Charles Kingsley smiled as he addressed his friend, Mr. Harvey.
"William! How wonderful to see you here tonight. I thought you would never make it with your...usual detest of these gatherings," he said, jovially.
Mr. Harvey grimaced slightly without his friend taking notice.
"I usually do make a point to avoid these detestable parties, but I'm here for a rather more important cause than my own comfort," he replied.
"Oh, you mustn't speak in riddles around me, old friend. Tell me plainly what you mean!" exclaimed Mr. Kingsley, who had little patience for being left in the dark.
Mr. Harvey discreetly looked around the hall, making sure no one else was within earshot.
"Very well, then. What I mean is that I'm simply here to...er...oversee my sister, as it were. Especially with that man around," he jerked his head towards an uncommonly handsome young man who was talking to several people and laughing quite loudly, as well.
"Mmm," Mr. Kingsley murmured in understanding. "You mean to say your distrust you own cousin, Mr. Edward Malcome? William, you really must learn to be less suspicious! Don't you ever wonder why I happen to be your only friend?"
Mr. Harvey narrowed his dark brown eyes.
"I'd be less suspicious if people would be more trustworthy, Charles," he replied stiffly. "Besides, Edward's true character, if only known to me, is the least trustworthy of anyone in this room."
Mr. Kingsley laughed heartily.
"Are you sure you're not just jealous?" he asked and Mr. Harvey set his jaw, but made no reply. "Well, then, why don't you tell everyone in New York to beware of this deviant character?"
Mr. Harvey took a sip of his brandy and once again showed no signs of replying.
"Fine then, keep your secrets. As for me, I'm going to enjoy myself and dance with that lovely young lady over there," Mr. Kingsley said as the song the band was playing finished.
"What, her?" Mr. Harvey exclaimed as if there could be no worse person - besides his cousin, of course.
"Indeed," Mr. Kingsley said, rolling his bright green eyes. "I suppose you can detect something vulgar about her, but happily, I cannot."
"You may not be happy when you find out that she is nothing more than a common tart," Mr. Harvey replied, with a smug satisfaction of having much more discernment than his friend.
"William, I'm sure you could find fault with every woman in this room, nay, with every woman in New York City. But, pray tell me, what is wrong with this particular one?"
"I already told you. She was escorted here by Mr. Bingham and you know his reputation. Besides, she's far too young for him. She wears too much rouge and kohl and has danced with nearly every man except the one who brought her and that's only because he can't dance with his cane." Mr. Harvey explained all this as if should be painfully obvious to everyone in the room.
Mr. Kingsley shrugged. "Fine then, I'll avoid her acquaintance. Where is your lovely sister? I should like to dance with her instead."
Mr. Harvey scanned the room for Virginia, his sister, and found her talking to the very person he had intended to prevent any contact.
"William! How wonderful to see you here tonight. I thought you would never make it with your...usual detest of these gatherings," he said, jovially.
Mr. Harvey grimaced slightly without his friend taking notice.
"I usually do make a point to avoid these detestable parties, but I'm here for a rather more important cause than my own comfort," he replied.
"Oh, you mustn't speak in riddles around me, old friend. Tell me plainly what you mean!" exclaimed Mr. Kingsley, who had little patience for being left in the dark.
Mr. Harvey discreetly looked around the hall, making sure no one else was within earshot.
"Very well, then. What I mean is that I'm simply here to...er...oversee my sister, as it were. Especially with that man around," he jerked his head towards an uncommonly handsome young man who was talking to several people and laughing quite loudly, as well.
"Mmm," Mr. Kingsley murmured in understanding. "You mean to say your distrust you own cousin, Mr. Edward Malcome? William, you really must learn to be less suspicious! Don't you ever wonder why I happen to be your only friend?"
Mr. Harvey narrowed his dark brown eyes.
"I'd be less suspicious if people would be more trustworthy, Charles," he replied stiffly. "Besides, Edward's true character, if only known to me, is the least trustworthy of anyone in this room."
Mr. Kingsley laughed heartily.
"Are you sure you're not just jealous?" he asked and Mr. Harvey set his jaw, but made no reply. "Well, then, why don't you tell everyone in New York to beware of this deviant character?"
Mr. Harvey took a sip of his brandy and once again showed no signs of replying.
"Fine then, keep your secrets. As for me, I'm going to enjoy myself and dance with that lovely young lady over there," Mr. Kingsley said as the song the band was playing finished.
"What, her?" Mr. Harvey exclaimed as if there could be no worse person - besides his cousin, of course.
"Indeed," Mr. Kingsley said, rolling his bright green eyes. "I suppose you can detect something vulgar about her, but happily, I cannot."
"You may not be happy when you find out that she is nothing more than a common tart," Mr. Harvey replied, with a smug satisfaction of having much more discernment than his friend.
"William, I'm sure you could find fault with every woman in this room, nay, with every woman in New York City. But, pray tell me, what is wrong with this particular one?"
"I already told you. She was escorted here by Mr. Bingham and you know his reputation. Besides, she's far too young for him. She wears too much rouge and kohl and has danced with nearly every man except the one who brought her and that's only because he can't dance with his cane." Mr. Harvey explained all this as if should be painfully obvious to everyone in the room.
Mr. Kingsley shrugged. "Fine then, I'll avoid her acquaintance. Where is your lovely sister? I should like to dance with her instead."
Mr. Harvey scanned the room for Virginia, his sister, and found her talking to the very person he had intended to prevent any contact.