“I presume your father will say the best thing you ever did is yet to come,” Hayes said, as he poured the wine.
“Yes, you are right. He is like a falcon waiting to spy a mouse on the subject. His letters are filled with broad hints,” Hampton said. “In fact, I believe he might not have to wait overlong. Lady Hampton has told me nothing, but I have my suspicions. I assume she waits until the danger has passed.”
Hayes drained half his glass. “Good Lord, Hampton is to be a father. The world has gone mad.”
“You may think so,” Lord Hampton said, stretching out his long legs, “though it feels remarkably rational to me. In any case, I’d much rather, at this moment, be on my estate, but the Viscountess has insisted we come to town.”
“Why ever would she wish it,” Hayes asked, “if she is, well you know.”
“My wife has some idea of helping to launch a childhood friend. A Miss Farnsworth, if I’ve got the name right. I imagine she wishes to do what she can before she must declare a confinement. It sounds like one of those typical situations—fine girl, but with little money or London connections.”
“All too typical,” Hayes said. “The girl will be out hunting and we bachelors must duck the arrows whizzing through the woods.”
Hampton laughed. “I see you are still determined to avoid the church, then? You, Dalton, Cabot and Grayson will work to outfox your fathers?”
“We will. Though how we lost Lockwood, I still cannot understand. Lockwood, to that spitfire of a girl!”
Hampton raised his hand. “Now, I cannot allow you to disparage the new Marchioness. Lady Lockwood is my wife’s dear friend, despite her rather frightening disposition. When we meet, it is as if somebody had poured ice down the back of my coat. I am continually reminded of Shakespeare’sthough she be but little she is fierce. Still, the lady has forgiven Lockwood for our misstep those many months ago and I am assured she will at some point forgiveme, so it must be past debate.”
“I suppose so,” Hayes admitted. “But for her penchant for insults, I suppose sheisa pleasant lady. In any case, you may have fallen, Lockwood may have fallen, but I will not.”
Hampton leaned back in his chair and contemplated his friend. “The problem with a vow to avoid marrying is that all of us have made it and two of us have already thrown it over.Happilythrown it over, I might add. Though, if it is your intention to avoid the state, then as a friend I wish you luck.”
“Luck is usually on my side, as so many unfortunate gamblers have discovered. In any case, I am not against the institution of marriage, none of us are. Well, perhaps Dalton is. The rest of us simply have our own reasons for being against itright now.”
“As was I,” Lord Hampton said, laughing. “And yet, you must still frequent those places where a lady might conquer you. I suppose you have been invited to Lady Blakeley’s dinner?” Hampton asked.
Hayes nodded. “Yes, of course, and I am glad of it. She is one of the more amusing hostesses.”
Lord Hampton smiled. “Then, bring all your resolve to avoid the vicar’s noose, as I understand my wife’s latest project will be there and she is said to be remarkably pretty.”
*
Lily rose andcrossed her aunt’s drawing room. “Lady Hampton,” she said.
“Lily!” the lady cried. “How well you look. Though, I will scold you mercilessly if you insist on calling me Lady Hampton. We have known each other since we were children scrambling over fences.”
Lily grasped her friend’s hands. “Cassandra, then,” she said. “I know you still sign your letters such, but I could not be at all sure of the rules of town and whether you might take it amiss for me to dispense with your title.”
“Goodness, I am still the same girl you ever knew,” Cassandra said laughing.
Lily was not certain that was altogether true. Yes, Cassandra appeared in her person very like she had when last they’d met in Surrey. She looked perhaps the slightest bit more substantial, but that was only an improvement—Cassandra had never been very slender. That was not the real change though. Her friend, her nowmarriedfriend, had an air about her that was somehow different. More confident, more settled, more content. Though she did not look particularly older, sheseemedolder.
“Now,” Cassandra said, “let us talk over everything.”
They sat themselves down on the velvet settee in a cozy corner while Ranier brought in a tray. Ranier, as all good butlers were wont to do, had donned a particular grave air about him as he laid the tea things for a titled lady.
He closed the door behind him and Cassandra said, “He seems rather wonderful. He might go toe to toe with my own butler.”
“He is the kindest fellow alive,” Lily said, “despite his terrible scowl.”
“Just like Dreyfus, then. A hard crust on the outside, housing an inside of jelly. My darling dog May and my lord’s own mastiff, Havoc, barrel their way round the house as they please. You cannot imagine the delightful one-sided conversations I have overheard between my butler and those dogs. They sit very dutifully as he tells them where they’ve gone wrong. He invariably gives it up and gives them a biscuit when he cannot hold up against their doleful stares.”
Lily poured the tea and said, “Dear May, she’s a lovely girl. Now, before anything, I must say that you cannot think how much I appreciate all you have done. And the Marchioness of Lockwood and Miss Darlington, too! You know well enough what sort of patched together wardrobe I should have arrived in had I not been so spoiled with presents. Imagine, I do not even know those two ladies!”
Cassandra smiled and patted her friend’s hand. “I think we have all learned, through my own trial, that we ladies must have a care for one another. Someday, you will be in a position to lend your support to another lady and you will do so.”
“Of course I will, it would be a pleasure,” Lily said. She flushed and said, “Though it seems fantastical to imagine thatIwould ever have the means of helping another.”
