“I do believe you have an idea, but my advice would be not to let the ladies hear you say what your criterion is. I do not think even the most level-minded female would take too kindly to receiving a proposal of marriage because you thought she was the least annoying choice.”
Bryghton cleared his throat and ordered his face into a serious expression. “Now shall we return to the matter at hand? Unless, of course, you are considering Lady Victoria to be a candidate for a future bride?”
“Not at all, Duke. I should not like to get my family mixed up with the likes of Pickering. She is a nice enough young lady and I will be happy to assist her, but she does not fall into the category of least annoying. Her uncle is plenty annoying if you ask me.”
“True enough, Alfred, my good man. But we must consider her marriageable material, as that would seem to be Alanna’s intentions in launching her. She is convinced it is highly inappropriate for the lady to be governess to her cousins, and Alanna has decided Lady Victoria must find a husband.”
Alfred sat back in his chair and drained his brandy once more. “I have clearly not had enough of this very fine brandy. I was thinking your sister was merely interested in having company for the Season or that she was considering the lady as a hobby. I did not realize the extent of her ambitions.” The baron sat gazing off into space for a moment before turning back to face Bryghton with his face schooled into serious lines. “But it is not a terrible idea. She is really a beautiful young lady and connected to the earl. It should not be all that difficult for your sister to get her married off.”
“It would seem, though, that my sister wants to find a love match for the lady. She will not be content with merely finding the lady an acceptable home. She wants to provide for her happiness.”
“That’s right kindly of her, would you not say?”
Bryghton smiled. “Of course it’s kind, but it is also complicated. I will keep you informed of my sister’s plans.”
“Well, thank you for the information. I did wonder what your sister was going to manage to accomplish in that quarter.”
The two gentlemen sat in companionable silence for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts. Alfred contemplated with admiration what a merry adventure Alanna was setting up for herself and her friend for the coming weeks. She was a charming lady; there was no doubt about it. He felt his pulse quicken as his mind dwelt on her. A wave of guilt swamped him over such thoughts about his friend’s sister. He shook his head, hoping he wasn’t blushing like a schoolgirl. Bryghton, seeming not to notice, roused himself from his own thoughts and got up from the table.
“Where are you off to now?” Alfred asked with feigned curiosity.
“I thought I would stick my head into a few of the ton gatherings this evening. Alanna and the duchess are attending a ball at Viscount Chorley’s tonight. I figured Lady Chorley would not turn me away even though she did not invite me. Actually, it is entirely possible she did invite me but my secretary discards all such correspondence upon my orders. I should probably try to remember to tell him that I will need to attend a few of those things now.”
“Eloise and my aunt have accepted Chorley’s invitation as well, so I will most likely see you there.”
“Possibly, although my sister has informed me it is likely to be a terrible crush.”
“With your shiny golden head I should be able to pick you out of the crowd. Fair thee well, my friend. And see you later.”
Bryghton shook his head amusedly and took his leave. As he made his way out of the club, he was again hailed by many of the assembled noblemen. It was slow progress, stopping at nearly every table to shake hands and exchange greetings, but before too long he was out on the street in front of the club, glad that he had left his tiger to walk the horses.
“Thank you, Ernie. I had not planned on being inside for quite that long. It was good that you kept them walking. These two would no doubt be in high fidgets by now if you had not.”
“I know me horses, me lord. You need never be afeared when they’re in my hands,” boasted the young tiger as he clambered up to his perch behind the duke and they took off at a brisk pace, heading back towards the duke’s rooms in Albany.
That night, the duke showed up at Chorney’s ball, one of the last guests to be received by the viscount and his wife. Bowing elegantly over Lady Chorney’s hand and placing a kiss flirtatiously upon her wrist, Bryghton had on his most winsome smile as he charmed the couple. “My sister told me she would be attending your ball this evening and I offered to come with her. She informed me that I had not been included in her invitation, so I was of two minds on the subject. Is it terribly maladroit of me to attend without having received an invitation? If I promise to dance with at least two wallflowers and three debutantes will you allow me entrée?”
The viscount watched the young duke’s antics with a baleful eye but his wife laughed with delight. “Fie on you, your grace, of course you are always welcome in our home. The only maladroit thing you have done is point out how remiss I was in not sending you an invitation in the first place. Had the gossip gotten around to me by the time I issued my invitations that you were out this Season you can be sure that you would have received one. As it is, the knowledge only reached my ears this afternoon that you had been seen dancing at the Pembroke ball last night. You can be sure that your front hall will be positively littered with invitations by tomorrow.”
Bryghton suppressed a shudder at the viscountess’ words, maintaining his charming smile, although now lacking some of the luster. The viscount, always observant, saw the duke’s reaction and brightened considerably. It was obvious to Lord Chorney that, while the young duke clearly had some sort of agenda, he was not overly eager to be entering the social whirl of the ton, nor did he have inappropriate eyes for the viscountess. Taking mercy on him, the viscount interrupted his wife’s enthusiastic welcome of the duke.
“Come along Wychwood, I do believe I have served sufficient time standing here welcoming my wife’s guests and I now deserve some sort of libation as a reward for my good behaviour. You must come with me and fortify yourself for the night’s ordeals.”
