Lord Venables’ brows lifted.
“Confused?”
“And I have been so ever since, to the point that I apologized to her last evening! I do not think that I had any intention to do so but that was what came out of my mouth.”
A broad grin settled over Lord Venables’ face.
“Mayhap that was what was in your heart, but you deliberately chose to ignore it. I am all too aware of just how much your standing in society means to you, and her manner must have been displeasing.” He shrugged. “But it was foolish for you to allow it to affect you so, given that she is a companion. You acted foolishly, and whilst you might not have wished to have apologized, I believe that doing so has done you a great benefit. To retract that apology would be utterly ridiculous and I must hope you are not intending to do so, given this confusion you speak of?”
Robert grimaced.
“No, of course I am not.”
“Good.” Lord Venables slapped his knee. “Then you must simply remove her from your thoughts and this confusion will fade into nothing. It is about strength of mind and that is something you lack at present, I think.”
Lord Venables had been one of Robert’s first acquaintances in London and he had proven himself to be a decent fellow. Whilst Robert was glad of Lord Venables’ company, he was also all too aware of the fellow’s penchant for speaking without even the smallest hindrance. Lord Venables took great pride in speaking against what others seemed to think, sometimes choosing to play the part of their adversary whilst, at other times, doing so only to make them think a little more or simply for his own pleasure. Robert did think him a good friend, but oftentimes wished that his friend was not as frank as he knew him to be. This, of course, was one of those moments. Lord Venables knew of Robert’s struggle with society. He knew of Robert’s difficulty with his confidence and whilst he understood that Robert sought acceptance from thetonby way of buoying that confidence, he had never encouraged Robert in seeking society’s approval.
“I fear I shall have to take my leave,” Lord Venables said, before Robert could say another word in his own defense or in an attempt to explain himself further. “It is late, and I am to host a dinner party tomorrow.”
Robert was surprised.
“Tomorrow?” he asked, as Lord Venables nodded. “But you are only just in London! You have organized such a thing already?”
His friend chuckled, rising to his feet and, before he answered, throwing back the rest of his brandy in one gulp.
“I thought it best to make certain that my closest friends and acquaintances knew of my return to London,” he said, as a tight hand closed into a fist around Robert’s heart. “Besides, you know that I am very much inclined towards company.” He chuckled, then placed one hand on Robert’s shoulder. “You will find your invitation arriving tomorrow morning, Crampton. Do not look so upset.”
Having not thought that his expression was at all perturbed, Robert quickly rearranged his features and then laughed, albeit somewhat tightly.
“I thank you,” he said, as Lord Venables continued to grin. “I shall take my leave also, I think.”
“And tell me, what shall you do, regarding the lady?” Lord Venables asked as they both walked towards the door of White’s.
Grimacing, Robert shrugged, but chose not to respond, narrowing his eyes as he attempted to find his carriage in the darkness. Lord Venables’ coachman called out, coming towards them both with a lantern in his hand.
“Ah, there you are, my good man,” Lord Venables said, pleasantly. “Capital. Now, we should just make certain that Lord Crampton has found his way and then we can take our leave.”
Robert chuckled ruefully.
“I fear that my coachman is not at all as practical as your own,” he replied, thinking silently to himself that he ought to encourage his coachman to do much the same, the next time he was to return to his carriage in darkness. “That is kind of you, I thank you.”
The coachman nodded, turned, and began to lead them back towards where the waiting carriages stood, giving Robert enough light to see by and to identify his own carriage quickly. His coachman, it seemed, was fast asleep, given the way that his head lolled forward, and his shoulders slumped. Robert rolled his eyes, sighing heavily in frustration.
“Shall I light your lantern, my Lord?”
Robert, grateful for the assistance, gestured for the man to do so and, after a moment, Robert himself was holding a lantern and lifting it up towards his coachman.
“I shall depart,” Lord Venables said, one hand on Robert’s shoulder for just a moment. “Do look out for that dinner invitation.”
“I shall,” Robert agreed, turning back to his friend, seeing his features shrouded in shadow. “Thank you.”
Lord Venables grinned.
“I do hope you can rouse your coachman,” he chuckled. “Good evening.”
“Good evening,” Robert muttered, turning his attention back to his coachman and growing irritated that he was still not awakening. There was a footman also but, for whatever reason, he did not appear to be present. Growing all the more frustrated, Robert held up his lantern high and began to call out to his coachman, who still did not move.
“I shall dock your wages,” he muttered aloud, thinking that even that ought to rouse the fellow but, again the man simply did not move. It was more than frustrating, and Robert began to consider whether or not he ought to find himself another coachman altogether, sighing as he set the lantern down on the ground with the intention of climbing up towards his coachman to waken him.