In Search of Love: Convenient Arrangements (Book 2)

by Pearson, Rose

  Sighing, Thomas let his shoulders drop, rubbing his forehead with one hand. “I do not like the idea of my staff being so easily manipulated,” he said begrudgingly. “And I am not about to remove them from their position without further proof.”

  “That is wise,” Lord Fairfax agreed, “particularly given that anyone you might replace your driver with could be easily bribed also.”

  This remark, however, did not help Thomas in any way. In fact, it left him all the more confused.

  “And which of your acquaintances did you inform of your intention to bring such a gift to Lady Guthrie?” Lord Fairfax asked with a sharp look toward Thomas. “That should also be something else you consider. That might, in fact, aid you in finding the person responsible.”

  At this, Thomas felt his cheeks begin to heat as embarrassment climbed up his spine. “That, I fear, I cannot help you with,” he said, a little awkwardly. “I was in White’s the previous evening and I may have drunk a little more than I ought to have done.”

  Rolling his eyes, Lord Fairfax let out his breath heavily. “You mean to say you were in your cups and spoke of your intentions to all who would listen?”

  “I did not mean to do so,” Thomas protested, as though he were trying to justify himself to a disapproving parent. “But yes, I believe that I was a little too open with those in White’s who were about me. I told everyone I intended to bring things to a close with Lady Guthrie along with the fact that I would be giving her a very expensive parting gift the following day.”

  Lord Fairfax brought his brandy to his lips and took a very large sip. “I see,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I do not know what else I can do in order to assist you, Lord Altringham, given that you have told quite a number of gentlemen—including some, I am sure, that you are not even acquainted with—precisely what your intentions were.”

  “But I did not expect anyone to thereafter come and steal the diamonds from my carriage,” Thomas replied, frustrated. “What sort of gentleman does such a thing?”

  Lifting his brow, Lord Fairfax spread one hand out. “Gentlemen who are a little short of funds at the present moment?” he suggested. “Gentlemen who have a good many debts and have not yet got the means to pay them? Gentlemen who have a dislike of you and want to cause you difficulty? Gentlemen who bear a grudge for something you have done?” He looked at Thomas pointedly. “And you know full well that there are more than a few of these.”

  As much as he did not want to either hear or admit to such things, Thomas had to nod and agree that there were many gentlemen who might want to do such a thing in order to bring him difficulty. “I do not know what I ought to do next, however,” he said, taking a sip of his brandy. “The diamonds were very expensive and Lady Guthrie still believes our connection to be just as it always was.” Gritting his teeth with the sudden rush of frustration that ran over him, Thomas clenched one fist hard. “I wanted to bring that to a swift end and yet now it seems I am going to have to linger with that connection for a short time.”

  “Until you can purchase more diamonds,” Lord Fairfax said with a grin. “Although I am surprised you want to end your time with Lady Guthrie. I thought she was of some importance to you.”

  Thomas hesitated, wondering how to express his reason to end his association with Lady Guthrie when, in truth, he was not quite certain what it was himself. A vision of Miss Sussex came into his mind and he shook his head in order to clear his thoughts, garnering a puzzled look from Lord Fairfax.

  “I do not quite know, to be truthful,” he admitted, surprising himself with his willingness to be somewhat vulnerable with Lord Fairfax. “There is something about Lady Guthrie that irritates me, I think. I have not grown tired of her but perhaps realized that she is not the sort of lady I wish to spend my time with.”

  Lord Fairfax’s lips quirked. “Then you hope to replace her with someone else,” he said dryly. “Lady Darlington, mayhap?”

  About to answer, Thomas’ answer dried on his lips as he saw none other than Miss Sussex walking toward him, her head turned toward her companion. A Miss Glover, if he remembered correctly. The way Miss Sussex had been pulled away from him yesterday had brought him a struggle within his heart that he had not particularly enjoyed. It was as if he had wanted her to remain close to him and was saddened by her departure. It was a very odd sensation but he had been unable to rid himself of it either. And now that he saw her again, he wanted nothing more than to go to her and speak to her about what had happened the previous afternoon—indeed, to thank her for her willingness to come and speak to him when he had behaved with such indiscretion and coarseness with Miss Darlington at the ball.

