Algernon held back a chuckle. He had rarely seen Brendon so distracted.
“Your father, you idiot. He lies on his deathbed as we speak, remember? That’s what you told me this morning, or did I misread the gravity of the situation.” He passed his own handkerchief over for his friend to wrap his sore fingers.
Horror coursed through Brendon. How could he have forgotten that someone had shot his father? He gave himself a mental shake, stopped fussing with the makeshift bandage, and pushed all thoughts of the lovely Sophia from his mind as he turned back to Lucas.
“Forgive me, Lucas. I don’t know what came over me. My only excuse is that I am agitated beyond endurance. My father took part in a duel at dawn. He was left for dead, bleeding on the ground. Fortunately, his valet and driver found him shortly after they heard two gunshots. Father left my mother a note.” He held out the letter to Lucas. “Algernon tells me that you were at your mother’s party last night. I wondered if you overheard anything or knew how this catastrophe might have happened. Algernon, being as drunk as a wasp in a barrel of apples, can barely recall a thing.”
Lucas glowered at Brendon for a moment longer and kept one hand pressed to his jaw before taking the letter with the other.
“You are bloody lucky that I don’t hold a grudge.” He wriggled his jaw one last time before his eyes scanned the note. The altercation seemingly forgotten, he glanced at Algernon curiously as he read. “I wonder what Lord Spencer means when he names you in this? I thought you only arrived in town yesterday. How could you possibly be to blame for this occurrence? And why would anyone think it anyway? You are his son in law, after all.” He massaged the side of his face as he spoke.
Algernon shook his head.
“Yes, I am but I have no idea what he means. And before you ask, I certainly didn’t have anything to do with the incident. As you say, I arrived in town late yesterday afternoon and I confess that I only accepted your mother’s invitation because she serves an excellent dinner. I might have stayed at home if Mrs. Archer had cooked stuffed quail followed by venison in a red wine sauce, and lemon tart for dessert.” His stomach gave a loud rumble as if recalling the delicious repast.
Lucas glanced back down at the note again before folding it over and handing it back to Brendon. He reached over and pulled the bell.
“I’m still half asleep, and what with having my brains almost knocked out before I had any chance to defend myself,” he said pointedly. “I think I’ll call for breakfast while I mull this over. My head always works better when I have a full stomach.”
A few minutes later, they all wandered into the dining room.
Brendon looked startled at all the silver servers sitting on the buffet.
“Lord! How many people were you expecting? And who were you expecting at this time of the morning? There looks to be enough here for at least a dozen hungry men. Your cook must have been up before dawn preparing this lot.” He lifted the top of a covered dish and his eyes widened at the sight of the huge pile of kippers inside.
Lucas helped himself to three of the fish, added two boiled eggs, and cut into a loaf of bread. He put his plate on the table and dug in before responding.
“It’s all the exercise. I reached twenty-five and realized that I still looked like a blasted fifteen year old. The ladies were not impressed. Something had to be done. You should think yourself lucky that I am still hung-over and half-asleep, Bren or you might not have any teeth right about now.”
Brendon’s tongue swept round inside his mouth as if checking he had more than mere gums.
“I noticed. What have you been doing to yourself? I swear you have doubled in stature.”
Lucas grinned.
“I’ve been going to Delemere’s new boxing club. Ivan, his doorman, runs it in the evenings. Delemere decided that the man was being wasted simply letting people in and out of the gun club. Opened the new club about the same time Algernon here was leg shackled and put Ivan in charge of the training.” He waggled a fork full of kipper at his two friends. “The man is a positive slave driver, but as you can see, the results are impressive. I bulked up fast and I’ve not lost a fight since joining.” He shovelled the kipper into his mouth before reaching out to pour himself a cup of tea.
Algernon peered at the buffet and felt his innards recoil from the mounds of fried bacon and server full of rich kedgeree. Deciding that even though hunger gnawed at him, his stomach was still too delicate, he helped himself to some bread and raspberry jam.
“A fight? What sort of fight?” He spread a thin layer of butter and jam over his bread.
Lucas shrugged as he swallowed more fish and eggs.
“Prize fighting. Turns out I am rather good at it, which is why Brendon is lucky that I was still half asleep when he planted that facer.” He waved his now empty fork about the room again. “Certainly perked up my finances. Father was so delighted when I beat the Shoreditch Slugger, he doubled my allowance. He wouldn’t admit it, but I think he had laid a substantial bet upon the outcome. I’ve had several more bouts since. In fact, I have one tomorrow. The prize pools are spectacular, though I would prefer that information not getting back to my father. I quite like having plenty of loot to spend.” His eyes suddenly widened as if remembering something, and he dipped his hands into his pockets. A few seconds later he pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Brendon. “That ten pounds I owed you. Sorry for the delay. I had completely forgotten about it until this very moment.
Rather impressed that the man went around with bundles of cash shoved in a dressing gown pocket Brendon took the note and tucked it into his own. He picked at a slice of ham and some figs that he had put on his plate.
