Christopher didn’t know much about His Grace, but he did know that the man despised sea travel. That the duke’s information validated what he’d thought had him feeling very pleased with his decision to purchase the place. However, not wishing the gentleman to know of his plans, he shook his head in disbelief. “I can see, Your Grace, why you run such a prestigious school. Your knowledge is genuinely remarkable.”
“Compliment accepted.”
“Chris, why did you ask about that estate?”
At his brother’s question, Christopher shrugged. “Manning mentioned it when telling me the latest goings-on in his area. He didn’t seem surprised.” He quickly took a bite of scone, not wishing to discuss it further. He wasn’t sure how Andrew would feel about his little brother being a landowner.
“What will you do with the London townhouse Durham lost to you yesterday?” The duke’s brows rose with his question.
Christopher finished chewing then took a sip of coffee, still shocked that Durham had insisted on a bet that he could win a race across the pond and put his townhouse up for it. “I’ll keep it, of course. I think it was his way of making amends for pushing me on the first race. That’s the only logical reason he would have made that bet.”
The duke shook his head. “I fear there was no logic behind it at all. Nevertheless, I congratulate you on your new possession.”
“I can’t believe you accepted that bet,” Andrew said. “How would you have covered it if you lost?”
Fortunately, Christopher had just taken another bite of scone and chewed while his brother waited for an answer.
His Grace filled in the silence. “My guess is you put up what you just won from Lord Harewood. I suggest you refrain from any future bets with Durham or others.”
Christopher nodded before rising to walk to the sideboard. The kedgeree was particularly good, the fish well cooked and the eggs and rice well spiced. He had no plans to leave the dining room until Lady Sophie made an appearance.
He paused in filling his plate. Light footsteps in the parlor heralded the approach of a lady. He silently wished for Lady Sophie.
“Ah, there you are, husband.”
At the sound of his sister-in-law’s voice before she entered the dining room, his hope dwindled, but never one to be disappointed for long, he turned to greet her. “A good day to you, sister.”
Lady Sommerset, in a pale-blue day dress with her blonde hair wisping about her face, looked like a fairy he’d seen in one of William Blake’s illustrations. She slowed to give him a smile, then moved toward him to take a plate. “And here we have the winner of the weekend. Do you have any other surprises for us still to come?”
He laughed. “Not that I’m aware of. Yesterday was a fortunate happenstance.”
“And your bet with Harewood?”
“That, my lady, was a well-researched and well-calculated risk that just came to its conclusion before Twelfth Night.”
“And the case of fine scotch that arrived yesterday?”
He sent a look to his brother, who had obviously told his wife about the Christmas gift Christopher had received from a merchant.
“That was nothing more than a gift.”
His sister-in-law cocked her head. “But it appears your good fortune has had a bump or two, has it not?”
His gut tightened. Certainly, she could not know of his mistakenkiss or the unmasking on the terrace. “It has?”
“I believe that skating down poor Lady Sophie was hardly in good form. It was much like a carriage running down a fawn.”
“Now, Amelia, you can’t lay the blame at Chris’s feet for that. It was Durham who pushed him. Quite a vain act that, in my opinion.”
Christopher agreed with Lady Sommerset, but mustered a smile at his brother’s defense. “Indeed, that was very unfortunate. I do hope I have the chance to make my apologies to the lady.” He lifted his now-filled plate to return to the table.
Lady Sommerset followed him with her own. “I doubt that will be possible. All the Curious Ladies are breaking their fast in our hostess’s stargazing room before preparing to leave for school.”
He almost dropped his food at the news. It would be months before the Season started. Not only did he not wish to be thinking about an owed apology, but he didn’t wish the first time he met Lady Sophie again at an event to be one where he would have to apologize. And he sincerely hoped to see her again, as he found her intriguing. It was as if there were two sides of her.
“Is something wrong, Chris?”
At his brother’s question, he realized he remained standing behind his chair. “No, not at all. I was just looking closely at these muffins. Do you think we could have Cook make them like this?”
