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“Neither am I,” Oliver countered.
“But he could make your brother’s life miserable in the House of Lords,” Haskett pointed out.
Oliver reached for his glass and took a sip. As he lowered the glass, he replied, “I have no doubt that my brother can handle him. After all, the duke is a member of the Whig party and Baldwin is a staunch Tory.”
“I have heard that the duke is already searching for a new bride,” Booth said.
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Oliver muttered. “Emmeline has a rather low opinion of him.”
“Then why did she agree to the engagement in the first place?” Haskett asked.
Oliver leaned to the side as the server placed a drink in front of him and retrieved his other glass. “She didn’t,” he replied. “Her uncle arranged the whole thing.”
Booth accepted the glass from the server as he said, “I can only imagine the ladies will be saddened to hear about your marriage.”
Follett raised his glass and declared, “Say goodbye to freedom. It is something that you will never see again.”
Haskett chuckled as he followed suit. “Your days of infamy are over.”
Oliver frowned. “Aren’t you being a tad dramatic?” he asked. “I merely took a wife.”
“A very beautiful wife,” Haskett said.
Follett nodded. “I agree.”
“Perhaps we should discuss something else?” Booth asked. “We have been discussing Radcliff’s marital state for the past few hours.”
Oliver let out a relieved sigh. “Yes, please.”
“What would you care to discuss?” Booth asked.
Turning his attention towards Follett, he inquired, “Is the meeting still on for tomorrow night at the Howl Hill Pub?”
“I assume as much,” Follett confirmed, “but I haven’t met with Guy Stewart again.”
Booth shook his head. “You are fools for even thinking about going to a pub in the rookeries. You could be robbed, or worse, and no one would even give you any heed.”
Follett puffed out his chest. “I can handle myself,” he said. “I carry an overcoat pistol on my person.”
“That is a relief,” Booth teased. “You have one shot, so I hope you only encounter one attacker.”
Oliver leaned back in his seat. “You don’t need to be worried about Follet, since I will be with him.”
Booth let out a bark of laughter. “No offense, but I doubt you will fare much better.”
“Why do you say that?” Oliver asked, amused.
“Are you in earnest?” Booth asked. “I don’t think I have ever seen you engage in fisticuffs.”
Oliver shrugged. “I am not the type to seek out a fight.”
Haskett interjected, “I will be going along, as well.”
Booth frowned. “Three gentlemen walking through the rookeries will garner some unwanted attention.”
“My coach will drive us to the pub,” Follett said. “We will be in no imminent danger.”
Haskett adjusted the lapels of his blue jacket. “Is anyone ready to adjourn to a gambling hell for the evening?”
