“Thank you, Lady Foster.”
“You must be in great demand whenever you go to London.”
Her eyebrow lifted gently as if she were asking him a question in such a statement. Catching Lord Hogarth wiggling his eyebrows in earnest, Patrick quickly understood what the lady meant and immediately inclined his head.
“You are very kind, Lady Foster. I admit that I am often sought out by a great many of theton.However, I prefer to choose my own company which is why you will find me here surrounded by those I have particularly sought out.”
His smile spread across his face and Lady Foster – much to Patrick’s surprise – blushed as though she were a green girl, unused to such gentlemanly compliments.
“I quite understand, Lord Addenbrook. If you will excuse me, I must go and speak to my daughter.”
Patrick nodded and watched as the lady moved away.
“If you are not careful, you will have Lady Foster’s attention instead of her daughter’s!”
Lord Hogarth elbowed Patrick none too gently in the ribs, making him grunt. Lord Hogarth was grinning, and Patrick found himself surprised that he was not doing so also. His eyes lingered on Lady Foster. She was a little older than himself but by no means unattractive. But it was her daughters that Patrick had thought to encourage. He had wanted to capture their interest, had wanted them to return to London so that news of his character and the house party was spread through all of London. That would encourage thetonto think all the better of him and might, in turn, make his house parties become renowned so almost everyone in London would wish to receive an invitation.
That did not seem to be of such importance now.
“You are not pleased by her interest?”
“Indeed, I am,” Patrick protested, quickly, not wanting to give his friend any wrong impression. “It is just a trifle unexpected.”
Lord Hogarth’s eyes flared, and he laughed aloud.
“Good gracious! Unexpected? When your intentions were to gain such interest in the first place?” Patrick sighed and rolled his eyes, refusing to answer such a question. “You are still a little melancholy, I think.” Lord Hogarth’s tone suddenly became more serious. “You have not had any news of your brother?”
Sending a hard look towards his friend, Patrick hesitated, then shook his head.
“No. I have written to my brother’s man of business to enquire about his debts in the hope that the reply will aid me somewhat.” He shrugged, seeing Lord Hogarth’s frown darken his brow. “What else can I do? I have had men out searching for him for some time and still, he evades me.”
Lord Hogarth leaned in close to Patrick, his frown suddenly gone and quickly replaced with a bright grin.
“You could consider Lady Foster, could you not?”
“And how would that aid me in my search for my brother?”
“It would not! But it would distract you from your melancholy and, I am sure, bring a little more contentment to your circumstances.”
He grinned and Patrick could not help but snort with laughter at the ridiculousness of such a statement.
“Might I enquire as to what such great humor is about?”
Patrick shot a hard look towards his friend as Lord Kingston ambled across the room to join them, one eyebrow lifted enquiringly. Patrick had not, as yet, managed to have any great depth of conversation with the gentleman but thus far, Lord Kingston appeared to be a pleasant fellow who made amiable conversation and was gentlemanly in all respects.
“Lord Hogarth is attempting to ridicule me, Lord Kingston,” Patrick replied, seeing Lord Hogarth clap one hand to his chest in mock horror. “But I am glad to state that he is having very little success.”
“I am doing no such thing,” Lord Hogarth exclaimed, whilst grinning so broadly that it made it quite clear that this was exactly what he had been doing. “Now, are we to go to the library, Addenbrook? I had hoped to find a quiet corner into which to pull a certain young lady.”
His voice dropped and his eye flicked in a wink which made Patrick roll his eyes.
“You are not particularly subtle but yes, we shall go to the library.” Waving one hand, he gestured for Lord Hogarth to continue on. “You may lead the way.”
Lord Kingston said nothing, but Patrick noticed how he watched Lord Hogarth leave. Did he think poorly of the fellow – or of him, for allowing Lord Hogarth to do as he pleased?
“You have been most kind to invite me to your house party, Lord Addenbrook.”
Patrick smiled.