by Ella Edon
“Yes, Dobson?”
“It’s almost five-thirty. You need to get yourself ready?”
“For what?” Derby straightened up, wincing as his back screamed at him. He had been bent over for too long. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re due to go to a dinner party at the Maudlin household.” Dobson looked pointedly at the clock on the mantelpiece. “The carriage is taking you in about an hour.”
Derby groaned. He had forgotten all about that. Amy’s visit earlier with the letters had gotten him intrigued. He loved a challenge, a mystery. And if it meant helping Amy at the same time, that suited him fine. The rest of the day had been spent sending out notes to various contacts asking for help and pouring over the letters, trying to find a connection. The man was not consistent in anything other than how the letters were sent. Three letters were romantic, sweet, and kindly, and then the fourth would be vicious, often threatening death.
Nothing seemed to stand out, and Derby’s head was spinning with it. All the letters were scattered across his desk, some of them now on the floor. The words were beginning to run together.
Now he had to go to a dinner party, something that Derby detested. He just wanted to stay in and hide away, but his title said he couldn’t do that. There had to be a presence.
“Do I really have to go?”
“I’m afraid so, my lord.” Dobson spread his hands. “It’s best to keep Baron Maudlin on the side. He was a friend of your father’s, after all. His contacts are vital.”
“You know I detest these gatherings.”
“I know you do, but you do have to go. People will question your solitude otherwise. Much as you dislike it, you have to show your face.”
Dobson was right, as always. Derby wished he wasn’t. He sighed and started to tidy up the letters.
“I suppose I couldn’t do any worse than Baron Maudlin’s company,” he grunted.
“I always considered Baron Maudlin a decent man. A little uncouth, maybe, but very likable.”
“And he is. It’s not him that’s the problem. It’s the rest of his family.” Derby made a face. “His wife means well, but she’s a very pushy lady. Everything has to be just so with her. And those sons of theirs, Michael and Andrew, are arrogant bastards.”
“Steady on there, my lord.”
“You know I don’t mean they’re actually bastards, Dobson. The words I have for them, in reality, would make your ears burn.” Derby turned and leaned back on his desk, folding his arms as he scowled at the open door. “I don’t care for them. And as for Baron Maudlin’s ward, Rebecca…”
Derby didn’t need to say more. Dobson knew about her all too well. Rebecca Colburn was the daughter of the late Earl of Taunton. Since she had been a minor at the time, Rebecca had been put under Maudlin’s guardianship. Derby had met her on several occasions since she had started her first Season six months previously, and Rebecca had made it very clear that she found him attractive. She did whatever she could to be in his company, sidling up to him and looking up at him adoringly.
Derby found her annoying, spoiled, and pretentious. He had gone past the point of being polite and gently pushing her away to almost physically shoving her back. It wouldn’t take much more before he actually did that. Rebecca got far too close for his liking.
“I see.” Dobson’s expression said he knew all too well. “Is she still showing her desires towards you?”
“I don’t think she ever stopped.” Derby shook his head. “You’d think a woman would take the hint that a man wasn’t interested in her. I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve actually told her that I want nothing to do with her, and yet she keeps seeking my presence whenever we’re at a social gathering together.”
“It sounds like someone’s been whispering in her ear about persevering until you give in. And from what I’ve heard of Miss Colburn, if she’s told something and she wants to believe it, she won’t stop until it comes true.”
“That sounds like you’re speaking from personal experience.”
Dobson smiled.
“I know women like her. In my opinion, all women think like that. They believe they’re worthy of a man’s time, but they’re sadly misinformed.”
“I see.” Derby surveyed his valet closely. “And what about Amy Hartley? Do you consider her the same way you consider Miss Colburn? Is she worthy of my time?”
“Miss Hartley is the exception to the rule, my lord,” Dobson replied without hesitation. He chuckled. “Besides, she doesn’t run around after you. If anything, she runs the other way. Any interaction between the two of you has her flustered and mostly tongue-tied.”
Of course, Derby would notice that. He was an observant man. Nothing got past him. And Amy often got red-faced and flustered with everyone, not just Derby. She had always been shy. Derby surmised, with a father like Viscount Hartley, it was no surprise that Amy wanted to become a wallflower. Hartley was enough to terrify anyone into the background. Most people tolerated him, but they didn’t like him, in spite of what he thought.
Hartley was far too high above his station, but no one was brave enough to knock him back down to where he belonged.
“You do need to get ready, my lord.” Dobson reminded him.
Derby hadn’t forgotten. He really just didn’t want to go. He sighed.
“I’d rather give myself a bad back and look over these letters again.”
“The letters you’ve been reading all afternoon?” Dobson looked down at the desk. “Is this what Miss Hartley brought you?”