  “Miss Sussex!”

  The way he called her name brought him a bit of attention but Thomas ignored the turned heads and the flickers of interest in the eyes that watched him. Instead, he smiled warmly as Miss Sussex lifted her head and looked at him, a flash of surprise in her eyes. Then, she turned her head back to her friend, who looked at him again, ruefully, and somewhat reluctantly, nodding.

  “Pray speak to Miss Glover, Lord Fairfax,” Thomas said quickly. “I must have a few words with Miss Sussex without interruption from her fair friend.”

  Lord Fairfax cleared his throat, handing his empty glass to a footman and then placing his hands behind his back. “But of course,” he murmured, sounding quite pleased. “A Miss Glover, did you say?”

  There was no time to answer in the affirmative, for Miss Glover and Miss Sussex joined them, curtsying in greeting. Quickly, Thomas introduced Lord Fairfax, who, he noted, was looking with interest at Miss Glover.

  “You are recovered after yesterday’s incident, then?” Miss Sussex asked, a slight reserve in her manner. She was not looking directly at him, her voice cool and her expression a little muted. Thomas felt himself coloring. It was clear that she had understood precisely who was to be the recipient of the gift of diamonds and obviously, she did not approve. On top of which, she had witnessed him with Lady Darlington and had dealt with the insult of him refusing to dance with her. How little she must think of him!

  And why should you care? he asked himself. You are a rake. Everyone in the beau monde is aware of it and you have never felt such embarrassment before.

  It was not something he could explain and thus, he felt himself rather awkward as he assured her he was quite well and was only disappointed and confused as to the theft of his diamonds.

  “I am very sorry for the theft,” Miss Sussex replied as Lord Fairfax began to speak to Miss Glover. “I do hope you will be able to find them.”

  He shook his head. “Unfortunately, I do not think such a thing will be possible,” he said with a sigh. “But the diamonds themselves are not of great importance. What troubles me the most is the thought that someone of my acquaintance had decided to steal them from me in the first place.”

  Miss Sussex looked at him steadily for a few minutes, her light blue eyes fixed to his. It was as though she were assessing him, trying to decipher whether or not his words were the truth. Thomas did not much like the steadiness of her gaze, noting to himself the difference in her from when they had first been introduced. It appeared that she had a trifle more fortitude now, as though she were no longer afraid to look at him with a directness that had been entirely absent before.

  “I am sorry I could not be of any more help,” Miss Sussex said eventually. “Mayhap if I had come to speak to you a little more urgently, then you might have been able to capture the perpetrator.”

  An urge to ensure that Miss Sussex herself felt no responsibility began to surge within him and he took a small step forward, seeing her eyes flare as he did so.

  “I would not want you to take on any blame in this matter,” he said quietly, seeing her cheeks beginning to color. “You did nothing wrong, Miss Sussex. Instead, I ought to be profusely thanking you for what you did.” Smiling at her, he waited until the corner of her mouth crept up before continuing. “I am sorry I was rather cool toward you w
hen you first approached. That was my own foolishness and arrogance and there is no excuse for it.” It was not often that Thomas apologized and, on occasion, when he had to do so, he found himself to be less than genuine. However, in this case, he found himself truly sincere, recalling how he had turned his head away as Miss Sussex had come to the group. “I am truly sorry, Miss Sussex, and very grateful for your willingness to come and inform me about what you had seen, particularly when I had not treated you with kindness or respect the previous evening.”

  This seemed to surprise Miss Sussex, for her brows rose and her eyes widened, but in a moment, the expression was gone and she had inclined her head, breaking the connection between them for a second.

  “You need not thank me” she said graciously. “I would have done the same for anyone of my acquaintance, of course.”

