Page 18

He felt at a disadvantage on several fronts.

Thorpe had the advantage of location on him, though if he could stand it, he could rectify that by moving in.

His brother might also have the advantage of being of similar temperament to Lady Serenity.

Charles was finding it difficult to guess how she would view a thing.

His description of a horse race had fallen rather flat, though it was one that was widely spoken of and generally perceived to be of interest. He’d thought to bring the imaginary dog Nero into it, but that had not been satisfactory either.

She did not even know where she left the sketch of it and she was not at all sold on the idea of Nero being of closer size to her wretched cur being superior to Thorpe’s slobbering beast. He’d even thought to frighten her a little with the idea that Thorpe’s dog was capable of injuring her own dog.

Thorpe had got in the way of that idea. His remark about some people being more dangerous than his dog was beyond irritating.

And then that stupid game, Fact or Fib, they called it.

His answer that the first thing he’d noticed about Lady Serenity was her bright eyes had been denounced as a fib?

It was very usual to compliment a woman’s eyes, whether or not they were particularly special.

That would have been annoying enough, but then for Thorpe to get a yellow ticket for his nonsensical description of the lady walking in the snow and appreciating nature?

It was just the sort of thing Thorpe would think—sloppily sentimental. Why did they not seem to see that? They were all so approving of it.

He soothed himself with the idea that it was early days. There was still plenty of time to turn things to his advantage. He only needed the right ideas. This evening might not have gone all his way, but that could change. He could make it change.

He’d never lost anything to Thorpe, and he was not about to start now.

*

Quinn came into Roland’s bedchamber with the usual glasses of brandy. Roland, as was becoming a habit, sat at his window overlooking the square.

“I presume things went well at the duke’s dinner,” Quinn said, taking his seat by the fire.

“Very well, I think,” Roland said, watching as Havoc seemed to weigh the benefits of getting up and going to Quinn for a scratch. He finally did so, yawning and stretching his front legs out before ambling over to his butler.

“So things proceed, very good news. Did Charles behave himself?”

“Charles behaved as Charles always does. He tried to score points in a game nobody else was playing. I do not think he got too far with it. I do not think he understands Lady Serenity. She is too different from him.”

“But you do?”

“I think so,” Roland said. “I am beginning to think she might be more sentimental than she lets on. She did seem teary-eyed when she considered that Nelson ought to have had a friend before now and perhaps she had been in some way remiss.”

Quinn laughed. “Now that would be convenient, as you are more sentimental than you let on.”

“Yes, but nobody knows it, including her. You will not be surprised that I was equally struck over the idea of Nelson needing a friend.”

“But you did not show it.”

“I worked very hard not to.”

“Of course, to say nobody knows your real temperament is not quite correct. Charles knows it. Careful he does not somehow attempt to use it to his advantage.”

“I do not see how he could,” Roland said. “Should he outright say it in some derogatory fashion to Lady Serenity he would only look like a gossip telling tales out of school. I do not think she would approve of it.”

“Or believe it, at this juncture.”

“Likely not.”

“You’ll have to make some decisions there.

Are you to be the emotionless marquess forevermore?

I do not see how you keep it up day after day and year after year.

Just think what it will be when you have children?

There will be a thousand situations that will deeply affect you.

Are you to always jump on your horse to shout in a wood? ”

“I do not know. All I do know is that Lady Serenity seems to like me as I am now. I should not like to jeopardize it by introducing the teary-eyed marquess.”

“Nobody says you have to weep,” Quinn said. “You did far more of that when you were younger than you do now. Just be more yourself than you have been.”

Roland thought that was good advice. He’d already determined that he would attempt to modify his temperament as much as he could. Perhaps he ought to loosen the reins a bit and see what happened. Perhaps Lady Serenity would welcome it. Perhaps.

It felt risky, but it also felt practical. And truthful.

In any case, he would see her again on the morrow at eleven. Even if it were misting.

*

Patience had arrived to the house for breakfast. She and Lord Stanford had come into London last evening and she’d been eager to see her sisters.

As well, she particularly adored Cook’s fried eggs.

He had a way of burning them just a little around the edges that her own cook had not yet got the hang of.

They’d had a lively time at table, with their father, Winsome, and Verity weighing in regarding their opinions of Lord Thorpe and Lord Charles.

Valor, very predictably, was against both of those gentlemen.

Though, she did have to admit that it was gracious of Lord Thorpe to recognize what a heroic effort it took her to stay awake so late.

He’d said most youths couldn’t do it, which made her special.

She supposed she already knew that, but it was gratifying to understand that other people were so struck by it.

Serenity did not recall him saying exactly that, but she supposed the sentiment was close enough.

In any case, Valor was pleased with it. Before her youngest sister had even come into the room Serenity had heard her describing the compliment to Thomas and asking for his opinion on the matter.

As they were great friends, Thomas had assured Valor that no other youth would be capable of her feats in staying awake.

Not surprisingly, she heartily agreed with the sentiment.

After breakfast, the duke had gone off to his library and Mrs. Right had commandeered Valor, Verity, and Winsome. They were to have their wardrobes inventoried and lists would be made for the shops.

