Lady Vengeance by Melinda Hammond

with the viscount’s plain coat of dark-blue velvet and snowy white neck-band. However, both men shared the same high cheekbones and square jaw-line, and if the earl’s blue eyes had lost a little of their colour, they were no less keen as they fell upon the viscount.
     ‘Well, this is an – unexpected – honour,’ murmured the earl. ‘To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you, Davenham?’
     The viscount took the long slim fingers that were held out to him and bowed over them.
     ‘I called at the house, sir, to pay my respects to you ‘pon my return from Paris – your man told me I should find you here.’
     ‘Your sense of filial duty is most touching, Davenham, but I believe I would have survived another few hours without knowledge of your safe return. You could as well have waited until morning.’
     The viscount’s eyes held his parent’s gaze unwaveringly.
     ‘I have yet to hear of you quitting your room before mid-day, sir, and as your temper is never at its best until dinner-time, I cannot but feel that this is a more propitious moment for our meeting.’
     Lord Hartworth raised his brows at this cool speech, but there was the merest hint of a smile upon his thin lips.
     ‘Mayhap you are right, dear boy,’ he admitted in his quiet way. ‘Give me your arm and we will abandon this hell.’ His eyes lighted upon the viscount’s dress and he added: ‘Much as I applaud your eagerness to inform me of your safe return to these shores, it was not at all necessary for you to come to see me directly you arrived in Town. A few moments spent at your rooms to change your travelling clothes would have been quite understandable – may I say, desirable .’
     Davenham grinned.
     ‘I have taken the time to change sir, before presenting myself to you. As for my coat – I have already been informed that it is too plain.’
     Taking his son’s arm, the earl sighed audibly as they sauntered out of the salon.
     ‘It is my misfortune to have fathered a child with no sense of fashion.’
     ‘Much you care for that!’
     Lord Hartworth looked pained.
     ‘But I do care for it, my dear boy. I am relieved, I admit, that you do not favour the excesses of the mode, I even take pride in the fact that your coats require no additional padding at the shoulders, and your excellent leg is much admired-’
     ‘Two gifts of heredity sir?’ queried the viscount dryly.
     ‘Undoubtedly.’ It was a warm night, the chill of autumn had not yet descended upon the town and the earl waved away the offer of a cab and set off with his son to walk the short distance to Hartworth House. ‘Have you spoken with your mother?’
     Lord Davenham shook his head.
     ‘She too was out when I called, dining with friends I believe, but I was informed that you were both expected to be at home for supper, so I left word that I would join you.’
     ‘The countess will be delighted.’
     The younger man glanced sharply at his father.
     ‘And you will not, sir?’
     ‘Of course, my dear boy. I am always happy to see you. In fact, I would like to hear a little more of your sojourn in Paris, although not at the supper-table. You do not appear to have had any marked success there.’
     Davenham’s countenance was grave.
     ‘I had great hopes that Julian Poyntz would help us. Indeed, I believe he was ready to do so.’
     ‘Then it was unfortunate that he died before he could be of use. The word in Town is that he expired in the arms of his lover.’ He paused, observing his son with interest as the young man kicked a stone from the flag-way with an unwarranted amount of force. ‘Of course, one cannot always believe such tales – ‘
     ‘There is no reason to doubt this one!’ retorted Davenham. ‘The only incredible point is that any woman could bear to have such a barrel of a man near her!’
     A smile touched the earl’s lips as he glanced at his son’s tall, slim frame. He asked, ‘Were you in the vicinity when