“I have come to speak with you about Lord Harrogate.”
Lord Thornley’s mouth closed slowly as he studied Jonathan. A line formed as he frowned, and a new tension appeared around his mouth.
“Indeed.”
“There is a bet, I understand.”
Jonathan was all too aware that such bets were not his business, but after his conversation with Miss Fullerton some two days ago, he had found himself troubled with the knowledge of such a bet. The urge to protect her was significant indeed, and Jonathan now found that he could not prevent himself from speaking so.
Lord Thornley’s frown grew.
“There is, yes, but I cannot understand –”
“Miss Fullerton is under the care of my mother and thus, under my supervision also,” Jonathan stated, making himself as plain as could be without going into specific details. “I am aware that she is both my mother’s companion and also a young lady in her own right and standing. However, I must make certain that any potential suitor has the right intentions towards her.”
Lord Thornley’s expression did not change.
“I am a little surprised that you would take this much of an interest in the lady, Havisham.”
“My mother is very fond of her.” That was true and whilst it was not the real explanation for why Jonathan had so much interest in what happened to Miss Fullerton, it was an easy enough response. “Now, about this bet. I –”
“That would be your friend, Lord Harrogate.” Lord Thornley rolled his eyes. “He is quite determined that he will win the lady and was eager to have me place a bet.”
“You did not need to agree.”
Lord Thornley sucked in a breath, then let it out slowly.
“I suppose I did not, but the arrogance of the gentleman forced me to agree. I could not permit him to continue speaking with such breathtaking conceit without response.”
Jonathan scowled and looked away. That was, he supposed, a reasonable response. Lord Harrogate was as Lord Thornley described him, although such traits had never concerned Jonathan before now. Perhaps they had been too similar in that regard.
“I am afraid that I cannot remove myself from that bet, Lord Havisham.”
“I am aware of that.” Jonathan spoke with a little more force than he had intended. “Is it a significant sum?”
Tilting his head to one side, Lord Thornley cast his eyes up to the ceiling.
“It is notinsignificant,but neither is it an amount which I could not pay, if you understand me.”
“You would have no difficulty doing so.”
Lord Thornley shook his head.
“But I do not wish to lose, however.”
“You should like to wed Miss Fullerton?”
Much to Jonathan’s surprise, Lord Thornley’s eyes widened and, a few moments later, he began to laugh.
“Wed?” he spluttered, as though Jonathan had said the most ridiculous thing. “That is not the bet, Lord Havisham! I should never have made such a bet! Whatever has Lord Harrogate told you?”
Jonathan blinked rapidly, trying to understand what Lord Thornley meant.
“I was sure that Lord Harrogate informed me that it was whoever managed to wed the lady would…” Closing his eyes, he did not finish his sentence as the exact words Lord Harrogate had said to him came back to his mind. “It is not about matrimony.”
“No, indeed not!” Lord Thornley exclaimed, still chuckling. “It is about gaining her affections rather than her hand.”
A small bubble of anger revealed itself in Jonathan’s core, but he did not acknowledge it. The truth had stunned him, to the point that he had very little idea of what he ought to do next.What will Miss Fullerton think?