The Bastard's World

Chapter 2-2

“Lovely,” Charlotte smiled as Violet reached the bottom of the stairs. “Doesn’t she look lovely, Nicky?”

“She does,” Nick agreed, knowing that excessive praise was not necessary. Violet was perfectly aware of how pretty she looked. She always was.

Charlotte reached out to adjust one of the flowers in her sister’s hair. “This is your first ball, so you need to be especially careful. Remember that.”

“Yes, Charlotte.” Violet was more concerned with adjusting the tiny puffed sleeves of her gown.

“Lady Goring may be an old friend of Mamma’s but she is very proper. If she thinks you’re a flirt or a gadabout, she may very well tell her friends so and then where would we be?”

“Cut from good society,” Violet replied promptly. “You’ve told me so every day since we received her invitation.”

“So you are not to dance more than twice with the same gentleman, no matter how amiable you may find him.”

“No matter what you say, this is not my first ball.”

“Country dances. You’ve been to country dances where the lack of partners meant that sometimes one had to dance with the same person a third time. I’m not certain it was a sound notion to let you attend them.”

“She will do very well, Charlotte.” Nick rose from his seat by the fire, immediately regretting his words, as they drew Charlotte’s attention.

“See to it that you dance as well, Nicholas. You could secure an heiress if you made some effort.”

Nick knew this was not the time to insist that he had no desire to marry—heiress or otherwise. That would only lead to an argument and he didn’t want that on their way to their first gathering in London. “You do me credit, sister, if you believe I could convince a lady to marry after only two dances.”

Charlotte was not amused, but Violet giggled and so did Lucy, which pleased Nick even more. Their youngest had been decidedly downcast for the past few days, as her sisters’ attention focused completely on the ball and preparations for it.

He tugged on her hair ribbon. “And no need to worry about Cedric, as Lucy will be here to help Nellie watch over him.”

Lucy wasn’t fooled. “Nellie doesn’t need help. She’s been Ceddie’s nurse almost since he was born. I’m staying home because everyone thinks twelve is too young for a ball.” She plopped into the chair Nick had vacated. “There’s nothing at all to do in Town if you’re twelve.”

“Not so,” Nick assured her. “There’s Astley’s. Perhaps even Vauxhall. We’ll make plans to go in the next day or so.”

Then he had time to do little more than drop a kiss on her forehead as Salty announced the coach and they left in a flurry of hats and cloaks and scarves. Only once they were in the coach and underway did Charlotte speak again. “You shouldn’t spoil her so.”

“Spoil? We’ll all be going out to balls nearly every night if you have your way.” Nick tried to keep from sounding accusatory. “It’s only right that Lu has some enjoyment. She can’t roam about here as she did at home.”

“But this is not for pleasure, Nicky.” Violet’s tone was very proper and self-sacrificing, but Nick knew better.

“Well, Vi, I had no notion this would be such a chore for you.” Nick patted her hand. “I would never dream of forcing you to go. I’ll have the coachman turn around this very instant.” He half-rose in his seat.

“Don’t you dare!” Violet nearly shrieked.

Nick fell back on the carriage cushions, laughing.

“You’re dreadful,” Violet said, but Nick could hear the laughter in her voice.

Charlotte did not, or chose to ignore it. “Don’t tease her so, Nick. I don’t want her arriving at the ball out of sorts.”

Nick sighed, wishing that Charlotte could take some things as lightly as Violet or Lucy, but she had never possessed a playful temperament, even before her husband was killed. She was treating this Season with all the seriousness of a battle, and while Nick understood the necessity of Violet making a good match, that didn’t mean Violet couldn’t take some pleasure in her first—and possibly only—Season.

Even more, Nick wished that Charlotte would stop hinting that if he didn’t marry an heiress soon, the entire family would starve. Their circumstances were not quite that dire. Their—his—estate, Evanslow, was entailed, which was likely the only thing that had kept their father from selling it. In another year, perhaps two, crops would begin to bring in money again. It would be enough to live on in some comfort, now that their father’s debts were paid. All Nick had to do was find a way to support them until that happened.

No matter what Charlotte said, Nick had no intention of tying himself to a woman for the rest of his life just to live in the luxury expected of a Viscount. Although he knew he could never treat anyone as harshly as their father had treated their mother, it still wouldn’t be fair to some young woman to be deceived in such a manner. It was no use for Charlotte to say that it happened all the time, Nick had no intention of it happening to him. He knew that if he married, he would likely never love his wife as anything more than another sister.

He had known he was “different” since before he left for Cambridge and while at college, he’d met several similarly inclined young men. He’d also come perilously close to falling in love with an upperclassman who—at the time—seemed as handsome and wicked as anyone in a horrid novel, but who turned out to be no different than any other rich and lusty young lord. It was only after his rake was sent down that Nick learned that not only had he had other lovers but he hadn’t limited himself to a single gender, having been caught with one of each smuggled into his quarters.

Nick had escaped the ensuing scandal, but his lover’s suicide months later hammered home the importance of discretion. After that, Nick had the occasional encounter, but remained in control and kept his heart to himself.

He’d had no time for anything of the sort since leaving Cambridge, and the limited number of people in the country meant it wasn’t terribly safe. But he’d heard whispers while at college of places in Town where men like him could meet and enjoy themselves. Perhaps when his sisters finally took a night at home, he would be able to investigate.

After all, it was his first Season, too.