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All he wanted to do was go home and drown his frustrations in a good bottle of scotch. He was in no mood to act the gentleman and mingle with the other guests.
“For heaven’s sake, wipe that grim look off your face,” his grandmother scolded. “At least pretend like you want to be here.”
“It will prove the performance of a lifetime, Gran.”
She rolled her eyes as they followed the crowd to the adjoining rooms, which were set up with a buffet, while footmen came around with trays of drinks.
One hour, that was all Andrew would stay, then he would demand they leave. He grabbed a glass of champagne and downed it in one gulp.
Damned piss water.
Perhaps their host had something stronger he could ask for. He would need it to make it through the rest of the evening.
Time dragged on. Andrew did as promised, putting a smile on his face, chatting with the guests. Occasionally, he glimpsed Tabitha. Like him, she seemed to have a strained expression. Once or twice, Andrew caught her stealing a peek at him.
“Holcombe?”
Andrew turned toward the voice. “Batting.”
It was his childhood friend, Lord Lionel Batting. The men had known each other since their school days. Like Andrew, Lionel was a second son, but unlike Andrew, Lionel and his father got along and had a good relationship.
“I thought I heard you were in India,” Andrew said as he shook his friend’s hand.
“I returned last week. Been there for a year, and I must say it’s good to be home.”
Lionel was part owner of a shipping company and, being a former Navy officer, had accompanied the voyage. Before he’d left, he told Andrew that he wanted one more adventure before he settled down to find a wife.
“I’m glad you’re back, my friend. I missed you.”
“I heard about your inheritance. My condolences for losing your brother.”
“Thank you.” Andrew hesitated. “Have you heard anything else about me?”
Had Lionel been home long enough to hear the tales told about him?
“No.” His friend frowned. “This is my first night out since coming home. I’ve been working ever since I arrived. What has happened?”
“It’s too much to tell tonight. Meet me tomorrow afternoon at the club, and I’ll tell you everything.”
Lionel agreed, and the friends parted ways. Now it was time to collect his grandmother and leave. Andrew searched the room and saw her speaking with Tabitha’s aunt, but Tabitha wasn’t with them. Thank goodness.
He waited at a discreet distance, waiting for Gran to move on, then he would tell her they were leaving. As Andrew waited, Tabitha joined the older ladies. Dread tied his stomach into knots. He silently prayed his grandmother would not seek him out. But then it happened. She spotted her grandson and motioned for him to join them.
Perhaps he could pretend he hadn’t seen them, walk away and apologize to his grandmother later. But it would be insulting to Tabitha and her aunt. He might be a scoundrel, but he knew his duty as a gentleman and a duke. With the last shred of patience that he had, Andrew walked over to the group of ladies.
“Here is he, my grandson, the Duke of Holcombe. May I introduce Lady Hinley and her niece, Miss Tabitha Crestwood.”
Tabitha and her aunt gave him a quick curtsey, and he bowed his head. “It is a pleasure to meet you, ladies. I hope you enjoyed the concert.”
“We did indeed, didn’t we, Tabitha?” Lady Hinley responded, glancing at her niece.
“Yes. It was...”
“Exhilarating.” Andrew blurted out. Good lord, what made him say that?
His grandmother gave him an odd look. She must have thought he’d lost his mind.
“The musicians were very talented,” Tabitha spoke up.
