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“Not accommodating at all, in fact,” Wesley said with a groan, his fingers lightly tracing over the swollen spot on this cheek which was already starting to darken and bruise. “I’d barely even gotten the woman alone to see if we’d even suit before he came crashing in.”
“I thought you were currently involved with Lady Lilienfield,” Hugh murmured. Not that he was entirely surprised Wesley had gone looking for a fresh conquest, he’d always been rather hard to keep entertained. It would take quite a woman to keep Wesley interested.
Wesley shrugged in response to Hugh’s implied question. “Both she and I agreed that the attraction had run its course. I gave her a suitably appreciative gift and I’d just begun looking for something to enjoy myself with for the last bit of the Season. Didn’t realize it’d be so bloody hard.”
“If Lord Windham demands satisfaction you know I’m happy to offer myself as your second, as would Edwin.”
“For that matter I suspect Alex would be as well, but I seriously doubt it will come to that. Windham’s a hothead but it was patently obvious that Lady Windham and I didn’t do more than exchange a few kisses… I’ve been considering ending my Season early.”
“Really?” Hugh looked at his friend in surprise. Now that Wesley had returned to England and come back out into Society following his father’s death, he hadn’t thought anything would make his friend retreat again.
“Oh not over this,” Wesley said with a negligent wave of his hand. He yawned, looking very much like a lazy lion contemplating bestirring himself. “Although giving the Windhams some distance is a distinct benefit. No, my mother wrote me again. She’s threatening that if I don’t come and help her with my ward then she’s going to come to me, ward in tow I assume, and do her best to interfere in my life by match-making.”
A palpable hit, Hugh thought, hiding a grin. Although Wesley might be a rake and a rogue and play at being an irresponsible lordling with not a care in the world, Hugh was well aware that Wesley was quite responsible about his estates and finances, as well as the business endeavors he’s become involved in during his travels, and that he could never be harsh to his mother. The Countess had obviously realized that her son was finding it much easier to deny her requests and pleas at a distance. If she were to arrive wherever Wesley was and insist on trotting him out to all manner of debutantes, he’d feel forced to humor her.
While the late Earl had been forceful and demanding, it was the Countess who knew how to tug at her sons’ heartstrings. Which was why Wesley’s brothers had applied to him for support for their desired futures and why Wesley had informed his mother of his support for their wishes by letter. He’d gotten a scathing written reply but that was preferable to the Countess descending in person.
“What did your ward do this time?” Hugh was genuinely curious as Wesley had thoroughly entertained him with the letters from the Countess that he’d missed while he’d been away on his honeymoon. Every letter had a new descriptive for her: blue-stocking, hoyden, unmanageable impudence, etc. From what Hugh could tell the girl was even more spirited than Eleanor had been; he didn’t envy the Countess or Wesley their tasks.
“Ah,” Wesley said, pulling the letter in question from his coat with a flourish and a grin. “I knew you’d ask. Apparently she’s now become a brazen hussy.”
“Oh my.”
“Indeed. My mother says, and I quote, ‘The ungrateful brat told me in quite strident tones that she did not appreciate my ‘meddling’ as she called it. I took the opportunity to remind her that no man wants to marry a young woman who rides astride, as it is remarkably scandalous, especially in public and that the sooner she is wed the sooner she will have her own household and would no longer have to abide my meddling. I thought that perhaps such a description would encourage her to curb her behavior at least until I can get her wed and off my hands. Well! The brazen hussy is now throwing herself at the various gentleman we meet, some of them with the worst reputations and who are known fortune hunters, and I’m quite sure that she’s now not only going to ruin our good name and my reputation, but herself as well. I will not have it be said that any ward under my care was ruined. Wesley, I implore you, if you do not make your way to Bath to assist me within the next month then I will make my way to you.’ She goes on and on.”
Finally able to let loose his laughter, Hugh was practically doubled over with mirth. With each letter the Countess of Spencer sent her tone became more irate and her language much less elegant. He’d never thought to hear her utter the term “brazen hussy,” and the high-pitched imitation that Wesley used to read aloud her words only added to the entertainment value of such a recitation.
Even Wesley was smiling, able to recognize the humor in the situation and in his mother’s letter. Since he hadn’t met the wench, he didn’t feel particularly beholden to finding her a husband or taking care of her, he’d thought he could reliably leave that in his mother’s hands. The reality of having a ward was not something that had in any way affected his life, other than entertainment value whenever he’d received another letter from the Countess. But obviously the situation needed to be taken in hand. With his considerable charms, and a strong hand if necessary, he doubted it would take him very much time to make the chit behave well enough to l
ift the burden from his mother and get her married off so that he wouldn’t have to deal with her anymore at all. Of course he’d have to make sure she had a suitable husband, despite his mother’s obvious frustrations with the wench he knew that she would expect him to assist in making a match that she could brag of.
Really the letter had come at quite an opportune time.
“So I suppose you’ll be off to Bath soon then?” Hugh said as his amusement died down to chuckling. “What will the ladies of London do without you?”
“Hopefully learn to be more discerning about their husbands’ inclinations,” Wesley said dryly. “And yes, I’m planning to leave within the week. It seems too good an opportunity not to take advantage of, especially since I no longer have anything keeping me here.”
“Other than my scintillating company, of course.”
“Of course. Although I might find it a dashed bit more scintillating if you’d feed me.”
Laughing, Hugh ran for the maid and asked her to put together lunch. Idly he looked at the clock. He’d expected Irene back by now.
“Now then… how are your brothers doing? Have you heard from them recently or only your mother?”
The two friends chatted through lunch, not gossiping of course although a word or two of the latest on dits may have indeed been passed along. As they finished their repast, the conversation had segued into business, seeing as Hugh had asked Wesley to start helping him with his investments. While his estates were prosperous enough, both he and Edwin had seen the benefits of diversifying their interests. Most of the ton looked down on anything having to do with business, but Wesley had made his fortune at it while he’d been away. All three friends were now financially involved in various endeavors and making quite a bit of money doing it. As long as they didn’t discuss with Society at large where they were making their money then it would just be assumed that they weren’t doing anything out of the ordinary.
Fortunately Wesley had learned quite a bit about making sound investments and so did quite a bit of advising for both Hugh and Edwin who were still learning the ropes. They were debating the wisdom of investing in a certain railroad line when the butler announced Lord Hyde.
“Brandy? Cigar?” Hugh greeted Edwin. “Thank you for bringing Irene home, although you didn’t need to.”
“Irene?” Edwin frowned at him as he sat down.
“She was with Eleanor all morning,” Hugh said, the slightest hint of a frown marring his brow. What on earth could those two still be talking about? “I assumed that since you were here, she had returned with you.”
For a long moment Edwin just stared at him, snifter of brandy in hand, his dark eyes inscrutable.
“I’m afraid Irene concluded her visit with Eleanor hours ago,” he said very slowly, the gears of his mind obviously turning. “Perhaps she had some shopping to do.”
