Love? The word caused her to hold her breath as she considered how she felt. Surely, she wasn’t in love with Joseph. Yet the way her heart ached since they’d last been together suggested what she felt was more than atendre. Much more.
Chapter Fifteen
“I’m so pleased youcould join us.”
“Thank you for the invitation.” Joseph shook the Earl of Bolton’s hand then bowed to his new wife, Lady Phoebe Bolton, in the entrance hall of their London home. “May I also offer congratulations on your marriage?”
“Thank you.” Lady Bolton shared a look with her husband, love shining in her eyes.
Joseph expected to feel uncomfortable at that look since he didn’t believe in love. Not when his father had used the term to try to manipulate his family and bend them to his will, including Joseph.
Instead, a pang of envy struck him square in the chest.
That Bolton appeared to be as besotted with his wife as she was with him was surprising. Joseph had seen hints of it before they’d married, and now they appeared to be even more in love.
Bolton had always been a practical sort with an eye firmly on the future. He’d watched over his younger siblings like a hawk and been intent on seeing them make happy matches unlike that of his parents who’d had a marriage of convenience.
The news of Bolton saying his vows had been surprising. To think a man of his intelligence had been struck by love made Joseph reconsider his own view of the emotion, as well as what he wanted for his future. In truth, his feelings for Harriet were what made him crave a life he’d never expected.
The couple’s happiness was impossible to deny. It would be a lie to say that he didn’t want what they had for himself.
Joseph had come upon the earl at the club two days earlier and mentioned his investment idea. While he wasn’t certain if Bolton would be interested since his country estate wasn’t near Joseph’s or Melbourne’s which made the regional bank less impactful to him, it still seemed worth the chance. To his pleasure, Bolton had been intrigued.
Bolton had mentioned at the club that they were having a few friends over and asked if Joseph would like to join them. Joseph had immediately agreed, telling himself that the more connections he made the better.
But it was the memory of Harriet telling him that Bolton was one of the reasons she knew him—and that he should’ve known her. He held hope that she might be in attendance this evening. If not, the time had come to call on her. Keeping his distance wasn’t helping anything.
“Thank you, Garland,” Bolton added as he placed an arm around his wife’s waist.
Their affection for one another sent longing straight through Joseph—all for Harriet. How he missed her.
He followed them up the stairs to the drawing room to see several other guests already present.
Unfortunately, not Harriet. His spirits sank at the realization even as he greeted Bolton’s brother, Robert Stanhope, followed by Captain Michael Shaw and his new wife, Lady Tabitha Shaw.
“Congratulations.” Joseph shook Shaw’s hand. “It’s not often that I can say that twice in one evening. Makes one wonder if there’s something in the air of late.”