“Morning, all,” Alexander said, grinning drowsily around. “I hope you all enjoyed last night as much as I did.”
“That’s generally a sign that the Notes Acknowledging Debts will start rolling in soon,” William muttered, voice low so that his mother couldn’t hear.
“I danced just about every dance,” Alexander continued, scooping a massive ladleful of scrambled eggs on his plate. “It was thrilling. I saw you two dancing, too,” he gestured to his older brothers with a spoon, scattering egg over the tablecloth. Katherine winced and made a vain attempt to snatch the spoon back.
“Dancing? Yes, we danced,” Henry said, trying to catch William’s eye. Drunk at breakfast was really going too far. Was Alexander like this often? Had Henry just missed it, because he’d chosen to strike out on his own and get his own apartments? A niggle of guilt opened up in his stomach.
“So, the way I see it,” Alexander continued, oblivious to the glares thrown his way, “William is going to marry that dapper little widow, Lady Victoria, and you, Henry, you’re going to marry Miss Eleanor Fairfax.”
The atmosphere tightened. Henry sucked in a breath, and William paled. Katherine mumbled, “Oh, Lord,” and let her head fall into her hands.
The Dowager put down her knife and fork, frowning.
“Miss Eleanor Fairfax? That grubby little tradesman’s daughter? I think not, Henry. I have high hopes of dear Henry making a match with Miss Sophia Redford.”
She shot an encouraging look at Henry, and he swallowed hard.
Then there was a moment of silence which seemed to stretch out forever, broken in the end by William tossing his napkin onto the table and getting to his feet.
“Will? You haven’t finished your breakfast,” Katherine managed, blinking anxiously at him.
William shook his head. “I’m not hungry. Excuse me, everyone.”
***
Most gentlemen preferred White’s as a club, and membership there was more or less mandatory. Henry did have a membership to White’s, but preferred Barrett’s, a smaller club just down the road.
There was less chance of running into his brothers there, at the very least. The place was smaller and darker, the card stakes were higher, the liquor a little stronger. There were a greater variety of nationalities here, which Henry preferred – occasionally he’d had an opportunity to practice his French or Italian. There were, however, a few gentlemen here who didn’treallymerit the title ofgentleman.
Henry arrived shortly after luncheon, once he’d untangled himself from his family, and breathed in a sigh of relief when he stepped into the club. He sucked in a breath – a smoky, heavily fragranced breath – and looked around for his friend.
A gaggle of men were leaning over a lopsided card table, the green baize scratched up and worn. A few other gentlemen sat alone or in pairs, tucked away in the alcoves which dotted the club, allowing for all the privacy one might wish.
Henry spotted Percy at the other end of the room, waving eagerly to him.
“How are you doing, old boy?” Percy chuckled, pushing a glass of brandy towards him. “Recovered from last night?”
“Oh, mostly. I’m not sure my feet have, though.”
Percy shook his head at this. “Has Miss Redford and her mamma called on you yet?”
Henry stiffened. “No? Why would she?”
“It was pretty clear they had their eye on you, Henry. Take care. You know how easily a gentleman can become entrapped.”
Henry groaned. “It’s all I need. Dodging some fool girl and her mother, thinking I’d make a good husband.”
Percy shrugged. “Well, you seemed to like Miss Fairfax well enough. Your esteemed mamma did not, though. You should have seen the black look on her face when she saw you dancing with her.”
“She called Miss Fairfax a grubby little tradesman’s daughter. I ought to have reminded her that I intend to go into business with that tradesman. And his daughter.”
“It’s an odd thing, though,” Percy acknowledged. “A woman, in business.”
“As far as I can tell, Miss Fairfax manages admirably.”
“Well, that’s as it may be,” Percy said, with the air of somebody wanting to change the subject. “What about William, then? Is he on the brink of taking a Duchess for himself, do you think?”
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly guess. I don’t like to concern myself with what my siblings do – it’s easier that way.”
