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Chapter Three
The one good thing about his mother’s attempts to set Thomas up with Lady Leticia was it provided enough stress, he was far more enthusiastic about pursuing the business side of the dukedom, if only as a distraction.
At least until he actually stepped foot in his father’s study.
Perhaps he should have known Gerard would have had this space redecorated during the time Thomas was in the country, but he had not anticipated the sudden sense of loss he felt upon seeing the differences in the space. Many of their father’s belongings had been moved goodness knows where. The scent of brandy and pipe smoke, likewise, had been overtaken by fresh paint and dislodged mothballs.
It doesn’t matter, Thomas told himself sharply,you’ve work to do.
Thomas made himself take a seat at the desk, determined not to spend too long dwelling on how Father had sat in this very seat every day for years and years. It seemed just yesterday Thomas and Gerard had been mere boys, running about and interrupting Father’s business to tell him about their days, or show him a new toy.
“You look exactly like him, sitting there,” Gerard said, leaning against the door frame. His expression was guarded; Thomas suspected he was attempting to hold back some emotion of his own.
“If only I had his eye for figures,” Thomas said gruffly, turning his eyes to the ledger that remained unopened on the desk.
Gerard came further into the room and moved behind the desk alongside him. He flipped open the ledger on Thomas’ behalf. “It isn’t so difficult. No different from the arithmetic we were tasked with as students.”
There was jest in Gerard’s tone, and Thomas smiled and gave his brother a light shove. “You forget I have been conducting our business in the East this entire time. While I may not enjoy it, I do know the basics of balancing a ledger. I am merely unfamiliar with our latest business ventures here in London.”
“That, you most certainly are,” said Gerard.
There was something bitter in his tone. Thomas angled himself to the side and looked up at his brother. “What is your meaning?”
“Nothing,” said Gerard. “Merely that your difficulties adjusting have not gone unnoticed.”
A wave of embarrassment passed over Thomas. So, hehadbeen too quiet at the dinner party. At the time, he had been grateful to Gerard for directing the majority of the conversation, especially as it related to their London business operations. Now, he couldn’t help but feel regret at his own failure to step up.
Father was always a leader. What, precisely, are you?
“There is no need for you to worry,” Gerard amended, pulling away from Thomas to sit on the edge of the desk. “Though if you fear for your reputation, I know of just the thing that might resolve such issues.”
“And what is that?”
“There are to be fireworks tonight at Vauxhall Gardens. I suggest the two of us attend.” There was a teasing, almost lecherous angle to his expression. “Plenty of business contacts to be made, not to mention the presence of Lady Leticia.”
* * *
“…and I said to them, ‘I absolutely must have the pink gown for my very own. I know lilac is more in fashion at the moment, but it just does not do well for my complexion. No, pink is the only sure choice for me.’ My lady’s maids all agree, though Mother is a different story. Regardless, I suppose it doesn’t matter what any of them think, so long as I am comfortable. Though I cannot help but be curious—what areyourthoughts on the matter, Your Grace?”
Thomas jolted out of his thoughts. He hadn’t been thinking, much, really—Lady Leticia’s conversational patterns were hypnotic in that they lulled him into a daze. Despite the beauty of the gardens surrounding them, his mind’s eye was full of warring pink and lilac dresses.
“My apologies,” he said, “I became distracted.”
“That’s no matter,” Lady Leticia said, clinging to his arm a bit tighter. “I was merely saying that earlier this month, my lady’s maid and I went out about the town to discover for ourselves the latest fashion of the upcoming Season…”
When Thomas realized she had begun her story all over again, a wave of exhaustion took hold of him so strongly, he was impressed with his ability to stay upright.
It wasn’t that Lady Leticia wasn’t a kind girl, and anyone could certainly see she was quite beautiful, no matter what color dress she was wearing.
But the thought of asking her parents for her hand, only to doom himself to a lifetime of chatter about things of inapplicable to him, was of little interest.
“Oh!” she said suddenly, jerking Thomas to attention once more. “There is Mary! My dearest friend from childhood.” She turned to Thomas, pleading in her eyes. “You will wait for me while I say hello?”
Thomas agreed to wait, for what else was he meant to say? That her chatter disinterested him? No, he would play the gentleman through and through, as he imagined Father would have in his same position.
Lady Leticia, however, did not seem to possess similar ideals. She was quickly swept up by her friends and ushered away across the garden, leaving Thomas alone and forgotten.
Well, he thought, as her lady’s maid offered an apologetic smile before chasing after Lady Leticia herself.Perhaps now you can finally catch up with Gerard and meet those business contacts he was so enthusiastic about.
