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The butler cleared his throat, making both men turn their attention on the fellow.
“Yes, Poole?” Christian asked.
The aged servant nodded toward the front parlor and winced slightly. “Mr. Winslett has been waiting for you, sir. He’s beenimbibing.”
And quite heavily if Gabe had interpreted the butler’s enunciation of the word correctly. Gabe and Christian exchanged a glance and then the pair of them made their way directly to the parlor in question.
Chase Winslett sat in a chintz chair in the middle of the room, cradling an entire decanter ofsomethingin his hands. He blinked at his friends and then said, “Madeira?” as he lifted the bottle up in the air.
“Are we foregoing glasses these days, Winslett?” Christian asked, stepping further into the parlor.
“One glass wasn’t going to do it.” Chase shrugged. “I thought Doctor Watts said you shouldn’t be up and about today.”
“It‘s just a scratch.” Christian dropped onto the settee across from their friend. “And Watts is overly cautious.”
Gabe followed Christian’s lead and took the spot beside him on the sofa. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I thought you said you didn’t intend to go down Gillingham’s path.”
Chase scoffed. Loudly. “Yes, well, a different cousin of mine is responsible for this lapse in my good judgment.”
Only Sophie could drive someone to drink. Or perhaps she only had the power to driveGabeto drink. Of course, something had been bothering her at Pall Mall. Did that something have to do with Chase? “What did she do now?”
“Somehow extricated Lady Priscilla from Chatham House a few hours ago.”
“Extricated her?” Christian echoed.
Chase closed his eyes as though he could block out whatever was bothering him. “She barges into my set of rooms last night, and—”
“Good God.” Christian sat a little straighter. “Wait, which of your cousins are we talking about?”
“Sophia Hampton,” Gabe answered for his friend.
“YourMiss Hampton?” Christian speared Gabe with a look.
“Just so.” Chase agreed with a nod of his head. “Begging me to make certain Priscilla wasn’t in danger of being married off to Hellsburg and—”
“Hellsburg?” Christian asked. “Who the devil is that?”
“One of our cousins,” Chase replied, opening his eyes once more. “He’s come from Prussia on business, apparently.” Then he turned his attention on Gabe. “And so I went over there to assess the situation for myself and damn if Sophie hadn’t already found a way to remove Priscilla from Chatham House and instill her in Beckbury House.”
Had she really? Sophie had always amazed Gabe. “How did she manage that?”
“I have no idea.” Chase shook his head. “That is not the point. She barged into my lodgings for no good reason last night, but after she convinced me to take up her mantel, she forged ahead with another plan altogether, makingmyjaunt to Chatham House a complete waste of time.”
That was true, but… “You did need to speak to your grandfather, anyway, I would imagine.”
“He tries to avoid doing that at all costs,” Christian said. Then he chuckled. “Go on, drink up, Winslett. I’m sure you need a restorative.”
Chase did tip back the entire decanter of Madeira.
No matter how much Chase wanted to evade Chatham… “He can’t avoid the old man now,” Gabe muttered.
“He’s been doing a marvelous job of it for some time,” Christian countered.
“Yes, but now he’s got me in his sights,” Chase complained. “Honestly, Gabe, I told you he made my uncle’s and cousin’s lives miserable, and he is now quite focused on me.”
“Which cousin are we talking about now?” Christian asked. “Hellsburg? Lady Priscilla?”
“Gillingham.” Chase took another swallow from the decanter. Then he sat forward in his spot. “Didyouknow he died?”
