July 1811

One morning, as Mina gazed out of her window, she observed a group of labourers bustling around the estate under Royston's watchful eye. He provided them with guidance and instructions, orchestrating the work efficiently and with a certain grace she could notice from afar. It struck her as rather surprising how swiftly he had set things into motion. However, it occurred to her that Royston might be in a hurry to conclude his business in Southampton, as tarrying in this place was certainly against his plans.

A different thought suddenly crossed her mind. Could it be that he was eager to complete the renovations promptly so he could reside here with Eleanor? Mina frowned at the notion. While she was resolute about not losing the silly wager he had proposed, knowing her beloved summer estate was at stake, yet the prospect of victory sent a shiver down her spine. Would Royston be the first one to take Eleanor as his wife, or any other woman of his choosing? After all, Mina could catch a good portion of the charm he exuded when in the company of others...

Nevertheless, she felt it her duty to prepare the young lord for his upcoming debut in the nobility. Not only for his sake but also for his dear mother, who was expected to perform on the piano as part of the evening's entertainment. However, every time she attempted to catch Royston for these necessary preparations, he would excuse himself and promptly disappear.

Upon seeing Royston entering the house, Mina hastened toward him, eager to catch him before he vanished into the study. With nimble grace, she followed the lord into the room and promptly closed the door behind her.

"Good morrow, Lord Langdon," she began with an air of indifference, to which he responded with an arch of his aristocratic eyebrows.

"Good morrow, Miss Haswell. That closed door gives me only the most wrong ideas," Royston quipped playfully, prompting a roll of her eyes and a few measured steps closer to his table.

Rather than rising, as decorum would suggest, Royston adjusted his spectacles and immersed himself in the papers he had brought with him. Mina's scrutinizing gaze did not escape him, but the task of inspecting delivery notes took precedence over protocol. After a time, he set the documents aside, sighed, removed his spectacles, and finally gave Mina his full attention.

"I had sincerely hoped to discourage your desire for conversation," he confessed with a playful nip.

"You place your hopes in rather whimsical notions, which is rather surprising, considering you ought to be well-acquainted with my true character," she replied in an equally playful manner. "Nothing could deter me from making your day a tad more miserable."

Her response drew a hearty chuckle from him. "And you excel magnificently at it. Pray, what is it this time?"

Mina took a contemplative breath before continuing. "In just two nights, your esteemed mother will be performing at the soirée. Therefore, I thought you might appreciate some insights into the local gentry. After all, for rather obvious reasons, people will focus more on you than your mother."

Royston's eyes flickered mischievously, and a subtle smirk graced his countenance. "And, may I inquire, what are these 'obvious reasons'?"

She regarded him with a squinted gaze. "Well, you're still somewhat young and unmarried, and from what I gather, you're also known for your architectoral skills."

"You meant 'architectural', I believe," he kindly corrected her.

Mina's countenance furrowed slightly. "That's what I said," she countered.

Royston gently tilted his head. "No, my dear, you said 'architectoral'."

She briefly closed her eyes and took a calming breath, suppressing the rising indignation within her.

"Truly, you could simplify matters by merely stating your disinterest in the other members of the ton."

"Yes, I could," he conceded, a sly grin playing on his lips, "but where's the delight in that? I derive great pleasure from making your days a touch more vexing."

Mina offered him an insincere smile, then gracefully excused herself. However, as she reached the door, she glanced back at Royston.

"I do hope your sense of humour won't abandon you at the soirée."

Royston, now alone in the room, assured himself, It most certainly won't, as he returned to his papers, double-checking for any overlooked essentials.

As the soirée enveloped the Langdons and Miss Mina, it unfolded just as the young lady had foreseen – indeed, Lady Langdon received her fair share of attention, yet the gazes and whispers swayed more towards Lord Langdon. He soon found himself entangled in various tete-a-tete conversations, drowning in compliments and flirtations, while Mina stood at a discreet distance, a sardonic smile gracing her lips as she observed his conspicuous struggle in those short glances he cast her way.

"Perhaps you should come to the gentleman's rescue," a voice remarked from behind. "He appears to be in dire need, being practically devoured by so much attention."

It was Evie, standing gracefully by her side, taking dainty sips from her glass. Mina responded with a scoff.

"The man is leading his own rebellion to his defeat, and I, Evie, do not intend to intervene," the elder sister replied. "I assure you, I attempted to reason with him, but he's as steadfast as an ancient oak. Frankly, if it weren't for that absurd wager we made, I doubt I'd have attended this soirée tonight."

