Richard and Sidonie chatted beside the fireplace. Jonas showed no concern. But then, Jonas knew that Sidonie adored the ground he walked upon. Sourly Cam wondered what that felt like, before he reminded himself that the absence of love in his marriage was a blessing, not a curse. A wife who adored a man who couldnt love her back would make a damned uncomfortable companion.
After ensuring that his guests had wine, Jonas returned to Cam. Cam braced for an inquisition. Jonas could be ruthless. Otherwise hed never have survived the horrors of his childhood. But Jonas sipped his wine, then said in a neutral tone, Its a pity Lydia and Simon couldnt join us.
To save himself from having to discuss his wife, Cam leaped on the subject of his sister and her husband. Lydias doctor has advised her to avoid travel until after her confinement in June. I doubt theyll be in London for the season. Not that his sister and Simon gave a fig for society. They were perfectly happy to rusticate on Simons estate in Devon.
Do you plan to visit? I assume the duchess knows them both.
Probably in the summer. As girls, Pen and Lydia were as thick as thieves, although usually Pen was behind any trouble.
Jonas quickly masked his surprise. Tonights decorous version of Pen seemed an unlikely hellion. Youll wait so long?
Cams lips tightened. Ive got business in Town.
Youre worried about Leath?
Shouldnt I be? Cam sipped his wine and cursed the interfering marquess. Hes working to oppose my canal bill. I can weather the loss, but Elias Thorne has invested in the hope of restoring the family fortunes.
You made a bad enemy in Leath.
We made a bad enemy. Cam scowled into his champagne. Hes always had a reputation for upholding the law. One would assume hed want to end his uncles criminal rampage.
Jonass expression remained brooding. I doubt its sympathy for his uncle that ranges him against you. Neville Fairbrother was a blackguard of the first water.
Leath should thank us for lancing the infection at the heart of his house.
Jonass laugh was grim. His humor tended toward the black. You know as well as I do that Leath wants to rip out your liver because you made everything public. Gentlemen handle scandal between themselves.
Fairbrothers evil extended beyond the scope of a quiet handshake.
We didnt give Leath the option. I suspect he particularly resents our failure to contact him before involving the authorities.
Are you saying his campaign is justified?
Jonas shrugged. Im saying that a scandal of this magnitude so close to a man whos spent his life angling for political influence has done damage that the powerful marquess wont forgive in a hurry. Or allow to go unrequited.
Let Leath maneuver. Nobody crosses me lightly.
The arrogant declaration, as Cam should have expected, won no points. You might find Leaths enmity cuts closer to home than a few business schemes going astray.
Even knowing him as he did, Cam still sometimes found Jonas difficult to read. What do you mean?
The word around Town is that Harry Thorne pursues Leaths sister.
I didnt know Leath had a sister.
Another flash of sardonic humor. Shes new this season. Pretty blond chit whos got the fortune hunters in a lather.
Cam didnt smile. I cant see Harry Thorne playing fortune hunter.
The tattle is that he fancies himself in love. Hes chased her all over London making sheeps eyes.
Cam was relieved. For a moment there, he thought Jonas might have some genuinely bad news. Hes a pup. Hell get over it.
I hope youre right, Jonas said without great conviction. The girls making sheeps eyes back, although Leaths earmarked her for Desborough.
Desborough must be forty if hes a day, Cam said in surprise. Leath never struck me as a domestic tyrant.
This scandal has shaken him.
Cam frowned. Its unjust to blame Leath for an uncle who should have been hanged years ago.
Jonass lips twisted with old bitterness that not even his current happiness had quite extinguished. I hardly need to point out that when it comes to sin at the highest levels, people are too eager digging up dirt to worry about fairness.
Of course Cam knew that. So did Jonas and Richard. All had been branded bastards. All had countered the shame as best they could. Jonas was probably the luckiest of them all. The world now acknowledged his legitimacy.
Cam had given up hope of unraveling the tangled threads surrounding his parentage. All three players in the drama were long dead. Even if they werent, hard facts were impossible to establish. When Cam had finally summoned courage to ask his mother who had fathered him, shed claimed ignorance. His mother was a practiced liar, but on the subject of which Rothermere had planted the future duke in her womb, Cam had believed her.
Jonas went on. If Leath wants to lead the country, he needs to keep his nose cleaneven at a remove. Neville Fairbrothers crimes cast doubt on the entire line.
