Page 29 of Loving an Earl
Before either took a sip, Blackstone joined them and nodded his head. “Gentlemen.” He sat in a vacant chair. “I’m glad I don’t have to break up a brawl.”
Hollingsworth held up his glass. “It’s early yet.”
“That it is,” Edmund added.
“Dare I ask what that was about?” Blackstone grinned at both men.
Hollingsworth snorted. “Use your imagination.”
This time Blackstone laughed. “But words are so much more interesting.” His laughter cut off abruptly. He reached into his jacket pocket and removed several folded pages of paper. “I ripped out the betting pages regarding Mrs. Fitzpatrick.” He tossed sheets to the other men. “Look at some of the names and amounts. What a bunch of degenerates. Betting on who will bed the poor widow first. And the dates go back five years.”
Edmund didn’t miss Blackstone’s look when he saidfive years. Obviously, he was happy no one had won the bet. “There’s a lot of money riding on this. When the pages are found missing, someone’s head will roll.”
Blackstone stood, retrieved all the pages, walked to the hearth, tossed them into the fire, and watched them burn. He turned around and shrugged his shoulders. “What pages?”
The three men shared a chuckle. “So,” Blackstone said as he sat back down and signaled for a drink, “when are your nuptials to Lady Priscilla taking place?”
Hollingsworth choked on his drink, having just taken a sip. “When Lord Swenson sires an heir.”
“So never. The man must be ninety with no willing wife in sight,” Edmund said with a grin.
Hollingsworth groaned. “You really had to be an arse and sabotage my chances with the countess?”
Edmund stared into his glass again, seeking answers in the amber liquid. “I had to. My uncle asked me to help her find a husband who loves her, someone she loves back.”
“Love,” Hollingsworth scoffed. “An overrated emotion. A drain on one’s heart.”
“Yes, well, if anyone deserves to be loved, it’s Lady Langford.” His eyes were still lost inside his glass.
“I’d say she is loved,” Hollingsworth said, matter-of-factly. “Have you seen the way you look at her? It’s a wonder you both don’t go up in flames.”
Edmund shrugged. “As you said, love is an overrated emotion.”
Blackstone inhaled and exhaled loudly. “Langford’s a lost cause. Hollingsworth, why don’t you marry Lady Priscilla?”
“I can’t. I know I complain about how silly she is and how she drives me crazy, but the truth is she is smart, funny, and kindhearted. The rest is an act when she’s out socially. She believes gentlemen of thetonprefer their wives to be simpletons. She believes that no one would want her if she showed her true self. And for that reason, I can’t marry her. She has always been like a sister to me, and I want her to be happy. I can’t use her. She even knows about the rumors, and she would marry me anyway. She says she would rather marry me than marry someone she hardly knows. I appreciate and admire her for that, but I can’t be the man she deserves.”
“I’m shocked,” Edmund said. “If she’s only been fooling everyone all this time, she should be on the stage. Perhaps I should consider her myself.”
Hollingsworth glared at him. “Do I need to punch you again so soon? You are already spoken for.”
“Hmmm. Not really.” He didn’t realize his feelings for Lilly were so transparent. He would have to be careful from here on out. She may have enjoyed the one kiss they shared, but the look in her eyes this evening told him she was also still leery of him. And how could he blame her after his behavior since they met? The trouble was he couldn’t stay away from her. She was quick becoming the sunshine and air he needed to live.
“So, if you can’t marry Lilly and won’t marry Lady Priscilla,” Blackstone began, “and over my dead body will you get close enough to Emmeline to even ask, who can you marry?”
“That’s my trouble,” Hollingsworth said. “There is no one. The mothers all keep their daughters away from me. The old rumor about me from five years ago is still circulating. Even the wallflowers snub me. It’s most degrading.”
“Even Lady Grace and Lady Faith?” Blackstone asked.
“No. Not them. They are kind, but their mother is entirely another matter. She makes my mother appear saintly.”
Listening to the conversation go on around him had Langford thinking he needed to make amends to Lilly. He had much to atone for and didn’t want to find himself snubbed as well.
“If you gentlemen will excuse me, I owe someone an apology.”
Losing no time, he walked briskly to Emmeline’s townhome, not realizing the time until he’d already knocked on the door. The butler opened the door, his eyes wide with shock. “My lord, the hour is late.”
Entering the hall, Edmund said, “I apologize, but I must speak with Lady Langford.”