“Thanks. I apologize for my lack of manners once again, and congratulate you on your success, but however thrilled I am for your new physique and financial position, none of this is helping me find out who wanted to kill my father.”
Lucas lay his fork down and lifted his teacup. It looked rather too delicate for his hand.
“No, you are right, but I don’t know what to tell you. Mother organized the party quite late on. There were only a few of us there. Algernon, Sophia and myself, obviously. Then there was my sister Daisy and her Duke. Bertie Cravenwood came early and left as soon as we had finished the lemon tart. Then it was just the usual entourage of matchmaking mothers, sisters, maiden aunts, and any waifs and strays they could pick up on the way. A couple of father’s friends called in during the evening but they didn’t remain long. Well, I don’t think they did. Algernon and I got stuck into the port and I don’t remember a lot after he kissed Aphrodite.” He nodded his head towards Algernon, who blushed furiously.
“It was his fault.” Algernon pointed at Lucas as he answered Brendon’s enquiring brow. “He pointed out that his mother’s statue looks like Felicity. And she does...Well, she does when you have drunk the best part of three bottles of port,” he finished lamely.
Lucas laughed, but stopped quickly when he realized that the sound made his head feel as though it was about to explode.
“She has quite the most spectacular figure, I’ll have to admit. If Felicity looks half as good as the Goddess of love, it’s no wonder you were tempted.” He took another sip of his tea.
Brendon’s appalled gaze fell back on Lucas.
“Good grief! Not only do you think about Algernon’s sister all the time, but his wife too. And she is my sister! Dear Lord! Aphrodite stands naked. Are there no boundaries that you are not willing to cross?” He asked Lucas indignantly.
Lucas forgot about his aching head as he snorted with laughter. He put his cup down and refilled it.
“If you ever bothered to come to my mother’s events, you would know that her sensibilities are not as open as some of her friends. She actually dresses her more risqué artwork. Believe me, Aphrodite stands in the hallway as chaste as a novice nun.”
Brendon looked at Algernon.
“Really?” he asked for confirmation of Lucas’ words.
>
Algernon nodded as more of his memory returned.
“I do seem to recall becoming entangled in rather a lot of navy blue drapery at one point.” He sighed deeply and took a big bite of his bread and jam.
Lucas sniggered into his cup before looking thoughtful again.
“Sophia carted him off after that. I think she was a little embarrassed. Your parents left a short time later.” He scratched his head. “Or was it earlier? Damned if I can remember. I carried on drinking with Bertie. Arrived home here at about five o’clock. I know that was the right time because my man complained bitterly about having to get up and answer the door. Cheek of him, I pay him enough. He should have been wide awake and waiting for me.” He stood up and walked to the buffet, helping himself to several rashers of bacon and two scoops of the kedgeree.
Brendon stabbed another fig.
“Something must have gone on. I’ll have to speak to your father, Lucas. It sounds as though he might retain more of his memory than either of you two.”
Lucas added more bread to his plate and came back to the table, his eyebrows suddenly dipped into a line.
“Hmm, you might be too late. They were leaving early for Cairnsworth. Last night was their farewell party.” He glanced up at the clock on the mantle as he mentioned his father’s Derbyshire estate.
Brendon glowered.
“Damn! I wish you had told me this before. Now I’ll have to go chasing about the countryside trying to discover what went on.”
Lucas shook his head and quickly swallowed his bacon.
“Might not have to. Your father might wake up and then you can ask him directly. Probably the easiest thing to do.”
Brendon pushed his plate away.
“If he wakes.” He might have added more, but the door opened and Lucas’ brawny butler entered.
“A message from Lady Sophia Barclay has arrived for Lord Spencer.” He held out a silver salver. Brendon took the note and tore it open, his eyes travelling quickly over the words.
“My father has woken and is asking for me. I must leave immediately.” He stood up and backed away from the table.
Algernon rose too.
“I’ll come as well. I want to know why he mentioned my name in his letter.”
Lucas looked down at his plate and sighed sorrowfully at what remained upon it. He wiped his mouth on his napkin and pushed his chair back.
“I’ll come too, of course. I can make up for missing my breakfast at lunchtime. Can you just hold on while I dress?”
Brendon pressed his lips together for a few seconds before answering.
“I don’t suppose ten minutes will make much difference and seeing him might bring your memory back. We’ll wait in your salon.” He strode past the butler and left the room with Algernon following quickly behind him.
Chapter Four
A Secret Mission
Brendon had never seen his father look quite so ghastly. Not even as ill as the time when Brendon had decided to sneak into the dining room and drop a slug in the table wine merely to see what would happen to the creature. As he had hidden behind the draperies, he had become quite alarmed at the sight of his father turning green as he realized that something large, slimy, and exceptionally slippery had floated into his mouth. The, by then, foaming pulmonate came back out again far faster than it had been imbibed, the tablecloth and even the dining room curtains being the recipients of its hasty eviction. Brendon’s backside had suffered his father’s horror for almost a week.
Now Brendon only wished that the olive tinge to his father’s features had been induced by something as insignificant as a garden gastropod. He would have gladly suffered ten times the original thrashing to see his father up and well again.
