Matthew gazed roundthe dining table. His welcome had been less than enthusiastic. It was as if he were some kind of burden now that Darden was on the scene.
Darden himself had been very cordial, but when that fellow was in the room, the five sisters had eyes for nobody else. Beatrice had actually bumped into him as she followed her brother down the corridor to the dining room. It was as if he’d become invisible.
At least, invisible to most. Juliet had taken great pains to whisperScoldy-Breechesas she maneuvered past him.
The earl was at the head of the table with Miss Mayton on his right, while Darden took the bottom and had Beatrice to his right. That left Matthew sandwiched between Rosalind and Cordelia, with Viola and Juliet making faces at him from across.
“Now, my boy,” the earl said jovially to his son, “we met Mr. Cahill on the road and he has alerted us to the forming of a club. Tell us all about it.”
Darden took a massive portion of roasted chicken from the footman’s platter and said, “It is the Young Bucks Club, Father, we call it the YBC amongst ourselves. Mind you, White’s and Brooks’s are all well and good, and even Boodles for the country set, but they are rather staid these days. We wished to have somewhere younger and more full of life.”
“What happens when you all grow older?” Matthew asked. “Will it be the Old Bucks Club?”
“It is the spirit of the thing,” Darden said. “We are not looking so far ahead. We are youngnow.”
“Yes, Van Doren,” Beatrice said. “The spirit of the thing.”
“Because they are young and carefree,” Viola said with a grim stare.
“Anyway,” Darden continued, “our motto is shenanigans, mayhem, and tomfoolery.”
“Just ensure that none of the shenanigans, mayhem and tomfoolery ends up costing me a deal of money,” the earl said.
Matthew thought the YBC sounded as ridiculous as he had imagined it would. He had firmly decided that he would decline an invitation to have his name put forward. About the last things he was interested in were shenanigans, mayhem, and tomfoolery.
“You will not be troubled for money, Father. I am very reliable about not asking for any increases to my allowance,” Darden said. “When I come up short, I gamble to make up the difference.”
“Very sensible,” Miss Mayton said.
Was it? Of course, what would be sensible in Miss Mayton’s mind could not be measured by anybody else’s ideas of the notion.
“After dinner, I will stay with you in the drawing room,” Darden said, “but then I must be off by ten o’clock. The members are meeting to discuss a ball we plan on hosting. It will be a masque and only the most ridiculous disguises will be admitted. At least, we will say that to be the case, as people always do like a little drama and excitement. Will they or won’t they be admitted?”
“How creative, Darden!” Beatrice said. “I wonder if I might go as a man.”
“Thatwouldbe ridiculous,” Matthew said.
“Shakespeare did not think so,” Cordelia said. “Just ask Viola inTwelfth Nightor Portia inMerchant of Veniceor Rosalind inAs You Like it.”
“In Shakespeare’s time, though, they were all men pretending to be women dressed as men,” Matthew pointed out.
“Father?” Beatrice asked.
“Trousers would be, perhaps, skating a bit too close to the line. I am certain you can devise a costume that is both safeandridiculous.”
Matthew noted all five sisters turn their attention to their plate, always irritated when he gained his point.
“Never mind, Bea,” Darden said, “I’ll help you out. I’ve got piles of ideas and I’ll get something for Van Doren and Father too.”
“You are a very good sort of brother, Darden,” Beatrice said.
“Do not make metooridiculous, if you please,” the earl said.
“Of course not, Father. Now, the more critical reason I’ll have to be present at the YBC meeting tonight is to hear some names put forward. Some are easy enough, but I think we will have a discussion about at least one of the names. It is said the fellow once did not honor a debt and if that is true, we cannot admit him.”
Matthew waited for the inevitable,What say you, Van Doren? Shall I put your name forward?
Rather, Rosalind said, “That would be very dishonorable, indeed. Who is the gentleman?”
