They had left the turn behind them and proceeded back toward their own side of the square.
Both Nelson and Havoc began to pull on their leashes to speed up. It felt very like what a horse does when he comprehends that he is headed back to the stables to be rubbed down and given oats. Far too soon, they were through the gate and back on the pavement.
Lord Thorpe said, “That was a very pleasant walk, I believe Havoc really enjoyed it.”
“I feel confident I can say the same for Nelson.”
“I will send over the invitations to my dinner this afternoon. I hope you do not have a prior engagement on Friday.”
“We might,” Valor said sulkily.
“I am certain we do not,” Serenity said.
“There is nothing on the calendar,” Mrs. Right said.
Lord Thorpe bowed. “I take my leave then. Mrs. Right, Lady Serenity, Lady Verity, Lady Winsome, Lady Valor.”
He turned and walked Havoc back to his own house.
Serenity turned herself, as she did not wish to be noted staring at his departure. It had gone exceedingly well!
“Lady Serenity,” Lord Thorpe called from his doorstep, “we will walk again on the morrow?”
Serenity turned her head. “At eleven,” she called.
She and her sisters hurried into the house. Throwing off their pelisses into the waiting arms of the footmen, Serenity said, “What a glorious walk.”
Valor took that moment to stalk up the stairs. She turned on the staircase and said, “Now I am torn! I want him to go away forever and, also, I’m being honored with an early dinner!”
Serenity hid a smile. “It really is an honor, Valor.”
“I know it,” she said, giving the stair rise a good stomp.
*
Roland felt thedog walking had come off without a hitch.Coming back into the house had not been so pleasant. A letter waited for him from his brother. Charles wrote that The Albany was not proving as comfortable as he’d imagined and he was weighing whether he ought not move into the Grosvenor Square house. He asked that his rooms be made ready in case he decided in favor of the idea.
At first, Roland was confounded. He did not wish his brother in the house, especially when he was poised to hold a dinner for the duke and Lady Serenity. However, he could not keep him out. It was not his house yet, it was the duke’s, and his father would insist that Charles have access to his rooms.
On further reflection and a conversation with Quinn regarding Charles’ habits, he became more sanguine about it. As far as Quinn was concerned, this was a typical Charles-like salvo. He would have no intention of moving in and finding himself second fiddle, which was why he went to The Albany to begin. It was only that Charles could not help needling Roland that he might relocate into the house because hecouldrelocate into the house if he wished.
Now, Roland haunted Lady Jellerbey’s dim rooms for her annual candlelight picnic, waiting for Lady Serenity to arrive. As was Lady Jellerbey’s habit, candelabras of all sorts stood lit on tables throughout, but the chandeliers overhead remained dark. It gave the house a gloomy and haunted feel, but for the very good sideboard offerings which cheered the whole thing up.
He’d seen Charles was already in attendance, though he’d wished that he would not see his brother at all. When Roland had caught sight of him, he’d slipped off to another room, hoping the dimness of the place had masked his departure.
Unfortunately, it did not. “Brother,” Charles said, hurrying after him, “one would almost think you were avoiding me.”
“One would be right,” Roland said drily.
“I presume you received my letter and have directed the servants to ready my rooms.”
“I have received your letter and have not directed the servants to do anything,” Roland said. “I will not put my staff through a pointless exercise. If you wish to relocate into the house, you can arrive and bloody well wait in the drawing room until they’ve had a chance to get to it, which I will inform them is not a priority and should not interrupt their regular duties.”
Charles, as he always did when Roland spoke in a forceful manner to him, bristled. “I do not suppose Father would approve of this less than welcoming attitude.”
“Then you’d better write him and tell him all about it,” Roland said. “Though, I will not lose any sleep over it. The proud Lord Charles never places himself in a situation where he is not the most important man in the room, so I am not expecting you to arrive.”
“Just because you will inherit the house does not make you the most important,” Charles said petulantly.
