Chapter 19 #2
He took a sip of his wine, his expression turning sharp with irritation.
“Eleanor was an absolute pain. I am so sorry to be saying this to you, but she was. Now, Nathaniel is a gentleman, so he might put it nicely, but the truth is she was not a very good person. She gave him a massive amount of trouble. He might not mention it to you, but she was chaotic, she was rude, and she constantly caused problems with the lords and viscounts.”
Thaddeus leaned in slightly. “One of the primary reasons Nathaniel hated going out into society back then was because he simply did not want to take her anywhere. He lived in constant dread of whatever trouble would inevitably arise from something she did. She was so incredibly rigid and uptight, it was suffocating. I only wanted to tell you all of this because, from everything I have seen and heard of you, Your Grace... you are nothing like her.”
Euphemia offered him a soft, knowing smile. “Are you referring to the old rumors about me, Your Grace? Because if it is the rumors you are basing this on, then I definitely understand what you mean.”
Thaddeus let out a sharp, immediate bark of laughter, shaking his head so vigorously a lock of hair fell across his forehead.
“No, no, good heavens, Your Grace, that is definitely not what I meant. For the record, you should know that those rumors amount to absolutely nothing. They are entirely baseless. They are nothing but whispers, and they should not affect you in the slightest. I don’t even believe they are true. I never did.”
He took another sip of his wine. “Because I grew up in this... world, I know society like the back of my hand. All of these rumors are born of pure jealousy, or simply people wanting to have something to say. In a way, you and your sisters arrived in London somewhat mysteriously, so there will always be things people want to infer about who you are and what you are here to do.”
He paused, his voice softening. “But in my own opinion, even though I do not know the details of everything, it is clear you all suffered a great tragedy, one that everybody in this town knows about. People should really make allowances for you. Despite it all, you have grown up to be fine young women. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of if you come into society and make a little lapse in judgment now and then. You did not grow up in the savage manner this town behaves.”
Euphemia blinked, momentarily disarmed by the fierce defense from a man she had initially thought so superficial.
“So, no, it is not the rumors I am talking about,” Thaddeus continued.
“I was referring to what I have heard about what you did with the twins... with Georgianna and Cordelia. I heard how you have managed to make them practically sweet little girls again, and frankly, I saw a glimpse of that myself when I visited the manor recently and engaged with them.”
He gave a soft chuckle, leaning in as if sharing a secret.
“Georgianna actually sat and talked to me. Do you have any idea how great a feat that is? She used to absolutely detest me. Georgianna did not like people in her home, and she used to be furious whenever Nathaniel had visitors. Why, even when I came around, she used to throw things at my head! But when I came that day, she was calm. She was polite. That is all because of you. No one was able to do it before you. I believe it is only someone with a deeply good heart who could get through to children like that. So what I meant when I said you are not like Eleanor is that you should be proud of who you are. You will make a very excellent, very good Duchess.” He shrugged one shoulder, a little sheepishly. “I just wanted to drive that home.”
A profound, aching warmth bloomed in Euphemia’s chest, chasing away the last of her defensive walls. She looked at Thaddeus, her eyes shining with gratitude.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she said softly, her voice trembling just a fraction.
“That is... truly one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me since I came to London. I am so very grateful to you for saying it. It means a whole lot to me, more than you might ever realize.” She offered him a genuine smile.
“I think that you and I can be very good friends as well.”
“Excellent,” Thaddeus replied. “Though I must warn you, being my friend requires an immense tolerance for excellent gossip and terrible card luck.”
Euphemia let out a loud giggle, shaking her head as she turned her face away to hide her laughter.
But as her gaze swept past the perimeter beds and back toward the crowded floor of the conservatory, the breath caught squarely in her throat.
Standing a mere twenty paces away, framed by the flickering glow of a chandelier, was Nathaniel. He was holding two glasses of punch, entirely motionless, just standing there and watching the two of them with furrowed eyebrows.
Euphemia’s smile waned, her lips remaining slightly parted as Nathaniel began walking toward them. His steps were slow, his gaze never breaking contact with hers as he closed gap that separated them.