"A wager? Pray, what manner of wager?," inquired Evie, her curiosity kindling in her wide, expressive eyes.

Mina expeditiously elaborated on the particulars, and with each phrase, the already sizable orbs of her younger sister expanded even more.

"Mina, please, tell me this is a jest," Evie implored at length, "you-you cannot possibly agree to such folly!"

Mina nodded resolutely.

"And indeed, Lady Langdon is our witness. Pray, why do you bear such a serious countenance, dear sister?"

With a sigh, Evie began to respond, but before she could, the hostess introduced Lady Langdon to society, then asked her esteemed guests to be seated, and soon the grand hall filled with the melodious notes of the piano. Each note was executed with impeccable precision – it was evident that Polly had dedicated years to practising and refining her talent.

Despite her focus on the performance, Mina couldn't resist stealing glances at Royston. Once she located him, she immediately noticed that the young lady seated beside him was none other than Miss Eleanor Whitcombe. A fleeting pang of emotion coursed through her being.

Oh, look at her, the cunning little minx, already attempting to leap beyond her station, Mina thought fleetingly, her conscience immediately pricking at such a notion. Yet why should I not wish for my dear friend's happiness? In the end, it would only serve everyone's interests, especially if I were to triumph in this wager.

With a subtle incline of her head towards her sister, who sat by her side, she whispered, "Pray, do you know of the whereabouts of Earl Westhaven?"

However, her voice apparently carried further than anticipated, and a gentleman's hushed reply sounded from behind her: "Miss Haswell, I'm right here."

Her body tensed, causing her to sit upright with a gulp, her cheeks aflame. Evie, her ever-watchful sister, struggled to suppress a mischievous grin. When the performance came to an end and the obligatory applause rang through the room to commend Lady Langdon's artistry, Mina sighed and turned around, her anticipation painting a blush on her cheeks. Yet instead of meeting Earl Westhaven's gaze, she was met with an empty seat. A brief frown crossed her face as she debated whether this absence was a welcome or vexing outcome.

"Pray, next time, do not tarry so," Evie playfully chided her sister, a mischievous gleam in her eye. Mina responded with a soft, knowing smile.

"Indeed," Mina mused, her gaze directed toward the lively assembly, "I seem to have a habit of hesitating for far too long and missing those opportune moments."

In the midst of this sisterly banter, Mina's keen peripheral vision caught sight of a rather curious scene. Lord Langdon, the subject of much discussion, was ensnared by the clutches of one of the notorious gossipmongers. This immediately put Mina on high alert. She didn't mind if the ladies, the widows, or other gentlemen engaged with him in conversation, but the gossipmongers were an entirely different matter. A conversation with them could potentially unveil Sinclair's vulnerability when it came to his knowledge of the local gentry, and suddenly everyone would see that the King is naked under his charming façade.

Without a second thought, Mina rose from her seat, a move that took her sister by surprise. She walked purposefully towards the cluster of individuals, though, regrettably, she arrived just a moment too late.

"Oh, and have you heard? Lady Carrington expects a child. What a delicate situation," the matron spoke in a solemn tone, to which oblivious Royston allowed himself a slight smile.

"Indeed, a most fortunate occurrence, is it not? Babies are a true blessing. I wish Lady Carrington an untroubled pregnancy and a smooth delivery," he responded with genuine kindness and decorum. However, the ladies around him looked on in astonishment, their eyes widened in shock.

It was at this moment that Mina approached the group, her manner under the guise of gracious and calming. "My apologies for this sudden intrusion, dear ladies. It seems that Lord Langdon, being rather new to our society, might have confused Lady Carrington for Lady Covington. I believe his intentions were entirely without malice," she explained, her eyes briefly connecting with Royston's before she redirected her attention to the assembled matrons. "However, I must implore your indulgence for a private discourse with Viscount Sinclair. Would you be so kind as to excuse us?"

The matrons visibly eased up and nodded, and Mina gracefully linked her arm with Royston's, and he quickly comprehended her intentions. When they were at a safe distance from prying ears, he began, "Thank you, Miss Haswell, for your timely assistance—"

"Lady Carrington's baby is a consequence of infidelity, and Lord Carrington is tirelessly pursuing a divorce," Mina interjected with a stern tone, "This has ignited a great scandal and remains the most-discussed topic of the season. Perhaps you would have been aware of this if you had allowed me to acquaint you with the intricacies of our society. How am I to engage in meaningful discourse with Earl Westhaven if I must continually keep a vigilant eye on your comportment? And how can you hope to attract his interest in my direction if you continue to make a spectacle of yourself in front of everyone?"

