Though I have returned to the country, I have a far reach, my boy. If you are not attending balls and routs and other likely places to meet your intended, I will know it. Gird your loins and do your duty.
By the by, jolly clever of you to make it through the war unscathed. Your mother is pleased as punch over it.
Carlisle
Edwin could see the old man had put a lot of thought into how he might box his son in, though some of it seemed thin. Painting the Dowager Duchess as a poor old thing who should not be bothered bordered on the ludicrous. His grandmother was more energetic, and more opinionated, than either of his parents.
Still, it might not be wise to appeal to the Dowager. For one thing, a gentleman ought not go running off to a grandmother in the face of a difficulty. For another, one never knew precisely what the Dowager would do about any little matter coming to her attention. Should she fall on his father’s side of things, he would have a far fiercer opponent than he currently had.
Edwin’s butler, Dreyfus, softly knocked and opened the door. “Lord Lockwood to see you, my lord,” he said in the low voice he used when he was not certain what sort of mood his master was in.
Edwin waved, which Dreyfus knew to be a signal to show Lord Lockwood into his lord’s presence.
Lockwood, never one to wait to be shown in, strode past the butler and into the library. He was not as tall and lean as Edwin and his hair was a deal lighter, but he was powerfully built. The men of his regiment called himthe pile of bricks.
Lockwood threw himself into a chair and pulled a letter from his pocket. “I suppose you got one, too? Blasted business.”
“Isuppose I can thank your father for this,” Edwin said drily. “He’s been whipping the old boys into a frenzy for months.”
Lockwood had the good manners to flush, as he knew perfectly well that His Grace had been the instigator.
“Why could not some other unlucky gentleman have been swept up in this madness?” Edwin said. “But then I suppose it does not pay to be too well-acquainted with you.”
Lockwood peered at him. “I see you have not heard. We’veallbeen swept up in the thing, with the exception of Burke. His father belongs to Brook’s and was well away from those conniving old schemers.”
“All?” Edwin asked.
“All. You, me, Ashworth, Dalton, Cabot and Grayson. You must have been living in a dressing room these past days to not have heard. Somebody in Grayson’s household copied his letter and it’s being sold all over town. Worse, word got out on who the letters were sent to, most likely by some curious ears at White’s. We are the talk of every drawing room, my friend.”
“Lord help us.”
Lord Lockwood had poured himself a brandy and now propped his feet on Edwin’s desk. “You might appeal to the Lord, though I am not expecting any particular help from our heavenly father. No more than I would get from my own not-so-heavenly father.”
“What are we to do?” Edwin asked, not that he thought Lockwood would have some brilliant plan. His friend’s style was more “fight one’s way through” than anything with finesse.
“Dashed if I know,” Lockwood said. “We’re all right for now, so I say we enjoy ourselves to the hilt and pay the price later. Let’s take ourselves off to some interesting hell and throw dice like madmen. We’ll live as if we head for the gallows in the morning.”
The idea was tempting, but Edwin thought it would not advance their cause. “For one thing,” he said, “we cannot afford to throw away vast sums just now, which you invariably do. We may need the funds to pay for a garret in Cheapside if it comes to it. For another, we must appear to play the game, lull the old fellows into a sense of complaisance.”
“Calm them down until we think of a way out,” Lockwood said. “It sounds dead dreary, but I suspect you are right.”
“I am right. Especially now, when they will be watching what we do like hawks circling a field mouse. In truth, all of London will be watching. The Bergrams’ ball is tonight and if we do not appear, it will be widely noted.”
“By God, I cannot countenance those people,” Lockwood said. “He’s a stuffy old thing and she’s a nervous slip of a creature. I always think he’s about to transform into a statue and she’s about to fly off like a bird.”
“Nevertheless,” Edwin said, “we’d better go. Best to stare down the gossipers now and get it out of the way, rather than allow the rumors to expand and take flight. If we arrive and appear as if nothing at all is the matter, we will take some air out of the talker’s lungs.”
*
Cassandra regarded LadySybil standing with hands on hips in her bedchamber. Sybil was petite and her cascades of dark hair charmingly framed her pert features. She was like a little doll, though a spirited one.
The evening before had renewed their acquaintance. Lady Marksworth’s dear friend, Lady Blanding, had hosted a small dinner. Lady Blanding’s house was the next door down from Marksworth House, and along with the lady and her lord in residence had come their only daughter, Lady Sybil. Cassandra and Sybil had met with each other here and there over the years, but their friendship had blossomed once they had confided in one another their trepidation of what was to come over the course of the season. They had become comrades-in-arms and vowed to go into battle together.
Lady Sybil examined the two gowns Cassandra had selected. Or rather, the two gowns that Cassandra’s maid Peggy had selected. Cass was certain she’d asked for the gowns with the pale pink and cream overlays, but what laid on the bed were the sky blue and pale yellow. Peggy was a confounded creature and had just decided for herself which dresses would be best. Cassandra had yet to work out how to manage her.
The Bergrams’ ball was that evening and Cassandra’s aunt had claimed that absolutely everybody would be there. Lady Marksworth would not be surprised to see six recalcitrant gentlemen who would more often be found gambling in some low place, but who had recently received stern letters from their fathers.
“The blue gauze is divine for your coloring, I think,” Lady Sybil said, “though they are both charming. You will conquer in either of them.”