“Yes. Someone’s been writing anonymously to her, and their feelings towards her vary greatly.”
Derby watched as Dobson picked up one of the letters and read it, his brow furrowing. His valet gave a low whistle.
“Whoa. This is so full of vitriol. It’s surprising the pages haven’t burnt her fingers.” He put the letter back down. “Sounds like the writer is rather unstable.”
“Or obsessed to the point that he believes Amy is his and his alone.” The thought of Amy being anyone else’s didn’t sit well with Derby. He pushed this aside. “I’ve been sending out word to people, see what they can find out. There must be something there.”
“Well, it’s not going to come to you as you sit here staring at them.” Dobson retorted. “Do not worry about Miss Hartley for now or the letters. They will still be here when you get back.”
“I suppose.” Derby reluctantly pushed away from the desk. “If only I could use this as an excuse to leave early.”
“Maybe you can. Although maybe you shouldn’t say it out loud. You might cause some scandal for Miss Hartley.”
“How so? She came to me for help. There’s nothing untoward happening.”
“You know how people twist and turn things into something that it isn’t.”
Derby knew that all too well. People in Society were always so eager to look for flaws and something to gossip about. Those in disgrace or about to fall from grace were more interesting for conversations. Derby hated listening to all of that.
“They need better things to do with their life,” he grumbled.
Dobson smiled as he fell into step at his master’s side.
“I couldn’t agree more, my lord.”
Chapter Six
This was turning out to be worse than Derby expected. The dinner party was less of a quiet meal and more of a gay affair. Derby felt like he had been hit in the face with the noise as soon as he walked into Maudlin’s home. His house wasn’t as big as Derby’s, but he could certainly fill it up beyond capacity and still have room for more.
As he suspected, Rebecca Colburn was there as soon as he stepped inside. She beamed at him and led him towards a servant holding a tray of drinks, handing him a glass with a pretty smile. Derby gave her a tight smile in response and turned away, using the sight of Maudlin across the room as an excuse to leave her presence.
It was a shame, he thought, as he made his way across the room. Rebecca was a
beautiful young woman, statuesque with dark brown hair that curled about her shoulders. She would make a perfect wife for someone. It was just not for him. Her attitude immediately turned Derby off. She was a spoiled brat. Derby didn’t have any time for people who expected others to jump whenever they snapped their fingers. Derby wasn’t one to jump, not in the way Rebecca wanted.
So, he stuck to Maudlin’s side for the next half-hour. The Baron was happy for Derby to hover around him and was jovial with him, laughing at jokes that didn’t seem to be remotely funny. But Derby maintained his smile and laughed along with him. Just a little longer, and then he could go home.
Derby didn’t think he could handle it until dinner. There were far too many people in the house, and Derby kept getting jostled. He could handle social affairs, but not when they were all packed in together.
He couldn’t begin to describe the relief he felt as his carriage pulled up outside his home. It was intense, making him slump in his seat. Why didn’t he say no to the invitation when it first arrived? Obviously, for formalities and because Baron Maudlin was an old friend, he had to go. Had he known it was meant to push him and Rebecca Colburn together, Derby wouldn’t have left the house in the first place.
His intended wife was not anyone’s business but his own. If and when Derby wanted to marry, it wouldn’t be to Rebecca.
The image of Amy floated across his mind, and Derby found himself pausing. He could certainly see her as his countess. Even with her shyness, Amy was intelligent, beautiful, and graceful. She was a kind person with a genuine heart. Derby would be happy if he was able to make Amy his wife.
If she considered him husband material, that is. With her father forcing her into matrimony, perhaps Amy had been put off marriage altogether. Derby wouldn’t be surprised. That did make him feel sad to think about it, however. She would be his first choice.
Then again, even if she was willing, Derby doubted Hartley would allow him to get close. He controlled everything about her, to a point. Derby would never submit to the Viscount, so he wouldn’t be a choice at all. Amy’s happiness was not on Hartley’s thoughts.
He was still in thought as he entered his house. Dobson met him halfway across the foyer, taking his master’s coat in hand.
“That’s impressive,” he commented as Derby passed over his cane. “I wasn’t expecting you to be home for another hour, at the very least.”
“I managed to slip out as soon as I knew what the dinner was for.” Derby shook his head. “It was a huge affair, not a quiet dinner at all. And it was only to match me up with Rebecca Colburn.”
“Oh, dear.” Dobson whistled. “You escaped in time, then.”
“Barely.” Derby was planning on keeping his distance from Baroness Maudlin for a while now. He turned away. “I’m going to my study for a while. It’s still early.”
“Just be careful when you go in,” Dobson warned. “You might have something flying at you as soon as you cross the threshold.”
