Lord Thorpe nodded. “Thank you for the invitation to dine, Your Grace. Lady Verity and Lady Winsome, a pleasure. Lady Serenity, until tomorrow.”
Yes, Serenity thought. Until tomorrow.
*
Charles had pretendedto set off for The Albany but had surreptitiously gone round the square until he was out of view and watched the proceedings from there. Why should they all walk Thorpe home as if he was too senile to find the place himself?
They’d walked with him and then lingered at his doorstep. They were probably talking about what they ought to do about the dog walking if it were misting again.
He felt at a disadvantage on several fronts. Thorpe had the advantage of location on him, though if he could stand it, he could rectify that by moving in. His brother might also have the advantage of being of similar temperament to Lady Serenity. Charles was finding it difficult to guess how she would view a thing.
His description of a horse race had fallen rather flat, though it was one that was widely spoken of and generally perceived to be of interest. He’d thought to bring the imaginary dog Nero into it, but that had not been satisfactory either. She did not even know where she left the sketch of it and she was not at all sold on the idea of Nero being of closer size to her wretched cur being superior to Thorpe’s slobbering beast. He’d even thought to frighten her a little with the idea that Thorpe’s dog was capable of injuring her own dog. Thorpe had got in the way of that idea. His remark about some people being more dangerous than his dog was beyond irritating.
And then that stupid game, Fact or Fib, they called it. His answer that the first thing he’d noticed about Lady Serenity was her bright eyes had been denounced as a fib? It was very usual to compliment a woman’s eyes, whether or not they were particularly special. That would have been annoying enough, but then for Thorpe to get a yellow ticket for his nonsensical description of the lady walking in the snow and appreciating nature?
It was just the sort of thing Thorpe would think—sloppily sentimental. Why did they not seem to see that? They were all so approving of it.
He soothed himself with the idea that it was early days. There was still plenty of time to turn things to his advantage. He only needed the right ideas. This evening might not have gone all his way, but that could change. He could make it change.
He’d never lost anything to Thorpe, and he was not about to start now.
*
Quinn came intoRoland’s bedchamber with the usual glasses of brandy. Roland, as was becoming a habit, sat at his window overlooking the square.
“I presume things went well at the duke’s dinner,” Quinn said, taking his seat by the fire.
“Very well, I think,” Roland said, watching as Havoc seemed to weigh the benefits of getting up and going to Quinn for a scratch. He finally did so, yawning and stretching his front legs out before ambling over to his butler.
“So things proceed, very good news. Did Charles behave himself?”
“Charles behaved as Charles always does. He tried to score points in a game nobody else was playing. I do not think he got too far with it. I do not think he understands Lady Serenity. She is too different from him.”
“But you do?”
“I think so,” Roland said. “I am beginning to think she might be more sentimental than she lets on. She did seem teary-eyed when she considered that Nelson ought to have had a friend before now and perhaps she had been in some way remiss.”
Quinn laughed. “Now that would be convenient, asyouare more sentimental thanyoulet on.”
“Yes, but nobody knows it, including her. You will not be surprised that I was equally struck over the idea of Nelson needing a friend.”
“But you did not show it.”
“I worked very hard not to.”
“Of course, to say nobody knows your real temperament is not quite correct. Charles knows it. Careful he does not somehow attempt to use it to his advantage.”
“I do not see how he could,” Roland said. “Should he outright say it in some derogatory fashion to Lady Serenity he would only look like a gossip telling tales out of school. I do not think she would approve of it.”
“Or believe it, at this juncture.”
“Likely not.”
“You’ll have to make some decisions there. Are you to be the emotionless marquess forevermore? I do not see how you keep it up day after day and year after year. Just think what it will be when you have children? There will be a thousand situations that will deeply affect you. Are you to always jump on your horse to shout in a wood?”
“I do not know. All I do know is that Lady Serenity seems to like me as I am now. I should not like to jeopardize it by introducing the teary-eyed marquess.”
“Nobody says you have to weep,” Quinn said. “You did far more of that when you were younger than you do now. Just be more yourself than you have been.”
