He had not expected this. He had hoped to be not only remembered but celebrated! When he stepped into a room, he thought that he should be noticed. Hewantedhis name to be murmured by others, for it to be spread around the room that he had arrived! Instead, he was left with an almost painful frustration that he had been so quickly forgotten by thetonwho, only a few months ago, had been his adoring admirers.
“Another brandy might help remove that look from your face.” Robert did not so much as blink, hearing the man’s voice but barely acknowledging it. “You are upset, I can tell.” The man rose and came to sit opposite Robert, who finally was forced to recognize him. “That is no way for a gentleman to appear upon his first few days in London!”
Robert’s lip curled. He should not, he knew, express his frustration so openly, but he found that he could not help himself.
“Good evening, Lord Burnley,” he muttered, finding the man’s broad smile and bright eyes to be nothing more than an irritation. “Areyouenjoying the London Season thus far?”
Lord Burnley chuckled, his eyes dancing - which added to Robert’s irritation all the more. He wanted to turn his head away, to make it plain to Lord Burnley that he did not enjoy his company and wanted very much to be free of it, but his standing as a gentleman would not permit him to do so.
“I have only been here a sennight but yes, I have found a great deal of enjoyment thus far,” Lord Burnley told him. “But you should expect that, should you not? After all, a gentleman coming to London for the Season comes for good company, fine wine, excellent conversation and to be in the company of beautiful young ladies – one of whom might even catch his eye!”
This was, of course, suggestive of the fact that Lord Burnley might have had his head turned already by one of the young women making their come out, but Robert was in no mood to enter such a discussion. Instead, he merely sighed, picked up his glass again and held it out to the nearby footman, who came over to them at once.
“Another,” he grunted, as the man took his glass from him. “And for Lord Burnley here.”
Lord Burnley chuckled again, the sound grating on Robert’s skin.
“I am quite contented with what I have at present, although I thank you for your consideration,” he replied, making Robert’s brow lift in surprise. What sort of gentleman turned down the opportunity to drink fine brandy? Half wishing that Lord Burnley would take his leave so that he might sit here in silence and roll around in his frustration, Robert settled back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest and his gaze turned away from Lord Burnley in the vain hope that this would encourage the man to take his leave. He realized that he was behaving churlishly, yet somehow, he could not prevent it – he had hoped so much, and so far, nothing was as he had expected. “So, you are returned to London,” Lord Burnley said, making Robert roll his eyes at the ridiculous observation which, for whatever reason, Lord Burnley either did not notice or chose to ignore. “Do you have any particular intentions for this Season?”
Sending a lazy glance towards Lord Burnley, Robert shrugged.
“If you mean to ask whether or not I intend to pursue one particular young lady with the thought of matrimony in mind, then I must tell you that you are mistaken to eventhinkthat I should care for such a thing,” he stated, plainly. “I am here only to enjoy myself.”
“I see.”
Lord Burnley gave no comment in judgment of Robert’s statement, but Robert felt it nonetheless, quite certain that Lord Burnley now thought less of him for being here solely for his own endeavors. He scowled. Lord Burnley might have decided that it was the right time for him to wed, but Robert had no intention of doing so whatsoever. Given his good character, given his standing and his title, there would be very few young ladies who would suit him, and Robert knew that it would take a significant effort not only to first identify such a young lady but also to then make certain that she would suit him completely. It was not something that he wanted to put his energy into at present. For the moment, Robert had every intention of simply dancing and conversing and mayhap even calling upon the young ladies of theton,but that would be for his own enjoyment rather than out of any real consideration.
Besides which,he told himself,given that thetonwill, no doubt, remember all that you did last Season, there will be many young ladies seeking out your company which would make it all the more difficult to choose only one, should you have any inclination to do so!
“And are you to attend Lord Newport’s ball tomorrow evening?”
Being pulled from his thoughts was an irritating interruption and Robert let the long sigh fall from his lips without hesitation, sending it in Lord Burnley’s direction who, much to Robert’s frustration, did not even react to it.
“I am,” Robert replied, grimacing. “Although I do hope that the other guests will not make too much of my arrival. I should not like to steal any attention away from Lord and Lady Newport.”
Allowing himself a few moments of study, Robert looked back at Lord Burnley and waited to see if there was even a hint of awareness in his expression. Lord Burnley, however, merely shrugged one shoulder and turned his head away, making nothing at all of what Robert had told him. Gritting his teeth, Robert closed his eyes and tried to force out another long, calming breath. He did not need Lord Burnley to remember what he had done, nor to celebrate it. What was important was that the ladies of thetonrecalled it, for then he would be more than certain to have their attention for the remainder of the Season – and that was precisely what Robert wanted. Their attention would elevate him in the eyes of theton, would bring him into sharp relief against the other gentlemen who were enjoying the Season in London. He did not care what the gentlemen thought of him, he reminded himself, for their considerations were of no importance save for the fact that they might be able to invite him to various social occasions.
