Phineas laughed heartily, slapping Drake on the shoulder in a companionable way that caught Drake off guard. The past few years, he had spent mostly on his own, far away from anyone who could potentially be considered a friend. “You have not changed,” Phineas commented with a chuckle, his dark gaze lighting up with the usual mirth. “Still the same forthright and slightly disparaging man you’ve always been.”
Drake cocked an eyebrow as he looked at his old friend, wondering at his sanity. After all, his words had been far from flattering, and yet, the tone in Phineas’ voice suggested approval.
Heaving a deep breath full of contentment, Phineas turned to gaze across the room at his new fiancée. The Whickerton family stood crowded around the pianoforte as a family friend Drake had yet to meet began to play a hauntingly beautiful melody.
Drake watched his friend’s fiancée as she inhaled a deep breath, then turned, her green eyes swiftly moving to the man whose proposal she had accepted only the day before. It was as though lightning struck the air in that moment, closely followed by a clap of thunder. Drake could all but feel something humming in the air as Phineas and Lady Louisa looked at one another. Indeed, after all the horrific marriages he had witnessed in his time, this one would hopefully prove to be an exception. “I assume you will not wait for the banns to be read to wed her.”
Beside him, Phineas chuckled, his eyes remaining locked upon Lady Louisa. “We may not have seen each other in many years, old friend,” he replied with a hint of grudging admiration, “yet, you read me like an open book. No, we will not wait.” An impatient sigh left his lips. “If I could, I’d wed her tonight.”
Indeed, from the looks of it, the young lady seemed in agreement. In fact, her entire family appeared overjoyed with the prospect of an impending wedding. Or perhaps they were simply joyous people, for whenever Drake laid eyes upon them in the coming days, he found them laughing and chatting happily, their eyes aglow and smiles painted upon their faces. Rarely had he seen people with such happy dispositions, and he could not deny that at least a small part of him envied them. What would it feel like to be part of such a family? What kind of man would he be today if he had grown up with parents as kind and doting as Lord and Lady Whickerton? With siblings who teased with kindness and offered comfort when needed?
The thought inevitably made him wonder why Lady Leonora had not confided in those she loved the most about the darkest moment of her life. Of course, Drake did not know what had happened. Still, the effects of it were easy enough to see. How come her family did not? Or did they and she simply laughed off their concerns? Why would she not speak to them? Clearly, it could not be for fear of their disapproval, their disappointment. From what Drake had observed, he felt quite certain that the Whickertons would stand together as one no matter the challenge.
Every so often, Drake found Lady Leonora’s gaze move to him, and he could all but feel the moment as though she had reached out and touched his arm. Those deep blue eyes of hers were utterly expressive, and Drake could not help but wonder what secrets lay underneath. He liked the way she looked at him as though they were allies, confidantes. Nevertheless, he wondered how he had gained her trust despite the fears he knew had to live in her heart. In truth, she could not know his intentions or his character. He was a stranger to her, and he could very well mean to do her harm.
Yet, he could see as clear as day that she had extended a measure of trust toward him.
Her sister, on the other hand, tended to look at him with a hint of suspicion in those green eyes of hers. Drake could not help but wonder what had prompted Lady Louisa to see him in such an unfavorable light. Had Lady Leonora said something to her about their encounter, their conversation that had given her a wrong impression? Whatever it was, Drake found Lady Louisa’s eyes narrow whenever they fell upon him. Perhaps he had been a bit quick to blurt out what he had. However, Lady Leonora had seemed so vulnerable that he had not been able to help himself. Had she believed him? That he would hunt down her attacker and end him where he stood? Drake did not know, and in truth, it did not matter. Without a name, his hands were tied.
Nevertheless, Drake was determined to keep his word, and so over the coming days, he stayed close by, watching over Lady Leonora as he had promised. In truth, Drake had little else to do. He probably would have left the house party early had it not been for her. Although Lady Louisa had forgiven Phineas for sharing her secret with his old friend, she clearly felt no desire to speak to Drake about their mutual literacy troubles, and Drake had to admit that he did not, either.
Instead, he kept to the shadows, watchful eyes trained on Lady Leonora.
She moved about carefully, something skittish in every step she took, always accompanied by at least one sister no matter where she went. Fortunately, with four sisters to choose from, Lady Leonora never found herself alone. Still, her eyes always seemed to sweep her surroundings, and Drake could not shake the feeling that no matter where she was or whom she was with, she was always looking for him. Was she trying to see if he would keep his word? Or did his presence truly make her feel safer?
The thought stirred something rather unexpected in Drake’s usually so quiet and rather inattentive heart. Never before had he felt any kind of connection to the women he had offered his assistance to before.
This was new.
This was unexpected.
But not...unwelcome.
One evening, Drake paused when a gentleman unknown to him suddenly approached Lady Louisa and Lady Leonora, his attention clearly focused on the latter.
To Drake’s relief, the man possessed impeccable manners and maintained an appropriate distance at all times. After the initial tense moment, Lady Leonora, too, began to relax, the tension in her hands lessening. Still, her gaze kept straying to him every so often, and Drake found himself offering her a reassuring smile. When had he last smiled? Drake could not remember.
Momentarily distracted, Drake tensed when he found an elderly lady suddenly step up to him. She simply stood by his side, not looking at him, but instead at the very scene he himself had been observing. “Only last year,” she then mumbled, a whisper of disapproval in her voice, “Lord Gillingham seemed thoroughly determined to make the new Mrs. Hawke his bride.” Indeed, Drake had heard that Phineas’ younger brother had been recently married. “Now, that she is married, it seems he has shifted his attention to one of my granddaughters.” Moving, she then turned to look up at him, something shrewd gleaming in her pale eyes. “What pray tell do you make of him?”
Drake shrugged, not certain what to make of her. Never before had someone spoken to him in such a forthright way. “I’m afraid I do not know the man.”
The Dowager Lady Whickerton—whom Drake presumed her to be—sighed deeply then moved back to stand beside him, her gaze returning to her granddaughters. “I do wonder if he’s the right man for her,” she mumbled, a hint of amusement in her voice. And indeed, when she turned to look at him before walking away, Drake spotted a teasing smile upon her face.
Watching the dowager join her granddaughters as well as Lord Gillingham, Drake could not help but wonder why the old woman had addressed him. In his experience, people rarely did anything without a motive, without an agenda. What on earth could be hers? Was she worried for Lady Leonora? Did she herself deem Lord Gillingham unsuitable? Or had she simply been trying to seek Drake’s opinion on the man in order to make up her own mind? Did she suspect a certain partiality on Lord Gillingham’s side? Was he currently courting Lady Leonora or did he intend to?