“Robert, are you trying to imply that attending my party is going to be an ordeal for his lordship?” his wife asked, equal parts horror and humour in her tone.
Bryghton stepped in to save the viscount, grateful for his welcome. “No doubt your dear husband remembers the trepidation with which he faced events such as these prior to having you in his life to smooth the way for him socially. He is merely expressing empathy for the situation I am in as a poor unmarried duke. Surely you understand, my lady.”
“Get along with you, the both of you. Of course I understand. Now do not forget your promises to my unpartnered guests, your grace, no matter how good my husband’s port might be.”
Winking, Bryghton said, “I could never forget my word, my lady—particularly not to such a charming lady as yourself.”
“Come along you scamp, and quit flirting with my wife,” growled Lord Chorney as he took the duke off to his library for the promised drink.
As they entered the distinctly masculine room, Chorney commented conversationally. “This is probably the only room in which we can have a moment’s peace tonight. My lady wife has thrown the doors wide upon the entire house but she had the good grace to leave me one place to escape to if I needs must.” He poured the brandy, remarking, “You can be sure nothing she’s serving tonight will be as good as this.” Realizing the insult to his wife’s hospitality, he hastily continued, “Not to imply that she would be serving anything inferior to our guests—it is just that one does not serve brandy at events such as these.”
“Of course, I understand fully,” answered Bryghton. “I have been to plenty such events and know exactly what you mean. I’m grateful for your hospitality in offering me some of the good stuff before I throw myself to the wolves.”
The viscount grinned at his younger guest. “Looking to get yourself a duchess
this Season, my boy? No doubt it is about time for you.”
Bryghton held onto his good humour by an effort of will, gritting his teeth against complaints about why everyone was in such an eager hurry to marry him off. “I am merely checking out the lay of the land, my lord, and casting a brotherly eye upon my sister’s actions. I am as yet undecided on the subject of my own duchess, but my good friend’s sister is making her debut this year and this is my sister’s third Season, so it did seem to me that there was an obligation for me to make an appearance.”
Lord Chorney did not buy Bryghton’s story for a moment, but was intuitive enough to realize it was not as simple as the duke searching for a wife either. He allowed the subject to drop. Taking a last sip from his glass he banged it down on his desk with an enthusiasm he did not quite feel, and smiled at his guest. “Shall we enter the fray, then, your grace, if you are finished?”
Bryghton too downed his glass, as though hoping it would smooth the way for the ordeal he was about to face. He wondered again why he was feeling the need to enter the social world of the ton in order to smooth the way for Lady Victoria—his enemy’s niece, of all people. Realizing his smile was starting to feel more like a snarl, he cleared his throat and followed his host from the room.
The fates must have been smiling fondly upon the duke that night as he entered the crowded ballroom. With relief, he realized Lord Lynster, his little sister, and his aunt were not more than ten feet away from him. His grin was genuine, as he realized he could relieve himself of at least one debutante commitment by taking little Eloise to the dance floor.
Eloise accepted his offer, and he led her to the dance floor.
“Are you having a good time here tonight at Lady Chorney’s ball, Miss Eloise?” he asked.
“I am having a perfectly lovely time, thank you, your grace. It is particularly exciting, as Lady Alanna has assured me that it shall be a veritable squeeze. I will admit to you I have been dearly wishing to know how it feels to be in attendance upon such an occasion.”
“You have? That leads me to believe you have particularly odd tastes. Why ever would you wish to be present when a hostess’ rooms are overflowing their capacity? It can become decidedly unpleasant, I can assure you.”
“Well, I can understand why you would say that, as it has become dreadfully close, besides the various odours,” the pretty young debutante wrinkled her nose delicately at this statement. “But, your grace, it will no doubt be remarked upon in the newspaper tomorrow and how exciting will it be to know we were there? And when we make morning calls tomorrow, if we happen upon anyone who was not in attendance we can feel so important, but we will, of course, try to sound blasé, as we admit with just the perfect tone of ennui that ‘but of course we were at Lady Chorney’s party.’”
The duke chuckled. “You are not nearly as innocent and naive as you would have others believe, are you, Miss Lynster?”
“Perhaps not as much as my older brother would wish to believe, at any rate,” she agreed with sage aplomb.
“What do you look forward to during your Season, besides attending a crush, if I may be so bold as to ask?”
Eloise grinned and allowed a deep sigh of contentment to pass her lips. “It is hard to say what I look forward to most, your grace. I wish to experience everything I have ever heard about. Your sister is such a generous correspondent and has been kind enough to stay in touch with me. Her letters while she was in London for the Season were always the most exciting, full of her adventures and whom she had seen. I would like to do everything she has told me about.”
The young woman paused for a moment, as though contemplating all the possibilities before her. She turned back to the duke, and said confidentially, “She once told me about going to see a balloon ascension. That sounded delightful. It would be so exciting to watch the balloon go up and away out of sight. But do you know, I think it would be even more exciting to be in the basket and watching the ground drop away. You would feel just like a bird, would you not, your grace? I wonder if they would allow ladies as passengers. Have you any idea who one should ask about such a thing, your grace?”
