“Surely not, Tattleton,” Darden said.
The butler let out a long and protracted sigh to indicate his seriousness.
“His name is Lord Darling, Marquess of Basingstoke,” Cordelia said, glad to be off the subject of Mrs. Jordan.
“He is not even a week old and the most charming little thing you’ve ever seen,” Juliet said.
“I suppose he’s roaming round the garden,” Darden said.
“Hah!” Tattleton said, then turned on his heel and stalked out.
After the butler had closed the door rather loudly, Cordelia said, “Lord Darlingwillbe in the garden when he’s grown a bit and is strong enough. For now, he’s in the servants’ hall.”
Darden nodded. “That explains Tattleton, then.”
“Guess what else, Darden,” Juliet said, “Cordelia and our aunt are to join an acting troupe.”
“Acting? As in acting on the stage?” Darden said, his concern written all over his features. “You did not get that idea from Mrs. Jordan?”
“Do not worry, Lord Darden, it is all very respectable,” Miss Mayton said. “We are joining Lady Rawley’s acting troupe, for her famed theatrical evening.”
“Ah, the theatrical evening…” Darden said, “I did not realize it was famed.”
“And guess what else?” Juliet said. “The acting troupe is to attend Lord Harveston’s salon on literature.”
“The SSLE?” Darden said, seeming a bit incredulous.
“The very one,” Miss Mayton said.
“We wonder if Miss Mayton will be asked to read fromThe Dreadful Doings of Dembric Dale,” Cordelia said.
“No,” Darden said, “definitely not. Not one of our aunt’s books. Those books would not be suitable for such a salon. Really, I am not certain you should go at all. It will not be the right…environment…to showcase…oh, I don’t know what I’m saying.”
“The salon is on Tuesday,” Miss Mayton said, “Lady Rawley has kindly offered to take us in her own carriage.”
Seeing as how his reservations were entirely ignored as if they’d not been spoken, Lord Darden smiled weakly.
“I suppose you’ve sorted out Cordy’s voucher for Wednesday, Darden?” Juliet asked.
The lord nodded. “Almack’s is well in hand—vouchers secured and tickets purchased.”
“Excellent,” Miss Mayton said. “We feel very sure that Cordelia’s Corinthian will be in attendance.”
“You’re still stuck on a Corinthian,” Darden said.
Cordelia nodded. “Of course I must be, Darden. A gentleman such as that is, well, he is everything!”
“Perhaps,” Darden said, “but there are not that many of them. Not real ones, anyway.”
“Cordy only requires one of them, Darden,” Juliet said, as if her brother had somehow thought she required more than one.
Tattleton opened the door and led the earl to his place at the head of the table. “What ho!” the earl said, upon seeing Lord Darden. “The errant son arrives without having to be summoned out of his club!”
“It is very good to see you, Father,” Darden said. “I was in Kent. Naturally, I set off early to be with you all.”
They went on to have a very merry breakfast, with Lord Darden outlining all the activities his club had been up to. The Young Bucks Club had been founded by Darden himself, and they were now up to thirty members. They still had not figured out how to approach Conbatten about joining, but theyhadformed a committee with the patronesses of Almack’s to do good works.
If Lord Darden was left to wonder why his father seemed not at all vexed over having a goat in the house or a daughter who was determined to act in a theatrical, he did not say anything of it.