“Eh?” Derby stopped. “What are you talking about?”
“Viscount Hartley’s in there.”
“Hartley? What’s he doing in my private study? Why didn’t you put him in the morning room as you would for all the other visitors here?”
“I didn’t have much of a choice. He went straight into your study.” Dobson grimaced. “James tried to stop him, but he ended up with the Viscount’s cane smacking him over the head. The cook is cleaning up the blood now.”
Derby stared.
“He drew blood?”
“It was quite a hefty whack. James managed to stay upright, but he was swaying as I led him away.”
Now Derby was less stunned and more angry. Hartley had no right to attack his servants. The man was going too far. He straightened his jacket, adjusting his cravat.
“Well, I suppose I’d better go and see to the man. Stand by with Duke and Edwards, will you? They should be enough to drag him out.”
“Very good, my lord.”
Dobson went in one direction, and Derby went the other, heading towards his study. He was gearing up for a fight. Hartley had raised a hand to one of Derby’s staff, and he would have to pay compensation for that. Derby would make sure of it.
He entered his study to find Hartley pacing around by the light fire, smacking his cane on the bricks every so often. Soot was traipsed into the carpet by the hearth, and Derby could see the Viscount’s footprints in the mess. He gritted his teeth and closed the door, walking towards the pacing man.
“Lord Hartley, much as I don’t object to your presence in my house, I do object to you going into my private study and assaulting my staff.”
Hartley snorted.
“Servants are nothing. You shouldn’t be so concerned. And they wouldn’t let me in. I let them know who was in charge.”
“You are not in charge because you’re not their employer.” Derby folded his arms and scowled. “I am, and I will be sending you a bill for compensating James. You could have seriously harmed him.”
Hartley rolled his eyes.
“As I said, servants are nothing. Not worth it. Besides, what I’ve got to say to you is private.”
“You could have waited until I got back.”
“Does it look like I take orders from you?”
Derby snorted.
“I’m your social superior, both in title and heritage. Take a wild guess.”
That did make Hartley falter a little. But then he gathered himself and narrowed his eyes at Derby, gesturing his cane in the younger man’s direction.
“What are you doing with my daughter?”
“What makes you think I’m up to anything with her?”
“She came back today after visiting her mother. She wouldn’t say where they had been, but Robinson finally told me that they had been here.” Hartley slammed the head of his cane into his hand. “And I want to know why.”
Derby didn’t want to think about what Hartley might have done to the footman to get the information. Just one look from the Viscount was enough for people to talk. He gritted his teeth and didn’t look away from Hartley’s glare.
“I didn’t realize I answered to you.”
“Any man who converses with my daughter has to go through me.”
“Miss Hartley was concerned about a personal matter. Mrs. Day urged her to see me about it.”
Then Derby realized how that had sounded. That made Amy’s situation more salacious than it actually was. Hartley’s eyes widened. Then they narrowed again.
“Oh, yes?” he sneered. “Why you?”
“I’m a family friend. Miss Hartley felt she could confide in me.”
“My daughter shouldn’t be associating with you at all. I won’t have it.”
Derby snorted.
“You make it sound like I’m one of those rakes who is going to make her a disgraced woman. Just how am I going to do that when we were in full view of her mother the whole time?”
“You would find a way,” Hartley said. “Men always find a way.”
“Much like you did with the current Lady Hartley?” Derby shot back.
Hartley’s eyes bulged. He dropped his cane, and a dagger appeared in his hand. He lunged at Derby, who dodged to the side. He grabbed Hartley’s wrist and twisted. Hartley yelled, and he dropped the dagger. Derby kicked it away, knocking it under his desk. Then he pushed Hartley away from him.
“Come on, Hartley, really? You think that’s going to make you feel any better? If you’re going to draw a blade on me, make sure you use it.” Derby shook his head, brushing down his coat. “You’re such a coward.”
Hartley snarled. He looked like he was about to lunge at Derby again. Then he withdrew a little, giving Derby a wide berth as he went back to the fireplace.
“Amy is about to become engaged, Derby,” he said as he picked up his cane from the carpet. “Her wedding will be soon. She shouldn’t be around any other men.”
Derby blinked. What was he talking about?
&nbs
p; “There was no mention of an engagement when I spoke to Miss Hartley. Either today or when we were at my sister’s wedding.”
Hartley sniggered.
“That’s what she makes everyone believe. That she’s the wronged girl. Amy is a clever little lady. Very manipulative. She makes people feel sorry for her.”
Derby gritted his teeth. The man was trying to turn the tables, have the upper hand. He didn’t believe anything coming out of the Viscount’s mouth.
“You’re such a cad, Hartley,” he growled.
Hartley pointed at Derby with his cane.
