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James was glad of Michael’s distracting conversation and his jests. It made it easier to ignore the stares of the rest of the ton in this part of the assembly rooms. That happiness began to slip when Michael pointed behind him.
“Incoming…” he whispered.
“What?” James turned round to see his brother approaching.
“I shall make myself scarce,” Michael murmured and clapped him on the shoulder. “Come find me again if you need someone to make you smile. Or you could ask your wife to do that task for you. I warrant she does a better job of it me these days.”
“Michael…” James offered a warning tone, but Michael simply smiled as he began to retreat, disappearing into the crowded ton.
“What?” Michael called back to him. “You smile just when you say her name!”
I do?
James was so caught up with the thought, he was scarcely prepared for his brother’s arrival. Neil approached quickly with the usual smile he offered everyone else in that room surreptitiously absent. He had a large glass of wine in his hands, and judging by the way he nearly slipped as he walked to James, he’d had a little too much.
“Careful, Neil.” James took his brother’s arm, keeping him standing, until Neil glared down at that touch. James quickly retrieved his hand. “How much have you had?”
“That isn’t really your business, is it?” Neil downed some of what was in his glass. James tried to keep the look of horror off his face. For a horrid second, it was as if he was staring at his father and not his brother at all.
No… don’t become him, Neil.
“If you intend to be so abrasive in your manner tonight, tell me, why did you come to talk to me?” James asked, longing to seek out Marina in the room. Something she had said earlier to him had made a difference. The way she had talked of him trying to enjoy himself whether he earned Neil’s good opinion or not made sense to him.
Well, for how long have I tried to earn his good opinion and made no progress? It is unlikely I will ever have it now.
“Because I had to talk about –” Neil broke off sharply and smiled pleasantly at a couple who passed rather too closely to them. Once they were gone, he took James’ arm in a vice-like grip and dragged him to the corner of the room. They were half hidden behind a candelabra and a drinks table where Neil reached to top up his wine glass. “I had to talk about what you have done to this family.”
“I thought you had lectured me on that many times before. Tell me, which of my failings do you wish to condemn this evening?” James asked, purposefully making his tone a light one. “Is it my occupation? My manner in general? Or perhaps my choice in bride?”
“Pa! Choice. At least, you did marry her. The situation could have been worse if you did not.” Neil took rather a large gulp of his wine. “All of it.” He took a firm turn toward James. “I spoke to the Prince Regent this week.”
“You are going up in the world – royal connections now! How long until you call him a firm friend?” James had seen repeatedly how Neil ingratiated himself with people who weren’t that likeable, just to advance his position in society. James didn’t doubt his brother intended to do the same with the Prince.
“He spoke about you. Imagine that.” Neil scoffed, shaking his head. “I’m there trying to make a friend of the most influential gentleman in the land, and he could not stop talking about you and the scandals you have caused.” Neil was almost breathless as he took another gulp from his wine.
“I really think you need to slow down with that.” James made his voice serious and pointed to the wine, but Neil didn’t appear to hear him.
“I just wanted you to know the lasting damage you have done to me, James.”
“I hardly need yet another reminder of it.”
“Your smile suggests you do.” Neil glared at him. “You walked in here tonight, smiling as if you hadn’t a care in the world.” He was clearly incredulous and a little angry at the idea.
James didn’t answer right away, for he wondered why he had been smiling at all. The whole journey to Almack’s Assembly Rooms, he had been angry. The letter that had arrived shortly before he’d left put the fear of God into him. He’d not smiled at all because of the fear that something could happen to Marina.
Then he remembered walking into the assembly rooms with her. She’d jested that people were turning to face them, staring at them as if they were the wondrous attraction at the Tower of London menagerie now.
“Perhaps I should have worn one of those ridiculous feathers in my hair. At least then, I would look more like one of those marvelous birds of paradise, and they’d have an excuse to stare.”
Her jest had brought laughter from him when he’d least expected it. It was a delight to discover she could change his mood so easily.
“You wish misery upon me then, brother?” James asked slowly. Neil didn’t answer; he simply raised his glass toward his lips, preparing for another gulp. “I’d never wish such a thing on you.”
“I find that rather hard –”
“James?” Marina’s voice had him turning toward her. At her presence at his side, relief washed over him. She reached for his arm without hesitation, and he gladly gave it to her.
