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“It’s a rare breed,” the marquess replied, not looking up. “One I haven’t seen up close in England.”
“And there you have it,” Thurmont said with a roll of his eyes. “I’ve been going mad from boredom, which quite says something about the state of this wretched ball if I’d rather subject myself to this pontification on the finer points of botany than mingle amongst the crowd.”
“If only Derry were here, then there might be a modicum of excitement,” Nathan said. Derry, or rather, Prince Derrick, was the fifth member of their motley crew and rarely in England these days, having duties within his own country to sort out. The five of them had formed a tight-nit friendship at Eaton and then Oxford, one that had never wavered to this day and was well known amongst the Ton, though not always for the best of reasons.
“That would be preferred.” Kirkwood finally rose. “If only to hide from the marriage minded mamas. Speaking of which, I hear you plan on throwing yourself to the proverbial wolves this season.”
“Yes, unfortunately.”
Kirkwood shook his head. “Poor man. We’ll be cheering you on from behind Derry.”
“If he even gets here. The man was supposed to arrive a good two weeks ago. Likely got distracted and is wandering about somewhere again,” Lockhart mused.
“Forget him for now,” Thurmont interrupted with a wave of his hand as he closed in on the three. “I’ve come up with the most marvelous lark to get us through this abysmal season.”
Nathan sighed. “Another bet, then?” Thurmont was fond of wagers, and more than a few of their group’s scrapes had resulted from one of the earl’s harebrained schemes.
“This one is perfectly harmless,” Thurmont assured, likely sensing their hesitance.
Kirkwood frowned. “I doubt that.”
“Well, I’m bored enough to do just about anything,” Lockhart said. “And I’m sure Milton would like a distraction from his marriage predicament.”
Nathan shrugged. “Fair enough.” Surely a bit of fun to make the tedium bearable would be worth it. “Go on, Thurmont.”
The earl grinned. “You’re all going to dance. A waltz, specifically.”
“What’s the catch?” Nathan inquired, unease trickling up his spine. “There is always a catch with you. Not to brag, but half the ladies here would tumble over themselves for a dance with me and Lockhart alone.”
Thurmont wagged his finger. “You’re to dance, not just with any lady, but with one of my choosing.”
“Let me guess,” Kirkwood deadpanned. “You want us to convince someone difficult, don’t you? One of those determined spinsters, I suppose?”
When Thurmont smiled in reply, Nathan rolled his eyes. “No, thank you. I’ve enough on my plate from the ladies who actually want to spend time with me. I’d rather not waste my time trying to cajole a prickly wallflower.”
“I, for one, would love to take up the challenge,” Lockhart said cheerily. “Those ladies deserve some attention, too.”
“If the prize is worth it, perhaps,” Kirkwood mused. “Though I warn you, it will take a good deal of temptation to get me out of this garden. There are many interesting blooms here I would like to inquire with our hostess about.”
“Will you really not take part, Milton?” Thurmont looked about close to pouting.
“I will not.”
“And if my Bellona was the reward?”
Nathan froze at the mention of the prized mare. The horse had yet to lose a race and was one of the most gorgeous thoroughbreds he’d ever laid eyes upon. She’d be the crown jewel of his stables, if only Thurmont would let her. Many times Nathan had offered increasingly outrageous sums for the horse, and every time he was refused. Frustrating, considering that Thurmont cared little for horse breeding, and had only purchased Bellona himself on a whim. If there was one thing in the world that would tempt him to take on this silly scheme, it was this. “Go on.”
Thurmont grinned in triumph. “You get the dance within the next month, the horse is yours. No strings attached.”
“Damn you, fine,” Nathan grumbled, finishing the last of his champagne with a hard swallow. “How are we doing this?”
“You and Lockhart are up first, followed by Kirkwood and I.”
“You’re participating?”
“It’s only fair. You all can pick the lady and the reward when my turn comes. And if Derry ever gets around to finally showing his face this season, I’ll ask him if he wants a try.”
“And if we fail?” Kirkwood said, ever the shrewd one of their group.
