Chapter 2

Vauxhall Gardens

26th August 1812

Lord Nicholas Lacey looked at the gay crowd around him. How had he let his brother-in-law talk him into this? He had been nursing a drink. All right, perhaps more than nursing. While Nicholas was minding his own business at White’s, George Durand arrived and had taken a seat in the front parlor. Instead of remaining quietly in his chair enjoying no one’s company than his own, Nicholas made the decision to join him for dinner, a mistake on his part that he was now regretting.

Their daughters were cousins, as their wives had been sisters. They had both been bereaved in the same tragedy, but George seemed to be moving out of the torpor of grief that kept Nicholas in its talons. He preferred his solitude, and yet every once in a while he made a rare appearance at his club. But this! This outing was a far cry from his normal peaceful routine.

Realizing his mood was taking a downward spiral, he politely excused himself from the company of those in their supper box. He gave a brief nod to Lord Hooper and his wife, shaking his head in a silent demand at George not to follow him.

He made his way outside, determined to hire a hack and go home. The sound of his name being called distracted him from his purpose. He turned to see George had followed him after all, making his way toward him with a determined stride.

“There you are, Nicholas. Where do you think you are going?” George asked in a rush as he made a grab for Nicholas’s arm.

Nicholas adjusted his hat. There was nothing left to do but give his brother-in-law his attention. “Where do you think I am headed? Home, of course.”

“But the evening has only just begun. What awaits you at home except a silent house? You need to get on with your life. You cannot remain holed up alone in your quarters for the remainder of your days, now can you?”

Nicholas’s brow rose. “As you can plainly see, I am out amongst the living,” he replied with a sarcastic grin. “Now that you have done your duty, you can be on your way.”

George laughed. “You are hardly out being seen by society if you are alone walking a darkened path. Such an escape is not exactly what I had in mind when we accepted Lord Hooper’s tickets to this masquerade, and you very well know it.”

“I have grown accustomed to my solitude.”

George grew serious. “You have had far too much of it, if you ask me.”

“I did not ask you.” Each word was enunciated to drive home his point, but George was relentless and apparently without mercy.

“What about Blanche? When was the last time you saw your own daughter?”

“We have already had this discussion. Blanche is none of your business.”

“She is my niece. Of course she is my business.”

“Very well, then. If we must repeat ourselves, then let us be done with it. The last time I saw Blanche was when we were all together with our daughters, and mine accused me of killing her mama, aunt, and grand-mère all because a last minute estate issue arose preventing me to be with them.”

“Blanche was no more than a child and knew not of what she spoke,” George snapped harshly. “You know as well as I that you are not to blame for the accident. You could have very well died right alongside them if you had been there.”

“Nevertheless, Blanche would not speak with me afterward. Since I could not reach her, I sent her to live with my brother and his wife. Last I heard, she was living happily with her cousins, who are more like siblings, and thriving in a ducal household.” A sour taste filled Nicholas’s mouth as the words leaked past his lips. He spoke a lie. His brother, Jonathan, had told him it was time to collect his daughter and bring her home on more than one occasion in the past two years. Jonathan’s duchess, Caroline, had been just as adamant.

“Nothing can replace the love of a parent, Nicholas. Even you must know that,” George remarked quietly, a fair amount of concern was etched upon George’s features.

“I will consider seeing her soon,” he answered through pursed lips tight with anger. He heard the laughter of the crowd and wondered if anything would ever bring him to feel carefree again.

George studied him for a moment longer before slapping Nicholas on the back. “Come back to the party and enjoy the evening. You never know what entertainment may unfold that you might enjoy.” A satisfied grin grew upon his brother-in-law’s face as if he were a cat licking the last of the cream from a bowl.

Nicholas might as well finish the evening and be done with it. Until he did, he would never get another moment’s peace, especially with George’s determination that his solitary days were a thing of the past.

Nicholas gave a heavy sigh. “Give me a moment, George, to shake my melancholy mood. I promise I shall return shortly.”

“I have your word?” George asked.

“I have never gone back on it before, have I? Let me walk this off so I can return with a brighter disposition to entertain those around me with my sparkling wit.”

As George left while chuckling to himself, Nicholas assumed George thought he had won their debate.

Nicholas began to walk toward the entrance to Vauxhall with no particular destination in mind, needing to clear his head of the memories that suddenly assaulted him. As he viewed the new throng of arrivals who disembarked from their carriages and boats, he pondered his brother-in-law’s words. Perhaps George was right, not that he would ever give the man the satisfaction of telling him so. Maybe somewhere in this crowd, Nicholas could find a willing woman with whom to forget, at least for a while.