Never Run From Love (Kellington Book Four) Read Online Free Page B

said Aunt Agatha
imperiously, “that you would allow your servants to run roughshod over you.  It
would never happen in my household.”
    “I daresay you are correct about your own household,
Aunt,” replied Lynwood.  “But as Lizzie and Vanessa’s health and comfort are
high priorities to me, I am grateful for Cook’s concern.  Heskiss, please
convey my thanks to her.  That will be all.”
    As soon as the butler closed the doors behind him,
Aunt Agatha began.  “Henry, you have been conducting yourself with all the
dignity of an East End drunkard.”
    Hal was decidedly not in the mood to be the subject
of a family debate.  “So it appears the difference is solely in geography,” he
replied, sipping his drink carefully.
    “Aunt,” said Lynwood in his most authoritative
manner, “I do not believe name calling solves any problem, and Henry, you will
address your Aunt with the respect she deserves.  We are all here today because
of our concern for you.”
    “I assure you there is nothing to be concerned
about,” said Hal as he finished his drink.  “If I may go?”  He started to rise
from his chair.
    “No, Hal,” said Lynwood, “you may not.  For months
now, you have stayed out all night drinking and gaming.  Your days are spent
sleeping off your excesses and you have shown little interest in engaging in
activities worthy of your talents.”
    “What if drinking and gaming are my talents?” asked
Hal, hoping to ease some of the tension in the room.
    “Then I would be greatly saddened,” said Lynwood solemnly. 
“But not as disheartened as I am right now, knowing that my brother is wasting
his life.”
    Hal looked stricken for a moment, before assuming
his mask once again.
    “Hal,” said Aunt Prue, gently.  “You are a young man
about town and enjoying yourself as others do.  I daresay, even your brothers
and Riverton engaged in many of these activities, even if I am not supposed to
know about such things.  No one faults you for them.  But it does appear that
you are rather more deeply involved in this life than your brothers were.  And
we are worried.”
    “It’s that Charles Francis fellow,” said Aunt
Agatha.  “He’s leading you astray.”
    Hal answered coolly, “I assure you, Aunt, that
Francis and I take turns leading each other astray.  It is hardly his fault.  I
take responsibility for my own actions.”
    “You need to take a wife,” said Aunt Agatha.  “It is
time you settled down.”
    “None of my brothers married this young.  Liam still
isn’t married and he’s two and thirty.”
    “He has a point,” said Arthur to his aunt.  “Ned and
I would likely be unmarried still if we hadn’t met the ladies we did.  I cannot
imagine my life without Vanessa, just as Ned is quite besotted with Jane.”
    “See?” said Hal, grateful for the unexpected
assistance. 
    “But, Hal,” continued Arthur in a most unhelpful
way, “I confess that while I engaged in many of the activities you so enjoy, I often
found myself wondering if there wasn’t something more to life.  After a while
the meaningless diversions of a single man began to pale.  My soul knew
something was lacking even if my head did not, if you will excuse me for waxing
poetic.”
    “I will not,” said Hal.
    “Hal,” said Lizzie.  “You’re being rather stubborn
and I say that as someone who has been accused of possessing the same trait. 
You have changed since your friendship with Francis and it has not been for the
better.  But I do not blame him for leading you astray.  I blame you for being
satisfied with your new life as a wastrel.  However, I do not believe the
solution is a marriage you are not ready for – a wife has enough disadvantages
without being wed to someone who marries only because his family believes it
will make an adult of him.  But I do not think it would hurt for you to spend
more time with your other friends.  Attend a ton event and spend more
than a quarter of an