Grimly Cam remembered Harrys insistence on speaking to Pen at the wedding. Had that been about the Fairbrother chit? This unpleasantness with Leath was complicated enough. The last thing Cam needed was his wife encouraging two young fools to play Romeo and Juliet.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Harry slouched against the back wall of Oldhaven Houses ballroom and moodily surveyed the crowd. Returning to the place where hed met Sophie, memories inevitably assailed him. Since leaving for Northumberland, shed managed three letters, each promising eternal love. All three rested in the pocket nearest his heart.
The concert was packed to the gunwales. Although the famous Dutch soprano and the Italian tenor had sung their lungs out, tonights principal entertainment was always going to be the new Duchess of Sedgemoor.
His sister, Penelope, who sat in the front row displaying less animation than the average statue.
Harry had caught a few comments before the speakers noticed the duchesss brother within earshot. Surprisingly, most people had expressed grudging approval. Along with the inevitable dollop of spite. His sisters elevation to the highest levels wouldnt pass without a serving of jealousy.
When Harry was sixteen, he and Peter had met Pen in Rome. He recalled an independent woman widely admired for her sparkle. Even as a self-centered adolescent, Harry had recognized that all the men were mad for her. Penelope had remained strangely unaware of her effect.
Like everyone else, hed heard rumors of love affairs. A few liaisons with glamorous Continental gentlemen would hardly blot the cloudy Thorne escutcheon. But occasionally hed wondered about that curiously innocent girl in Italy. Shed always struck him as a one-man woman. Was she in love with her husband? At her wedding, she hadnt been a glowing bride. But shed just survived a shipwreck and worn a dress twenty years out of date.
The marriage had surprised Harry. However hard Lady Wilmott pushed Pen at the Sedgemoor heir, Cam was always going to choose a wife who catered to his arrogance. Someone like Lady Marianne Seaton, who sat a few rows back from the Sedgemoors.
The marriage had surprised Harry. However hard Lady Wilmott pushed Pen at the Sedgemoor heir, Cam was always going to choose a wife who catered to his arrogance. Someone like Lady Marianne Seaton, who sat a few rows back from the Sedgemoors.
Tonight people had prepared not only to scorn Cams unconventional duchess, but to gloat over Lady Mariannes disappointment at losing such a prize. But to the chagrin of the old tabbies, both ladies had behaved perfectly. In his sisters case, too perfectly. Seeing Pen like a doused candle, for all her diamonds and finery, deepened Harrys suspicion that the Rothermere marriage wasnt all rainbows.
Damn it, Pen deserved rainbows. If Cam hurt Pen, Harry would kill the bastard.
The Hillbrooks sat beside Pen. On Cams other side ranged arbiter of elegance Sir Richard Harmsworth and his lovely new wife. If nastiness became overt, Pen had powerful defenders. Harry almost found himself in charity with his brother-in-law. Until he glanced again at Pens set features.
Right now, she looked
He struggled for some description that wasnt inexpressibly sad. But the only word that came to mind was cowed. He glowered at Cam, lounging beside her with his usual insufferable pride. Harry had a fancy that if he took a razor to the dukes aristocratic hide, iced water would flow.
What the devils biting you, Harry? Elias asked from beside him. You look ready to shoot someone. Or yourself.
Harry forced a smile to his lips. Id rather shoot the damned soprano.
Elias, the most musical of the Thorne siblings, regarded Harry with disdain. Youve always had a lead ear. Waste of time explaining why that was a transcendent experience.
Transcendent? Harry said snidely. Good Gad, youll be writing poetry next. Does Byron know hes got competition?
Harry didnt know why he jabbed at his brother. Elias hadnt done anything wrong, apart from the inarguable fact that he wasnt Peter. If Harry was angry with anyone, he should be angry with Peter for being so bloody careless with his life.
Not that Harrys needling cast Elias down. Youre an ignorant puppy. Byron died four years ago, as youd know if you expressed a shred of interest in anything beyond playing the dashed fool.
Elias was out of touch. Since Sophies departure, Harry had only shown his face at the most respectable gatherings. He knew his reformation wouldnt change Leaths mind. Leath had undoubtedly dismissed Harry Thorne from his thoughts even more quickly than hed dismissed Harry Thorne from his luxurious house. But behaving himself was all Harry could do at present to forward his courtship.
Boys! Pen said, coming up to them. Lost in his brooding, Harry had missed the end of the concert and the room clearing. Stop it.
Now youre a duchess, you imagine you can order us around, Elias said drily.
Harry bristled before he caught the amusement in Eliass face. Pen was smiling, although without the brilliance that Harry recalled from Rome.
Only when youre likely to compromise my duchessly reputation, she said lightly as Cam joined her. I hear youre making your maiden speech in the House this week.
Elias nodded. Will you be in the gallery to support me?