Robert’s shoulders dropped and he opened his eyes. Coming to White’s this evening had been a mistake. He ought to have made his way to some soiree or other, for he had many invitations already but, given that he had only arrived in London the day before, had thought it too early to make his entrance into society. That had been a mistake. Thetonought to know of his arrival just as soon as was possible, so that his name might begin to be whispered amongst them. He could not bear the idea that the pleasant notoriety he had experienced last Season might have faded already!
A small smile pulled at his lips as he considered this, his heart settling into a steady rhythm, free from frustration and upset now. Surely, it was not that he was not remembered by society, but rather that he had chosen the wrong place to make his entrance. The gentlemen of London would not make his return to society of any importance, given that they would be jealous and envious of his desirability in the eyes of the ladies of theton, and therefore, he ought not to have expected such a thing from them! A quiet chuckle escaped his lips as Robert shook his head, passing one hand over his eyes for a moment. It had been a simple mistake and that mistake had brought him irritation and confusion – but that would soon be rectified, once he made his way into full London society.
“You appear to be in better spirits now, Lord Crampton.”
Robert’s brow lifted as he looked back at Lord Burnley, who was studying him with mild interest.
“I have just come to a realization,” he answered, not wanting to go into a detailed explanation but at the same time, wanting to answer Lord Burnley’s question. “I had hoped that I might have been greeted a little more warmly but, given my history, I realize now that I ought not to have expected it from a group of gentlemen.”
Lord Burnley frowned.
“Your history?”
Robert’s jaw tightened, wondering if it was truly that Lord Burnley did not know of what he spoke, or if he was saying such a thing simply to be a little irritating.
“You do not know?” he asked, his own brows drawing low over his eyes as he studied Lord Burnley’s open expression. The man shook his head, his head tipping gently to one side in a questioning manner. “I am surprised. It was the talk of London!”
“Then I am certain you will be keen to inform me of it,” Lord Burnley replied, his tone neither dull nor excited, making Robert’s brow furrow all the more. “Was it something of significance?”
Robert gritted his teeth, finding it hard to believe that Lord Burnley, clearly present at last year’s Season, did not know of what he spoke. For a moment, he thought he would not inform the fellow about it, given that he did not appear to be truly interested in what they spoke of, but then his pride won out and he began to explain.
“Are you acquainted with Lady Charlotte Fortescue?” he asked, seeing Lord Burnley shake his head. “She is the daughter of the Duke of Strathaven. Last Season, when I had only just stepped into the title of the Earl of Crampton, I discovered her being pulled away through Lord Kingsley’s gardens by a most uncouth gentleman and, of course, in coming to her rescue, I struck the fellow a blow that had him knocked unconscious.” His chin lifted slightly as he recalled that moment, remembering how Lady Charlotte had practically collapsed into his arms in the moments after he had struck the despicable Viscount Forthside and knocked him to the ground. Her father, the Duke of Strathaven, had been in search of his daughter and had found them both only a few minutes later, quickly followed by the Duchess of Strathaven. In fact, a small group of gentlemen and ladies had appeared in the gardens and had applauded him for his rescue – and news of it had quickly spread through London society. The Duke of Strathaven had been effusive in his appreciation and thankfulness for Robert’s actions and Robert had reveled in it, finding that his newfound status within thetonwas something to be enjoyed. He had assumed that it would continue into this Season and had told himself that, once he was at a ball or soiree with the ladies of theton, his exaltation would continue. “The Duke and Duchess were, of course, very grateful,” he finished, as Lord Burnley nodded slowly, although there was no exclamation of surprise on his lips nor a gasp of astonishment. “The gentlemen of London are likely a little envious of me, of course, but that is to be expected.”
Much to his astonishment, Lord Burnley broke out into laughter at this statement, his eyes crinkling and his hand lifting his still-full glass towards Robert.
“Indeed, I am certain they are,” he replied, his words filled with a sarcasm that could not be missed. “Good evening, Lord Crampton. I shall go now and tell the other gentlemen here in White’s precisely who you are and what you have done. No doubt they shall come to speak to you at once, given your great and esteemed situation.”
Robert set his jaw, his eyes a little narrowed as he watched Lord Burnley step away, all too aware of the man’s cynicism.It does not matter,he told himself, firmly.Lord Burnley, too, will be a little jealous of your success, and your standing in theton. What else should you expect other than sarcasm and rebuttal?
Rising to his feet, Robert set his shoulders and, with his head held high, made his way from White’s, trying to ignore the niggle of doubt that entered his mind. Tomorrow, he told himself, he would find things much more improved. He would go to whatever occasion he wished and would find himself, of course, just as he had been last Season – practically revered by all those around him.
He could hardly wait.