The younger women wanted to shop, and although there were only four of them in the house party (without counting their mothers and grandmothers), the young gentlemen, going out of their way to please the women, agreed to accompany them.

      Lucy, the earl’s sister, was only too delighted in the arrangement. She had been, for many weeks, trying to find an opportunity to become acquainted with her brother’s friend — the infamous Viscount Bridport. She was perfectly happy to spend some time with the viscount’s sister as well, even though she did not interest her much. Miss Howell, Milly she was called, was a nice girl, quite pretty in fact, but she was too shy to gain Lucy’s interest. With the Viscount as her motivation, Lucy went out of her way to get to know the sister. This plan was, of course, kept secret from the Viscount, although her brother had an exact notion of the reason behind her actions. She told him rather blatantly some weeks ago that she fancied his friend.

      “Howell, you mean?” He did not suspect his sister had any interest — great or small — towards his friend.

      “Who else?” she asked, trading question for question, laughing at her brother. “There is only one Viscount Bridport, am I not right?”

      “But — you do not even know anything about him, for a start!”

      “I know him better than any stranger, dear brother. Your stories gave me ideas about his character, and I think I rather like him!”

      Edward looked at his sister worriedly. “It is fine to have him as a friend, Lucy, but mother will not even be able to imagine you’ve set your sights on a man such as he. Why! Mother will be mortified. The idea is enough to bring her beyond mortification. She is not even pleased about my friendship with the viscount, what would she think about your desire to make him your beaux!”

      “Oh please, Edward! It is not as if I wanted to marry him!”

      “You don’t?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.

      “Well, not yet, certainly. But I would like to be able to have some conversations with him. You like spending so much of your spare time with the Viscount Bridport, I cannot even imagine why you wouldn’t let me!”

      Edward sighed, feeling bad about his own doubts regarding his friend. Alexander Howell was a good man, that he was sure, but he was not precisely the best bachelor in the marriage market. Despite his own friendly regard for the man, Howell kept far too many secrets, and that was not a very desirable trait in a man you would welcome in the family.

      He found the idea of Howell becoming his sister’s beaux rather distasteful and hated himself for thinking so badly of the match when the man involved was his friend. Nevertheless, he said, “I’m sorry, Lucy, but I will not take part in any schemes you have in mind regarding this. I know Howell even more than you do — my familiarity with him tells me he is not the man you need.” At the very least, he was assured that Howell was not looking for a wife. He might have even said something in the lines of never getting one.

      Despite her brother’s refusal to help her, Lucy managed to convince her mother to have the Viscount’s name in the invitations — saying that he was, after all, a rather close friend of her brother and their uncle.

      The party proceeded to go to town, which was not a very long walk from the manor. They were grouped in quadruplets: Lucy and Milly were together with their siblings; the Heaton sisters were with the Lords Waldgrave, Heaton, and Schellden.

      There were not too many people unlike in London, which was always overflowing with them, therefore it was easy to go from one shop to another. The party soon found themselves at the dress shop, with the women excitedly admiring the new patterns and the men showing little interest in them.

      Edward glanced at his friend and saw that he was wearing a foolishly affectionate expression. “You truly love your sister, with that silly face you are wearing,” he grinned at his friend.

      The moment she heard the words, her face fell and she quickly replaced what the earl called “a silly face” with a more impassive one.

      Edward shook his head. “You should stop doing that, Howell. Whenever I mention that you seem happy, you quickly wipe off that smile from your face. I am starting to consider the idea not to say anything about it in the future,” he said gravely.

      She did not say anything about the matter but said instead, “I will have to thank your sister personally for inviting my sister. She does not have many friends and with the season coming, I am only too grateful that she is able to meet a young lady such as Lady Lucy.”

      “An excellent idea. She would love that, to be sure,” Edward said flatly.

      “Pardon?”

      Edward sighed. “It is nothing. Why don’t we see to what our sisters are occupying themselves with? Miss Howell might be wanting to buy something and she would want nothing more than permission from her brother.”

      “You are right, of course,” Alex nodded and went to where her sister was.

      Howell had his faults, Edward mused as he watched the viscount’s small strides inside the shop. He was a tease occasionally, and a great companion who kept boredom at bay, but he was terribly stubborn in feigning indifference that even he was getting tired of it. Was being happy such an offending disposition that Howell could not be honest with his own feelings? The man should smile and laugh when he feels like it! Heaving a sigh, he followed after his friend.

      “Alex!” Milly exclaimed at the sight of her brother. “Would it be alright if I purchase a few ribbons, do you think?” she asked cheerfully, though a bit hesitantly. “Although, of course, if you’d rather I not, I could always…”

      Alex shook his head. “I do not mind it, Milly. You are free to choose any ribbon; do not even hesitate to pick as many as you want, or any accessory.”

      Milly’s smile widened at the words of her brother.

      “You must be lucky to have Lord Howell as a brother, Miss Howell,” Lady Lucy said to her.

      Alex had not forgotten the gratitude that she was to show the Lady for her extension of friendship towards her sister. “Lady Lucy, I would like to thank you for your most generous attention towards my sister. She seems to be enjoying her time spent with you and without your invitation, we may not have come to attend your party.”

      Lucy smiled sweetly at Alex. “I am delighted to have her as a friend and companion, Lord Howell. It is no trouble to have invited her!”

      Alex noticed the dress displayed beside her. “You are interested in muslin, Lady Lucy?”

      “Oh, yes!”

      “My brother knows quite a lot about muslin,” Milly said proudly.

      “Do you, my lord?” Lucy asked, astonished.

      “That is only because I purchase Milly’s and my mother’s muslin. I know where to acquire them for less. I could recommend the place to your brother, if you are very fond of it.”

      “Will you now, Howell?” Edward asked, tapping him on the shoulder.

      “I will even give you the address, Montagu!”

      “You will do no such thing, for you will accompany me there personally — when we return to London.”

      “That arrangement is…” she started before stopping herself, sighing.

      “Have you finished your shopping, Lucy?” Edward asked his sister.

“Absolutely not,” she said, flushing angrily at her brother’s interruption. “Come, Miss Howell, there are still some hats to see.”       She pulled the younger girl with her towards the other side of the shop.

      “Is there something between you and your sister?” Alex asked with a brewing notion that something was amiss.

      “To be honest, yes, but this is neither the place nor time to be mentioning it.” Clapping his friend’s back, Edward urged his friend, “Let us go and see what my other friends are doing!”

      “I have reason to believe your friends do not like me very much, Montagu,” she said, hesitantly. “I think it would be best if I stay with my sister and Lady Lucy instead.”

      “Nonsense!” With that, Edward dragged the uncertain viscount with him. Truly, it is better if he could stop anything from developing, thought the earl, for that would make matters infinitely worse!