butler stepped to one side to allow Lord Wickton to step in, with Lord Kinsley following after. Their broad smiles did little to soothe Isaac’s inward irritation.
“Lord Wickton, Lord Kinsley, good afternoon. I am afraid I am just about to step out.” Pausing at the hard sound of his own voice and seeing that his haste made him appear ill-mannered, Isaac closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Forgive me, I did not mean to make you both unwelcome. It is only that something of significance has come to mind, and I am quite caught up with it.”
Lord Wickton shrugged as Lord Kinsley, ignoring this, settled into a chair. “Very well, I will not keep you. It was only to deliver this invitation to you, that was all.”
“I came to call upon you at the very same time.” Lord Kinsley sat back in his chair and smiled. “I have already received my invitation, however.”
“An invitation?” Isaac took it from Lord Wickton, flushing inwardly at the embarrassment he had brought on himself by his sharp manner. “How very kind. What is it for?”
“I am throwing a ball,” Lord Wickton replied, with a grin. “My wife demands it, and I think it a very good notion.”
A chuckle broke from Lord Kinsley as Lord Wickton’s smile faltered. “Might I ask if you only thought it a good notion once Lady Wickton convinced you of it?”
Seeing that a little levity brought a spark of laughter between them all, Isaac let out a breath of relief that his previous rudeness had been so quickly forgotten.
“You know me well indeed, it seems.” With a quiet shrug and a small sigh, Lord Wickton’s mouth fell into a light grimace.
“The truth is, I do not much want to throw a ball and would be perfectly contented to attend occasions instead of organizing my own. But my dear wife is insistent and, if I am honest, I do very much want to please her.” His grimace faded into a tender smile, his gaze pulling away from Isaac’s.
“Love has turned me into the most ridiculous fool.”
Isaac, the words striking at his soul, nodded slowly. “It does that to us all, my friend.”
The moment he said such a thing, Lord Wickton’s eyebrows shot high, a questioning curiosity burning in his gaze.
“You sound as if you know of what I speak,” he said, tilting his head to one side.
“We have not been in company together for some time, I know, but we were always good friends. I do not think I have ever heard you speak of any young lady with any sort of interest.”
Hesitating, Isaac looked to Lord Kinsley, who offered him a small shrug.
As yet, Isaac had never spoken to Lord Wickton of his previous affection for Christina.
Might he do so now? There was no reason to hold back, he considered, given that Christina herself would be speaking of it to her sister. “On this occasion, I do.”
Lord Wickton’s eyes widened. “Then you have someone in mind? Dare I ask you as to who it might be?”
“You sound surprised.” Isaac smiled ruefully. “Is it all that astonishing that I might once have been in love?”
“Since you have never spoken a word of it to me, of course I am astonished!” Lord Wickton’s eyes were rounded, his voice rising.
“I recall that we spent a good deal of time in company during the summer Season two years ago, and you told me very firmly that you were not even considering matrimony and would not be for some years yet.”
“A sentiment that was repeated to myself also,” Lord Kinsley said, dryly. “A fanciful thought, it seems.”
Isaac did not remember saying such a thing but accepted it without hesitation, thinking to himself that before he had met Christina, that had certainly been his intention. “I have said such a thing, but I can assure you, my thoughts no longer turn in that direction.”
“Goodness.” Lord Wickton blinked but then smiled. “I am very glad to hear it. Since I myself have found happiness in matrimony, I think it is best for all gentlemen to find themselves a wife to love.”
Choosing to consider for a few moments, Isaac considered his friend, remembering that he had been present that evening in Whites, all those months ago.
Whilst Lord Wickton remembered what Isaac had said as regards matrimony and his disinclination towards it, did he truly not recall the night in Whites, when he had mentioned Christina?
“Are you certain I have never mentioned a lady to you?”
This made Lord Wickton’s eyebrows lower heavily over his eyes, a line pulled between them. “I do not think you did, no.”
“You remember my statement about matrimony, but you do not recall my remarks about a particular lady of the ton?”
Lord Wickton’s frown grew heavier still, but he said nothing, giving only a shake of the head.
“Goodness, Coventry!” Lord Kinsley shifted in his chair, a frown beginning to line his forehead. “Is there some reason that you are questioning Wickton so?”
He does not understand, Isaac reminded himself, trying to take any hint of accusation out of his voice. He does not yet know that Christina and I are considering a connection once more. I must be cautious with them both, just as I promised her I would be.
“I do not mean to be irritating,” he said, with what he hoped was an easy smile.
“It was years ago now, when we were in Whites one evening.” Watching his friend closely for any sign of understanding, Isaac continued on.
“We had all just come from a ball – I do not remember who hosted the occasion – and I, during a card game, began to speak of an affection I had.”
His friend’s face remained impassive, no flicker of recognition in his eyes.
“I did not speak of it clearly, I will admit that, but I certainly made mention of it,” Isaac told him, as Lord Wickton shook his head, and Lord Kinsley let out a groan of frustration. “You truly do not recall?”
“No, I do not.” Impatience clung to Lord Wickton’s words as he tapped one foot on the floor. “This conversation has not gone as I had expected. I came only to invite you to the ball and – ”
As Isaac watched, his friend’s eyes grew large, and his mouth fell open.
He stared at Isaac for a long moment without saying a single word, only to then let out a shout of laughter.
“Yes, yes, now I remember! You spoke of Christina! I do remember it, of course I do. How could I forget? Especially when she was soon to become my sister-in-law?”
Isaac nodded slowly, aware that there was no sense of happiness or relief within his heart over this recollection.
He had never thought about it until this moment, but it was a little strange that Lord Wickton had never spoken to him about his interest in Christina.
He had, at the time, been courting the elder Miss Oldham and surely would have taken notice of Isaac’s interest in the lady’s sister!
“Goodness, how glad I am that you have reached a place of understanding.” Rising to his feet, Lord Kinsley walked across the room. “Might I fetch us all a splash of brandy?”
Isaac nodded.
“You do not look pleased at my recall.” Lord Wickton’s smile faded as Isaac returned his attention to him.
“You must be disappointed that I did not ever ask you about her again. Until this moment, I confess, I had not remembered it, and the only excuse I have is that my heart was quite lost to its own affection.”
“That and there was some excellent brandy to hand that night.” It was a reasonable excuse, Isaac considered. Liquor often played with a man’s memories.
Lord Wickton winced and looked at the floor, just as Lord Kinsley pressed a glass into his hand.
“All the same, I ought to have given you more attention, and I must apologize for my lack of interest. After all, we are friends, are we not?” His eyes turned back to Isaac’s, curiosity burning in his gaze.
“Why did you never pursue her? If you believed yourself in love with her, then why not think of courtship?” His eyebrows lifted.
“You must know that she is still unwed, Coventry. What keeps you back from her now?”
Isaac stood on a precipice of doubt, wondering whether he ought to step forward and tell his friend everything.
He could not know for certain whether or not his friend had been involved in any way, and to speak of it would be a risk.
Yet, at the same time, something in him reminded him of their long and secure friendship, a friendship which had been forged in boyhood and had continued until this day in ever-increasing strength.
Besides, if Christina was soon to speak of her interest in him to her own family, then he would hear of it soon enough.
Lord Kinsley settled himself back in his chair, watching Isaac closely. A barely perceptible nod of encouragement was sent in Isaac’s direction, clearly pushing him to speak honestly about Christina with Lord Wickton.