“I believe this belongs to you,” Nathaniel said smoothly, stepping into their small circle and handing Euphemia one of the glasses of punch.
“Thank you,” she murmured, her fingers brushing his as she took the glass, the brief contact sending a familiar spark of heat straight up her arm.
Nathaniel then turned his gaze slightly, though his posture remained rigid. He offered her a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Euphemia, if you will excuse us for a moment? I should like a brief word with Thaddeus.”
“Oh,” she blinked, momentarily caught off guard, but she quickly recovered her composure and offered a nod.
“Of course, that is perfectly all right. I was actually just going to look for Emily anyway. We have not spoken a single word since I arrived, so I truly ought to find her and have a proper conversation.”
“Very well,” Nathaniel replied, his gaze lingering on her face for a beat too long before he gave a slight bow of his head. “Do not wander too far.”
“I won’t,” she promised.
With a final, pleasant nod to Thaddeus, she turned and walked away.
But as she moved deeper into the crowd, her mind remained entirely stuck on the man she had just left behind.
She was thoroughly puzzled, a deep sense of bewilderment twisting in her chest. Why had he been standing there like a statue, watching her and Thaddeus talk?
She simply couldn’t shake the image of his eyes from her mind, and she felt completely restless as she began her search for Emily.
“You have practically charmed all the women in London,” Nathaniel began, his voice low and remarkably level as his eyes finally shifted to pierce his friend.
Thaddeus blinked, a slight, puzzled crease forming between his brows as he lowered his wine glass. “I am flattered by the character study, truly. But why, precisely, are we conducting an audit of my reputation right now?”
“You are quick with your tongue, Thaddeus. You always have been,” Nathaniel continued, his stride taking him a half-step closer, entirely ignoring the interruption.
“It is a trait that serves you well in these rooms. You possess a certain effortless honesty that society finds entirely disarming. You can be quite rude when the mood strikes you, yet the ton simply smiles and calls it wit. You know exactly how to navigate the sensibilities of a crowd, stripping away the rigid formalities people grow weary of.”
Thaddeus shifted again, his smile faltering slightly. “Nathaniel, you are beginning to sound remarkably intense. What is it?”
“You possess a talent for making people feel entirely seen,” Nathaniel pressed on. “That’s good. It a talent... truly. A remarkable one.”
“All... right?” Thaddeus tilted his head to the side suspiciously.
“Do not charm my wife,” Nathaniel said to him, unblinking.
Thaddeus froze, his glass halting halfway to his lips. For a fleeting second, he looked completely puzzled, as if he was trying to process everything Nathaniel had said.
The silence stretched between them, thick enough to drown out the cascading notes of the string quartet nearby. Thaddeus searched Nathaniel’s face, studying the tight line of his jaw and the fierceness in his gaze.
Slowly, very slowly, the confusion faded from Thaddeus’s features, replaced by a sudden spark of what seemed like comprehension. A slow, knowing smile began to creep up the corners of his mouth, his eyes dancing with newfound delight.
“Nathaniel,” Thaddeus whispered, leaning in with absolute amusement. “Are you perhaps, jealous?”
Nathaniel squinted his eyes at Thaddeus, his gaze hardening.
“Why would I be jealous? That is entirely beside the point. I am saying that sometimes you simply cannot control yourself, Thaddeus. I do not trust you enough when it comes to the things you say. I have no desire to see you make Euphemia uncomfortable with your careless tongue. It is best if you keep your nature to yourself and do not attempt to charm her with it. Frankly, I think you are entirely incapable of behaving normally.”
Thaddeus let out a sharp, breathless laugh, his hands lifting in a gesture of utter disbelief as he argued back.
“Behaved normally? Nathaniel, this has never been a problem between us. You never warned me away like this with Eleanor. Not once did you tell me to guard my tongue around the late Duchess. Why are you warning me now?”
Thaddeus leaned in slightly, his eyes probing his friend’s rigid expression. “What is the difference, Nathaniel? Why now?”
Nathaniel paused. The question seemed to hang in the air between them, and for a fleeting second. He stiffened, adjusting his cuffs just to look away for a brief moment before snapping his gaze back.