He sat in the chair his mother had recently vacated and touched his father’s hand.
“You have to tell me what happened. How did you become involved in a duel, of all things? And why would you mention Algernon in your note?”
Lord Spencer gripped his son’s hand but shook his head resolutely.
“I cannot tell you. I don’t want you risking your life as I have done mine. You are my only son and I will not have your life in peril. It was bad enough when you went to war, worrying every day that we would receive that dreaded communication.” He shuddered visibly. “I’ll not have you in that kind of danger ever again.” He pressed his lips together firmly.
Brendon let out a grumble of annoyance even while a twinge of guilt slithered through him. He hadn’t thought of the stress he had put his parents through. But a duel? He still couldn’t believe it. And to worry about the dangers of him partaking in one? Brendon felt almost affronted by his father’s lack of faith in him.
“If I were to duel with pistols, I wouldn’t miss. There would have been a body lying in that clearing for me to accuse.”
His father coughed and his brows contracted into a wince.
“Who said I missed?” He lifted his uninjured arm and waved down the gasps of shock. “Oh don’t worry, I only winged him. Probably less damage than he inflicted upon me, but damn it! I never thought a hole the size of a hazelnut could be so bloody painful. I feel sorry for Algernon experiencing such a thing twice.”
Brendon picked up a small glass from the bedside table.
“Drink this. It will take away the pain.” He offered the medicine to his father but the man shook his head resolutely.
“I’d rather suffer than become addicted to that dreadful stuff. No, I will have to grin and bear it.” He winced again.
Algernon spoke from the foot of the bed.
“A small amount won’t hurt. Carefully taken it can help no end.”
Brendon offered the glass to his father again and this time the man sipped a small amount. His head dropped back onto the pillow and he turned to face his son.
“I am still not telling you what the insult was, or who dealt it, but it was a grave accusation that I cannot take lightly. Unfortunately I will now be incommoded for weeks and I have interests that need dealing with at Fallows. The place is in dire need of direction. I have been meaning to go for months but simply haven’t found the time. I want you to go and take over there until I am up and about again.”
Brendon shook his head firmly as his father spoke of one of their country estates.
“No, I refuse. I cannot possibly leave you here in this state. Fallows is more than a day’s ride away. I couldn’t be back here soon enough if anything were to happen.”
Lord Spencer sighed.
“Nothing is going to happen. I simply need to get well, and your mother is taking care of that herself. She has barely left my side since this morning.”
“Do you blame her!” Exasperation at his father’s stubborn attitude made his voice hasher than he intended. “You have scared her half to death and you won’t tell us why or with whom you are dealing. And you have implicated Algernon without giving just cause. How can you expect me to help you if you won’t tell me anything?” He wiped the back of his hand across his brow and tried to calm himself.
His father remained quiet for several moments before gripping his son’s hand tightly.
“I don’t expect you to help me. I knew what I was getting into and can accept total responsibility. I know that you are concerned, but the duel has been fought and the matter has been dealt with. You can help me most by going to Fallows. The place is being shamefully neglected and I need someone with authority to take charge.”
Brendon frowned deeply.
“What do you mean? I thought you had a man there dealing with everything.”
Lord Spencer shook his head.
“He left months ago. He married a woman far above his station and moved north with her and her dowry. I am lucky that my stableman is educated enough to help out. He is doing what he can, but with a house that size, it is simply not enough.” He stopped as he began coughing, his face creasing with the pains that the jolts sent through him.
Brendon helped his father raise his hea
d before he held up the glass once again.
“You should have told me this before now. I don’t mind helping, but this incident is far more serious than some country estate that we never visit anymore. If you are not going to tell me anything useful about this attack upon you, then I will discover it for myself. I’ll send mother back in as we leave. Perhaps she can convince you that I am in earnest about this.” He waited until the laudanum appeared to take some effect. His father closed his eyes and settled back into the bed. The man’s breathing grew more regular again, but he opened his eyes one last time.
“Forget the duel. Nothing more will come of it. Go to Fallows. It is a lovely place and I would hate to see it go to ruin for lack of good management. Please son. Knowing that you are in charge of things will ease my mind.”
Brendon glanced up at Algernon and over to Lucas who had remained in the background. They had all been to Fallows before. It had been a childhood favourite of all the families. The games of hide and seek. Algernon and Felicity’s first kiss. He would have smiled if it hadn’t been for the sudden memory of Bessie crying beneath Algernon’s vile father. Brendon looked back at his own father. The man still stared up at him and Brendon knew he was beaten. He let out a sigh of resignation and nodded once.
“If it pleases you, then I will go, but it is under duress that I do this. I want your promise to send me any news the moment it happens or I will not rest easy in my bed.”
Brendon’s father smiled for the first time since the trio had arrived in his room.
“Thank you, Brendon. I know this is difficult for you, but make sure that you go today. I don’t want there to be any more delays with the place.” His lips quivered as he spoke and Brendon nodded at his father’s unusual show of emotion.
A Promise of Pure Gardenias Page 5