“Manderbey,” the duke said jovially. “Last saw you at my daughter Verity’s wedding. What brings you here?”
“No particular reason, I’m afraid,” Leland said. “My dowager insisted on coming and insisted I attend her.”
The duke’s eyes scanned the room. “Hah! The Duchess of Ralston. She was a corker in her younger years.”
“She still is, I regret to report.”
“Ah, look there Winny, the dowager talks to Landry.” To Leland, he said, “We met him on the road, at an inn. He dined with us.”
“Oh I see,” Leland said. Landry had said nothing about that. Of course, he did not suppose there would have been reason to mention it. Though, Leland found he did not particularly like the idea of dining together in an inn. Those places were so much more relaxed in their standards. Anything might go on at an inn. Had Lady Winsome and Landry sat next to each other? How close?
He stopped his thoughts from the very stupid gymnastics they were just now engaged in.
“There was only one dining room,” Lady Winsome said. “Lord Landry had feared he would be left to dine with, what did he say, Papa?”
“The hoi polloi,” the duke said with a snort. “Never saw a man so hysterical over such a thing.”
That did sound like Landry and Leland found himself very satisfied with it. He was perhaps less satisfied that the dowager was barreling toward him just now. Please God stop her from saying anything embarrassing.
“Duke, I have not seen you in an age,” the dowager said. “Not since you set Lady Vanderwake’s curtains afire. Goodness, those were jolly times.”
“Duchess,” the duke said. “I’ve since set Lady Jellerbey’s curtainson fire too, sorry you missed it.”
“The same old rascal, I see.”
“May I present Lady Winsome, one of my far-too-numerous daughters.”
“Do not curtsy, Lady Winsome,” the dowager said. “I should not wish to cause a fall-over.”
“That is very kind, Your Grace.”
“Well now, as we have not encountered each other in years, I suppose I ought to host a dinner,” the duke said. “Bring Manderbey along with you. How is Thursday?”
“We would be delighted,” the dowager said.
Leland was surprised nobody had bothered to inquire intohiscalendar. But he was not sorry over the idea that there would be a dinner.
“Now what about Almack’s?” the dowager asked the duke. “I intend to drag my grandson to that bastion of boredom.”
The duke laughed. “We will attend. Here is a hint—I bring a flask of brandy, it makes the boredom less boring.”
“Hah! I might do just the same. I’ll bring a flask of Canary. Let them try to stop me!”
“That’s the spirit,” the duke said.
“Now, Duke, I do not suppose you will mind if my grandson lends an arm to Lady Winsome. She must wish to take a turn round the room after her ordeal and will need support in that ludicrous get-up she’s been forced into.”
“I do not mind it,” the duke said.
The duke and the dowager both stared at Leland. The two of them were outrageous. “Lady Winsome,” he said, putting out his arm.
She laid her hand gently on his arm. He said, “There is not much room to actually take a turn.”
“In this dress, I think you mean?”
“Yes. Perhaps we might shoot for getting through to the windowsand admiring the view.”
Lady Winsome nodded. “I am a regular sailing ship leaving a harbor.”