  “That is because you have a very good heart, Miss Sussex,” he replied honestly. “You are everything that I am not, my dear lady, and that is something I am becoming more and more aware of.”

  The moment those words left his lips, Thomas felt as though he had taken something hidden from his heart and had revealed it to the entire room. He had not meant to speak with such truth or such vulnerability and yet there had been something about Miss Sussex that had brought it out from within him. She had not expected it either, her eyes wide with surprise, her mouth a perfect circle. Thomas felt his throat go dry, not quite certain what he ought to do or say next. He was a rake, he told himself, and he liked such a title. Was it true that he really wished to change? What was it about Miss Sussex that had him so eager to change how he was at present? His breath came out from him slowly as he looked at her, aware that the silence between them had now brought with it a strong sense of awkwardness.

  “I confess I am surprised to hear such a thing from you,” Miss Sussex said slowly, looking at him with those wide, astonished eyes. “I thought you were very contented with your life as it is at present.”

  Thomas opened his mouth to say that yes, he was quite contented, but found that he simply could not say such a thing for he knew it would be something of a lie. After all, that was why he had intended to bring things to an end with Lady Guthrie, was it not? And why he had not sought out Lady Darlington in order to make amends? Were he honest with himself, he had no desire to go to either of them, to be in their company or even in their presence. It was something he could not explain and something that he found very perplexing indeed.

  “But if you wish to change your ways, then I can only encourage you to do so,” Miss Sussex continued as she looked at him steadily. “I am sure you would surprise a good many people, however.”

  “Including myself,” he muttered, rubbing his forehead. “Forgive me, Miss Sussex. I do not think I am making particular sense this evening.”

  She laughed and Thomas’ head lifted, his eyes fixed to hers and a small smile touching his mouth. He had never heard her laugh before and the sound was melodious and filled with happiness. It made him smile, seeing how her face was transformed as she laughed. Her eyes sparkled, her smile bright and her whole face lit with good humor. He could not help but smile back at her, finding himself quite captured by the sound. Why had he ever thought of her as plain? She was not plain by any means. Rather, she was quite lovely in her own way.

  “I think you are making perfect sense, Lord Altringham,” Miss Sussex said, stepping forward and putting one hand on his arm for just a moment. “It may be that you simply do not wish to continue along this new path that your thoughts and intentions are trying to take you.”

  Her hand lifted and Thomas felt the loss immediately. He wanted to reach out and grasp her hand again, to feel that connection for a moment longer. What astonished him all the more was that he did not have the urge to try and encourage her to come along with him to a quiet part of the room, or to the terrace or another room entirely, so that he might be able to steal a kiss or two from her. This was not a usual reaction from him, for he was always thinking of what he could do in order to convince a lady to go with him for such a thing. He was continually thinking of his own pleasures, except, it seemed, with Miss Sussex. What was it about her that made him behave so? Was it because he had thought her plain? Because he had considered her unworthy of his attentions? And now that he realized just how kind a heart she had, how gentle a spirit was within her, he found himself unwilling to treat her as he did so many others. That was the truth of it, he realized, a cold hand grasping his heart. He did not consider other ladies in the way he considered Miss Sussex. There was nothing of substance between himself and any other lady of his acquaintance. He did not know them. He cared nothing for what they liked or disliked, what they thought of, what they hoped for. All he wanted was their attentions for a short while until, thereafter, he brought the relationship to a close.

  “You appear quite contemplative, Lord Altringham.”

  Starting slightly in surprise, he looked at Miss Sussex and saw the small smile playing about her mouth. “Yes, indeed,” he agreed, a little embarrassed. “You seem to bring out the meditative side of me, Miss Sussex.”

  She laughed again and he could not help but smile. “Perhaps that is not a bad thing, Lord Altringham,” she suggested, and he nodded in agreement.

  “I do not think it is,” he found himself saying. “Might you wish to bring it out from within me again, Miss Sussex?” Seeing her frown, he tried to express himself a little better. “What I mean to say is, would you wish to walk with me tomorrow afternoon? St. James’ Park, mayhap?”

