“He is the finest of brothers,” Juliet said.
“I do not suppose anybody has one finer,” Rosalind said.
“Such a fine young lord,” Miss Mayton said.
This tribute to the finest but always missing Darden was mercifully brought to a close by Mr. Cahill.
“I am certain he would wish to be among you more than he has been able,” Mr. Cahill said. “But he is so taken up by the YBC these days.”
“The YBC?” Beatrice asked.
“Ah, I am sure he will tell you all about it when you see him. Darden has founded a club. The Young Bucks Club, YBC for short.”
“Very enterprising,” the earl said. “And here I was, imagining he was gambling all night and sleeping all day.”
“Well, there might be some of that,” Mr. Cahill admitted. “Though in the general way of things, Darden is our leader and he does not like to be too idle. He keeps us all on the straight path. My mother admires him prodigiously.”
Matthew attempted to keep his expression neutral. Darden was a decent enough fellow, though it seemed absurd to start a club that announced one considered oneself a young buck.
“Tell us more of the YBC,” Beatrice said. “Darden will not mind it. He will be grateful, as he always says that when he is with us, he is drowning in our questions.”
Mr. Cahill, looking very encouraged, said, “Well, we have rented a building on St. James and spruced it up, hired some staff—waiters, a cook, and some lads to clean the place. So far, we have eleven confirmed members. We will have more, of course. When a member puts somebody forward, they will be voted on. We are planning to be very exclusive, though.”
Matthew suppressed a sigh. He supposed Darden would urge him to be put forward. He did not like the idea. Aside from the ludicrous name of the thing, those sorts of clubs always came with a hefty fee, and for what? So that one might gather in a building to play cards or drink claret or make childish bets? His money was best spent elsewhere.
“I wish ladies could have such clubs,” Beatrice said wistfully.
“They do,” Mr. Cahill said, laughing. “In truth, the ladies have far more than we do by way of Almack’s and every drawing room in London.”
“I suppose that is right,” Beatrice said, looking very cheered.
“Oh father,” Rosalind said, “you do think Beatrice will get a voucher from Almack’s?”
“I imagine so,” the earl said. “I wrote a note to Lady Jersey that we would come to Town, and she wrote me a veritable novel back and so I cannot think we would be snubbed.”
Mr. Cahill laughed at this. “A novel, yes, she would do. She is not called ‘Silence’ for nothing.”
“Do you go to Almack’s, Mr. Cahill?” Rosalind asked.
“Indeed, yes,” he said. “Of course, I take my invitation to be no high compliment. I like to dance and am thought rather good at it and that is always of interest to the Patronesses.”
“Is the food really as dreadful as we have heard from Darden?” Viola asked, working her way through the now arrived ham slices. Matthew noticed she did not dally with it while Mr. Cahill was in attendance.
“The food is wretched,” Mr. Cahill said. “And the drinks too. Everybody is well-advised to eat and drink before arriving. For all that, though, we at the YBC hold a great respect for our sister club and we close on Wednesdays on account of it. That was Darden’s idea and he was clever about it. The Patronesses have taken it as a great compliment to themselves and there is nothing they like so much as a great compliment to themselves.”
The earl roared with laughter. “That is my son—always knowing how to oil the cogs.”
The innkeeper bustled into the room. “Mr. Cahill, your new horse is saddled.”
Mr. Cahill rose and bowed to the ladies at table. “I would wish to stay and have this delightful company all the day long, but I cannot allow a saddled horse to stand about on account of my pleasant tarrying.”
Matthew noted, to his annoyance, that all the Bennington ladies seemed very struck by the sentiment. As they would, Miss Mayton having filled their heads with nonsense. Pleasant tarrying, indeed.
Mr. Cahill departed and Matthew attempted to ignore the various sighs round the table.
“So genial,” Miss Mayton said.
“Really so pleasant,” Rosalind said.