Bryghton was struck nearly speechless by the question. “You are a strange little wench, aren’t you, Miss Lynster?”
“Not at all, your grace. Surely many people would wish to try such a ride. Is that not why the things were invented?”
“Well, I cannot fault your logic, Miss, but you are the first of your gender that I have ever heard of wishing to try it.”
“Perhaps the ladies you know just did not think to tell you of their wish. You are not an inventor, so they may think you have no knowledge of the subject and therefore cannot help them to attain their desire. I, on the other hand, have known you forever and know how delightfully resourceful you can be, so I thought perhaps you might be a good one to ask. You could, no doubt, at least steer me in the right direction.” She paused for a moment while casting him a scrutinizing look. “I have faith that you can at least be trusted not to ring a peel over me even if you do not share in my aspirations. And you will be good enough not to tell Alfred.”
The duke grinned. “So you do realize that this particular adventure could meet with some censure.”
“I do believe that any adventure could meet with some censure. No doubt it would not be an adventure if it did not.”
“I now understand why my good friend seems to have suddenly turned into a hovering nursemaid,” Bryghton said with a note of wonder in his tone. “I am wholeheartedly glad that you are not my responsibility.”
Eloise’s innocent stare began to border on a glare. Bryghton allowed another chuckle at her expense. “Oh, do not get yourself ruffled up, little chick. I will not out you to your brother if I have your word you will not try to stow away on the next balloon you come across. In fact, I will promise to escort you to an ascension if you will do your best not to have too many censorious adventures.”
“I knew you could be counted upon, your grace. I will do my very best to stay out of trouble.”
“Now come along, it sounds as though the band is winding down and I should be escorting you back to your aunt.”
“Thank you for dancing with me, your grace. Thanks to you, no doubt my importance has climbed in rank and there will be any number of young men waiting to ask for my hand for the next dance. Is it not just so perfectly exciting?”
“I am glad to be of service,” Bryghton answered wryly, never having given much thought to such social power he might wield.
Bryghton was relieved to have the chit off his hands. He was feeling rather trepidatious about the rest of the dances he had committed himself to, but thankfully they turned out to be of the harmless variety that he had expected Eloise to be. It was somewhat mind numbingly boring to dance with missish young debutantes, but there was no more talk of wishing to have adventures. The duke went back to stand beside his friend as soon as he had acquitted himself of his promise.
“Where have you been, Wychwood? I have barely seen you for most of the night.”
“I have been on the dance floor, which is where one should expect to be when one is at a ball, would you not agree?”
Alfred merely grinned at his friend’s apparent ill humour. “Has the social round become too much for you already, your grace? The Season is still young. You do not need to retire to your estate for a repairing lease just yet, do you?”
“Why are you enjoying my discomfort so much? I, at least, do not have responsibility for one such as your sister.”
“What did the chit do now?” Alfred asked suspiciously.
Bryghton belatedly remembered his promise not to tell the baron of his sister’s wish for adventure, so he had to think quickly to cover up his misstep. “Oh, it was nothing she did, it is just that I realized while dancing with her and some other young debutantes, that while I feel a sense of responsibility towards Alanna, having our mother here to watch over her makes a world of difference for me. As well, since this is her third Seas
on, she is, no doubt, much more up to snuff than the younger ladies would be, and I do not have to fear that she will unknowingly venture where she ought not.”
“Mayhap not, although, I would think there would be a different set of problems that would accompany an unmarried lady that has been out for a few years. She may become bored of the usual entertainments and begin to search for adventure. Or she may become desperate to marry and decide she ought to accept any offer that may come along.”
Bryghton stared at his friend with some dismay. “Has Alanna said anything of that nature to you?”
Alfred grinned at his friend’s discomfort. “Now you understand how I have been feeling.”
“Have mercy, Freddy, misery should not love company.” The duke shook his head in some disgust over the state of affairs they found themselves in. “Now tell me. Do you need to stand guard for the entire night or could we perhaps vacate the premises and go in search of some less genteel adventures of our own?”
Alfred looked out onto the dance floor where Eloise was enthusiastically and almost elegantly gliding around in the company of a young man he was not perfectly familiar with. “You have danced with her, Wychwood, what do you think?”
Bryghton laughed. “I think I will have to find someone else to make merry with tonight.”
“Sadly, I think you are right.”
The two gentlemen took their leave of one another, going their separate ways. Bryghton, feeling restless, went to various locales he had previously enjoyed but found his heart was just not in it this night. Giving up in frustration, he made his way home and found himself in bed at an unfashionably early hour.
“Here I am practically keeping country hours,” he said sourly to his valet as he was helped out of his coat. “What has become of me? I will be tied to some silly young chit’s apron strings before I know it at the rate I am going.”
“I have a hard time envisioning that, your grace,” answered the staunch valet.
Bryghton grinned. “Thank you, Timothy. I appreciate your faith in me.”
The Reluctant Debutante: A Sweet, Regency Romance (Ladies of Mayfair Book 4) Page 19