  Miss Sussex went suddenly still, her eyes fixed to his, her lip caught between her teeth. She was considering his question carefully, he could tell, her hands held tightly together in front of her.

  “Lady Newfield would attend with me, of course,” she said slowly, looking at him carefully. “You are aware of that, Lord Altringham?”

  He nodded, surprised that he did not mind what he would have previously considered to be an unwelcome intrusion. “But of course,” he said, spreading his hands. “I would not discourage you from taking your chaperone with you, Miss Sussex. Truly.”

  She nodded slowly, still considering him for a few moments. And then, much to his relief, she smiled softly.

  “I should like that, Lord Altringham,” she said demurely. “Tomorrow afternoon, did you say?”

  Grinning, he nodded his head. “Shall we say at three o’ clock?” he asked, and she smiled her agreement. “I will not be tardy, Miss Sussex.”

  “What is this?” Miss Glover took a couple of steps toward Miss Sussex, with Lord Fairfax clearing his throat as he came to join them again. “You are not making plans with Lord Altringham, I hope, Miss Sussex?”

  Her sharp eyes and dark frown told Thomas that Miss Glover knew precisely the sort of gentleman he was and that she disapproved of him completely.

  “I am, Miss Glover,” Miss Sussex replied with a firm confidence in her voice. “Lady Newfield will be attending with me also, of course.”

  Miss Glover rolled her eyes and shot Thomas a hard look. “That is a relief, at least,” she said sternly. “And you must not attempt to remove Miss Sussex from her chaperone, Lord Altringham.”

  He held up one hand in defense. “I give you my word that I will not do so, Miss Glover,” he vowed. “Although I am certain that you do not believe my word either.”

  “For good reason,” she snapped back as he gave her a small shrug. “But I must insist that you take good care of my dear friend, Lord Altringham. I shall not be satisfied if you do not.”

  Miss Sussex pressed her friend’s arm. “I am certain that Lord Altringham will do precisely as you have asked,” she said, her calm voice smoothing over the palpable tension that was between himself and Miss Glover. “Now, shall we go in search of Lady Newfield to inform her of this?” Her eyes held Miss Glover’s, who, after a moment or two, nodded.

  “Do excuse us,” Miss Sussex murmured, inclining her head. “I look forward to tomorrow, Lord Altringham.”

>   “As do I,” he found himself saying, aware that, as he spoke, he meant every single word.

  * * *

  “You look quite lovely this afternoon.”

  Miss Sussex looked up at Thomas, her face tilting to his. “You are very kind to say so,” she answered modestly. “I thank you for your invitation to walk in the park today. The day is very fine and I am glad for the opportunity to step outside.”

  Thomas smiled and then glanced behind him, where Lady Newfield walked, albeit only a step or two behind them. She did not smile, looking back at him with a sharpness to her gaze that warned him she watched every single move he made.

  “The day is very fine indeed,” he answered, finding himself a little awkward when it came to conversation. “I do like St. James’ Park.”

  Miss Sussex said nothing, looking at him and then dropping her gaze back to the path ahead. Thomas found himself struggling to find what he could say next. This was not a situation he was used to and thus, he was beginning to find it grating.

  “What is it you are thinking, Lord Altringham?”

  Miss Sussex’s gentle voice broke into his thoughts and he glanced down at her, seeing how her eyes were on his. “What is it that occupies you?” she asked. “I find you very quiet indeed.”

  Embarrassment flooded him. “I do not mean to be poor company,” he said hastily. “If I am to be honest, I would say that I…” Trailing off, he struggled to find a suitable excuse for his lack of conversation. “I am not…”

  “You are unused to having a deep conversation with a lady?” Miss Sussex asked, a small smile creeping onto her face. “Is that what you mean to say?”

  A little astonished that she had understood him so, without him even expressing anything of the sort, Thomas stopped dead and looked at her. Behind him, Lady Newfield’s footsteps began to slow, letting him know that she was listening also.