The eloquence of her speech surprised even Mina herself, causing her to draw a deep breath after delivering her reprimand. With lowered eyes, she suppressed the indignation that burned within her core, but a pang of remorse followed, leading her to close her eyes briefly. She couldn't comprehend it; in the end, it had been his pride, his obstinacy, that nearly led to a catastrophe. Throughout her chastisement, Royston maintained his composure, revealing no emotion.

"Apologies, Lord Langdon," she spoke softly, her gaze returning to his visage, "I-I didn't intend to be so severe."

He responded, to her surprise, "Don't apologise. For once, you are right. It appears I gravely underestimated the importance of understanding local matters and personalities. We shall rectify this at your earliest convenience."

Then, he also added a word in a tone that sent a flutter through her.

"Please."

She took a steadying breath to regain her composure just as Lady Langdon approached them.

"Here you are! You ought to be mingling with others, my dears, not tucked away in a distant corner," Polly gently chided them.

Royston regarded his mother with a firm expression.

"Mother, if your affairs here are concluded, I propose we make our way homeward."

Polly gazed at him in evident disbelief, then at Mina, who wore a look of equal surprise.

"But Roy, we've scarcely been here two hours!," his mother protested, "And you've scarcely conversed with the guests!"

"Mama, I implore you," he persisted, "if ever there were a suitable moment for me to indulge in my lordly whims, it would be this very evening, alas. I have no desire to linger here any longer, especially for my inaugural appearance as Viscount Sinclair. It feels entirely adequate."

Mina observed the tension in Polly's clenched jaw, a testament to her inner turmoil. She was somewhat astonished that Roy's mother didn't muster the strength to challenge her son. Then again, it was as clear as daylight that Royston wouldn't yield in his resolve, and, as it was widely acknowledged, he could be as unyielding as a mighty mountain.

"Very well," Polly conceded after a brief moment of reflection, and before they knew it, they were on their way home.

Mina keenly sensed the palpable tension that hung in the air between mother and son. She excused herself gracefully, retreating to her chamber as Royston made his way to his own, his mother following closely in his wake.

As they arrived in his room and Polly gently closed the door behind her, she stood there, her hands elegantly poised at her sides, her gaze bearing a trace of unmistakable disdain.

"So, my dear son, from which fine china of vexation did you partake tonight? Was it the duty of your esteemed title, or perhaps the captivating Miss Haswell herself?" she inquired, her words dipped in a wry humour.

Royston let out a weary sigh before responding, "It was neither, mother. I found myself clashing with my own reflections."

Polly raised a finely arched eyebrow, her tone still tinged with sarcasm, "Well, that is indeed a novel development. Yet, it appears your self-imposed conflicts have cast shadows upon both my amusement and Miss Haswell's, wouldn't you agree?"

"Mother," Royston began patiently, "I do solemnly swear that we shall partake in the forthcoming social affairs in their entirety. Yet, I have found it necessary to curtail the consequences of my own imprudent judgment and ill decision-making."

She regarded him with an inquisitive squint, her doubts lingering in her perceptive gaze.

"Pray, of what ill-considered decision do you speak?"

"I regrettably failed to heed Miss Haswell's well-intentioned counsel; a decision I now perceive as foolhardy. Thus, I tendered my apologies to her, as well as to you, dear mother, for having inadvertently marred your enjoyment this evening. I am determined to make amends."

Polly continued her contemplation of her son, finding naught but sincerity in his demeanour.

"Your actions do catch me off guard from time to time, my boy," she remarked, "Initially, I feared a grave disagreement had arisen between you and Mina."

With a graceful turn, she made her way towards the chamber's exit, but just before leaving, curiosity got the best of her. She turned back and inquired, "And the wager? Does it persist?"

"The wager endures," Roy declared firmly, showing no signs of wavering.

Left to his solitude, he released a weighty sigh and turned to knead his temples, as though a profound ache had taken residence. Tonight, his obstinacy had nearly led him astray, endangering the two women who held a very dear place in his heart.

He allowed himself a wry smile as he admitted to himself that he held a certain fondness for Mina, though it wasn't solely for the connection they shared. No, it extended to the unique perspective she brought into his life with her wealth of knowledge and fiery demeanour. There were, of course, two principal figures in this equation they had to keep their focus on – Earl Westhaven and Miss Whitcombe. Even if neither of them was to succeed, he knew he still had a chance at securing a wife.

Yet, what of Mina? He contemplated; his brow furrowed in thought.