Read Online A Visit From Sir Nicholas by Victoria Alexander - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Victoria Alexander
Tags: Historical
Ads: Link
transpires between a man and a woman in the privacy of their own home."
"I had understood they were quite happy together." It was as much a question as a comment. Without thinking, Nick held his breath. Not that his uncle's response mattered, really. Ten years ago, Nick had made certain Elizabeth would put aside all thoughts of him and turn to a life with Charles, where she belonged. He had done what he believed—no—he'd known was right for her future and her happiness, and it was far too late to question that decision now.
And if that decision had been wrong?
"As I said, one never knows the truth of a private relationship." Frederick thoughtfully drew on his cigar.
"I can only tell you, to my personal knowledge, they did indeed appear the perfect couple. I never saw anything to indicate otherwise."
There was a tone in Frederick's voice, no more than a hint really, that all might not have been as it had seemed between Lord and Lady Langley.
Still, what relationship between a man and a woman, any man and any woman no matter how well suited, was ever without a certain amount of discord? It was only natural and, indeed, to be expected. Nick pushed aside a vague sense of unease. Besides, there was nothing he could do about it now. He stared unseeing at the row of books in front of him.
Nick had spent the last ten years putting Elizabeth firmly and thoroughly out of his mind and out of his heart. And he had succeeded as admirably in this as he had in everything else. While he had not loved another woman, he had certainly not been celibate, and he'd even toyed with the idea of marriage when the occasion, and the lady in question, had warranted it. The fact that he had never taken that drastic step had had nothing to do with Elizabeth. She was a part of his past and nothing more to him now than the wife—or rather the widow—of a good friend.
He wandered absently around the fringes of the room. Oh, certainly, there had been the odd moment through the years when another lady's smile would remind him of her smile or a laugh heard in a crowded theater would be reminiscent of her laugh or the green of seawater just under the crest of a wave would be the very shade of the color of her eyes. But those moments were as rare as they were unexpected, and Nick was confident his feelings for Elizabeth were as distant as the years and the miles that had separated them.
"What are you going to do about Lady Langley?"
"What?" Nick pulled up short. His startled gaze jumped to his uncle's. "What do you mean, do about her? I plan to do nothing whatsoever about her. I just told you I have no plans to pursue her. She is not a part of my life, nor do I intend for her to become so."
Frederick raised a brow. "That's not what I meant, but I do find your overly vehement response rather telling." He waved his cigar at the younger man. "You protest too much, boy."
"Then what did you mean?"
"Charles's will. What will you do about that?"
"Nothing." Nick swirled his brandy and watched the amber liquid coat the inside of the glass. "As I understand it, Jonathon has handled Elizabeth's finances and her sons' inheritance since Charles's death. I see no reason to change that."
"Charles explicitly requested you take over that responsibility whenever you returned to England." Frederick studied him thoughtfully. "He came to talk to me when he decided to include that clause in his will. Charles could think of no one better suited to watch over the financial resources of his wife and children. He, too, was proud of your accomplishments." Frederick paused. "His decision to put his family's financial fate in your hands had to do with your success and abilities and friendship and nothing beyond that."
"I never even considered the possibility that it did." Nick noted the ease with which the lie slid smoothly off his tongue and avoided meeting Frederick's gaze.
The moment Nick had learned of his old friend's wishes he had wondered if Charles had indeed
"I had understood they were quite happy together." It was as much a question as a comment. Without thinking, Nick held his breath. Not that his uncle's response mattered, really. Ten years ago, Nick had made certain Elizabeth would put aside all thoughts of him and turn to a life with Charles, where she belonged. He had done what he believed—no—he'd known was right for her future and her happiness, and it was far too late to question that decision now.
And if that decision had been wrong?
"As I said, one never knows the truth of a private relationship." Frederick thoughtfully drew on his cigar.
"I can only tell you, to my personal knowledge, they did indeed appear the perfect couple. I never saw anything to indicate otherwise."
There was a tone in Frederick's voice, no more than a hint really, that all might not have been as it had seemed between Lord and Lady Langley.
Still, what relationship between a man and a woman, any man and any woman no matter how well suited, was ever without a certain amount of discord? It was only natural and, indeed, to be expected. Nick pushed aside a vague sense of unease. Besides, there was nothing he could do about it now. He stared unseeing at the row of books in front of him.
Nick had spent the last ten years putting Elizabeth firmly and thoroughly out of his mind and out of his heart. And he had succeeded as admirably in this as he had in everything else. While he had not loved another woman, he had certainly not been celibate, and he'd even toyed with the idea of marriage when the occasion, and the lady in question, had warranted it. The fact that he had never taken that drastic step had had nothing to do with Elizabeth. She was a part of his past and nothing more to him now than the wife—or rather the widow—of a good friend.
He wandered absently around the fringes of the room. Oh, certainly, there had been the odd moment through the years when another lady's smile would remind him of her smile or a laugh heard in a crowded theater would be reminiscent of her laugh or the green of seawater just under the crest of a wave would be the very shade of the color of her eyes. But those moments were as rare as they were unexpected, and Nick was confident his feelings for Elizabeth were as distant as the years and the miles that had separated them.
"What are you going to do about Lady Langley?"
"What?" Nick pulled up short. His startled gaze jumped to his uncle's. "What do you mean, do about her? I plan to do nothing whatsoever about her. I just told you I have no plans to pursue her. She is not a part of my life, nor do I intend for her to become so."
Frederick raised a brow. "That's not what I meant, but I do find your overly vehement response rather telling." He waved his cigar at the younger man. "You protest too much, boy."
"Then what did you mean?"
"Charles's will. What will you do about that?"
"Nothing." Nick swirled his brandy and watched the amber liquid coat the inside of the glass. "As I understand it, Jonathon has handled Elizabeth's finances and her sons' inheritance since Charles's death. I see no reason to change that."
"Charles explicitly requested you take over that responsibility whenever you returned to England." Frederick studied him thoughtfully. "He came to talk to me when he decided to include that clause in his will. Charles could think of no one better suited to watch over the financial resources of his wife and children. He, too, was proud of your accomplishments." Frederick paused. "His decision to put his family's financial fate in your hands had to do with your success and abilities and friendship and nothing beyond that."
"I never even considered the possibility that it did." Nick noted the ease with which the lie slid smoothly off his tongue and avoided meeting Frederick's gaze.
The moment Nick had learned of his old friend's wishes he had wondered if Charles had indeed
Similar Books
