“You have a letter, my Lord.”
Jonathan sighed and plucked it from the butler’s fingers.
“Very good.”
He dismissed the fellow with a wave of his fingers and then glanced towards his friend who seemed to be intent on drinking all of Jonathan’s fine brandy, given that he was now on his third glass.
“Are you not going to read it?”
Lord Harrogate threw back the rest of his third glass and let out a long, contented sigh as Jonathan turned the letter over in his hand inspecting the seal.
Mother.
“Alas, it is not the letter I was hoping for,” he told his friend, setting the letter down on the arm of the chair and watching as it slipped down in between the chair and the cushion. He did not reach for it. “This one is from my mother and does not merit any sort of swift reading or reply!” A stab of guilt followed his words, but Jonathan ignored it quickly. Even before the passing of his father, Jonathan’s mother had been eager in her attempts to get him to marry. Most of the young ladies she had suggested had been quite suitable, but had not been of any interest to Jonathan – mostly because he did not want to wed! Thus, he had been doing his best to avoid her company and for these last few years had succeeded rather nicely, although that did not come without a never-ending swell of guilt which seemed to grow with almost every day that passed.
“You were hoping for a letter from Lady Ensley, no doubt?”
Jonathan chuckled, then shook his head.
“Lady Ensley is not to be mentioned again, Harrogate,” he warned, as his friend rolled his eyes. “It is not my fault that she did not declare herself to be wed before I began to pursue an… interest in her.”
It had been a small, yet rather messy affair, but given that Jonathan had never intended it to be a connection of significance, it had not been particularly difficult to bring things to a close, especially when he had discovered that the lady wasnotwidowed, as she had said.
“And is she returned to her husband?”
One shoulder lifted in a half-shrug.
“I presume so. As I have said, I have no interest nor connection with her any longer.”
Lord Harrogate sighed and settled back a little more in his chair.
“She was a very beautiful lady.”
“Indeed.” Jonathan smiled to himself at the memory. “Alas, I shall not hear from her again. Instead, the letter I wish for is from my steward at the estate. I have written to request a statement about how things stand, especially with the crops.”
“That is all very dull.” Lord Harrogate yawned. “Your mother is not to stay at her own house, then?”
Again, Jonathan shrugged.
“I do not know. Nor do I care.”
“Do you think she will take herself to Bath for this Season?”
Jonathan sighed, wanting to end the discussion about his mother just as soon as he could.
“I do not know. But I shall find out, no doubt.” He gestured to the letter. “I am sure that she will inform me of precisely what it is that she intends to do this Season and I, in turn, shall plan to do the exact opposite.” Grinning, he pushed himself to his feet and picked up his brandy decanter, pouring himself a second and Lord Harrogate a fourth measure. “If I am to have some time in Bath and then return to London, then so be it! Bath does not have all that London has to offer certainly, but it is quite delightful and has excellent company.”
“And should she come to Bath?”
“Then I shall return here to London for when the Season begins properly in a few weeks hence,” Jonathan declared, once again pushing away any niggle of conscience. “I have no doubt that, should my mother reside with me for even a few days, she would offer me at least three separate young ladies who, according to her sensibilities, I simplymustmeet.” Rolling his eyes, he grinned at his friend’s bark of laughter. “I, however, would find them all quite beautiful, quite lovely and yet entirely unremarkable. I would not wish to continue in their company and certainly would have no inclination towards furthering an acquaintance with them. This, in turn, would leave my mother frustrated and I equally irritated, given that I am not at all inclined towards marriage as yet.”
“But does she not consider that?”
Jonathan sighed and passed a hand over his eyes, his smile fading. “My mother has always been of the mind that I should marry and marry soon. She, I believe, wed when both she and my most excellent father were a little later in years and that was something that she did not like.”
“But she was still able to produce both yourself and your brother.” Lord Harrogate arched one eyebrow. “Surely that is all that is required. When you wish it, marry a lady who is young enough to make certain that your family line is going to be continued.”
Hesitating, Jonathan spread his hands.