Serenity supposed Mrs. Right was very astute in arranging it. She and Patience could have a quiet cup of tea without interruption. They went to the very back of the drawing room to a cozy corner settee.

“We did not expect you back so soon,” Serenity said. “Are the renovations to the Brighton house done already? Papa asked you about it, but you were very vague.”

“The renovations are not even close to being done,” Patience said. “But I will tell you the cause of our precipitous return if you can keep it to yourself.”

“Of course I can. It’s Valor who repeats everything she hears.”

“It will not stay a secret forever, but for now it is very early days.”

“Early days? Oh, you mean—”

Patience nodded. “I am with child. But as I said, it is very early and it may not go forward. I will not be more certain of it for another month and a half or so. Then it will be safer to say.”

Serenity nodded. It was such a frightening thing.

A pregnancy might easily terminate itself in the very early months and nobody really knew why.

She wondered what God was thinking to arrange such a situation.

She’d asked the vicar about it once, but he got very cross and told her to stop questioning the lord’s thinking.

“In any case, I did tell Stanford, which in retrospect may have been a mistake.”

“How could it be a mistake? Surely, he of all people should know.”

“Yes, of course. But I had not anticipated how he would receive it.”

“He is unhappy? Why?”

“Because he has convinced himself that my chances of surviving it are exceedingly slim. If I am to live, every precaution must be taken. I slipped out of the house this morning and left a note with the butler, else Stanford would try to stop me. Somehow, the entire outdoors has been populated with dangers of every sort. My condition is why we are back to Town so early. He insists that we be nearby the best physicians at all times. So, we are here for the duration, whatever that may turn out to be.”

Serenity dabbed at her eyes. “It’s so touching, really, that he should be so worried.”

“Of course it is and I love him to pieces for it, but gracious, I cannot even get out of a chair without him leaping to my side to hold me up as if I might…fall on the carpet, I suppose. The journey from Brighton took five days! He insisted on going very slow and had me sitting on pillows. He banished Carwyn and Cecil to the luggage coach with his valet as they are prone to jumping.”

“Ah yes, the two little terriers you adopted when you were in Wales on your wedding trip.”

“Yes, they are darlings, really. But let it be said that one terrier is ambitious, yet two terriers together create a sort of synergy that makes them greater than the sum of their parts. I sometimes feel as if we’ve got ten of them in the house, they are so full of mischief.

Now, enough about my happy but rather ridiculous situation.

I do not know if everything regarding Lord Thorpe was said at the breakfast table, or whether you held something back.

My twin instincts tell me that you might have. ”

Serenity leaned back on the settee. She and Patience were really so different, but because they were twins, there was some sort of thread that connected them.

She should have known Patience would press for details that had not been spoken.

“Lord Thorpe really is glorious and I think he likes me. He very cleverly arranged that we should meet at eleven on the mornings it does not rain to walk our dogs together in the square. Even if it’s misting we are to go. ”

Patience giggled. “You’ve examined the right course for a misting? Very promising, indeed.”

“Yes, I do think so. Mrs. Right said we ought not go when it rains and then he challenged the idea and said we need not be afraid of a misting. It’s just that, well, he seems rather reserved.

At least, sometimes he does and then at other times less so.

I do not mind it really, but I wonder if he would like…

In any case, I have been very careful to not… you know.”

“Weep,” Patience said, instantly understanding her fear.

Serenity nodded. “I’ve had some close calls, you know how things can sneak up on me. So far, I’ve kept it under control well enough, I think.”

“How long is that to go on, though?” Patience asked.

“Forever?” Serenity said.

“Do not be daft, sister,” Patience said.

“How long could you keep it up if you were living in close quarters? One remarkable sunrise, and you do think they are all remarkable, and there would be the weep over the glories of nature. Never mind come summer when you are forever finding dead bees in the garden. Goodness, it is almost as if you go looking for them.”

Of course, she did go looking for dead bees.

She’d been doing it for so many years that it seemed a duty or a habit by now.

Patience’s dubiousness over her ability to keep her wild emotions under wraps at all times was Serenity’s primary concern.

“Well, what I am working toward is to move my temperament a bit toward…less sentimentality. Not to be a different person, but to…modulate a bit better.”

Patience was silent for a moment. “You might be able to do it. I have worked very hard to rein in my toe-tapping. Only last week, Stanford was weighing the benefits versus the costs of replacing the roof on the Brighton house. It did seem the debate he had with himself was going on for a terrible amount of time. I had the urge to get a ladder, climb up it, and start ripping the shingles off myself.”

“But you did not do it?”

Patience shook her head. “No, I did not do it, or toe-tap, or say a word of complaint.

I took a deep breath, stared at the tea tray, pinched my hand, pulled a loose thread from my dress, looked up at the ceiling for a while, pinched myself again, poured myself a cup of tea, and ate a biscuit.

He eventually decided to replace the roof.

Serenity giggled over the strategy.

“As well, I find it helpful to remind myself of what care Stanford takes of me,” Patience went on. “I could easily have wed a careless man who would not concern himself that his family might get rained on.”

Just then, the drawing room doors crashed open. “There you are! Thank God, are you all right?” Lord Stanford said.

Patience snorted and whispered, “I am about to be rescued from nothing again.”