Chapter Three
T he next evening at Ashford’s townhouse in Grosvenor Square, no one was more surprised to see Cecil stride into the drawing room than Nathaniel.
After greeting his host and hostess and declining a glass of port, the viscount stood beside Nathaniel, his back to a corner of the room.
“I haven’t seen you in a fortnight,” Nathaniel said to the other man when Cecil remained silent. “I’m glad you’re still alive.”
“After the violence the Rogue’s Alliance committed attempting to acquire the land in Berkeley Square, I believe the organization will be less overt in their schemes in the near future.”
He asked quietly, “Does that include retaliation against myself and Ashford for scuttling their plans for the lending library?”
Cecil nodded. “Coercing that fortune hunter Lord Meers into kidnapping Charlotte and then drowning the man in the Serpentine was beyond the pale. If the RA chooses to act on their displeasure at our interference, they will choose more subtle measures.”
“I don’t like waiting to see what the alliance might do,” he replied with a grimace.
Cecil made a rude noise. “Neither do I.”
Lady Edith stood across the room, sending surreptitious glances their way. Or more precisely, Cecil’s way. She tugged at an earbob with one hand, a gesture he’d determined reflected her uncertainty in a situation.
The lady wore a pale silvery gown with capped sleeves. The color of the dress enhanced her look of fragility, the short sleeves displaying her shapely arms. Her light-colored hair was in an upswept style, the shiny locks shimmering in the candlelight. Nathaniel attempted to concentrate on his conversation with Cecil, afraid he would be caught staring overly long at the pretty young woman.
The dinner gong sounded, and Ashford’s guests trooped into the dining room.
Nathaniel was seated across from Lady Edith, who was placed next to Cecil; he imagined Lady Charlotte was doing some matchmaking. His sister Alicia was home with a head cold. In addition to Lady Edith, Charlotte’s brother William had the most patience with Alicia, but the boy had already departed for the country.
Charlotte was seated on Cecil’s other side. “Diana tells me you are now an uncle. Congratulations!”
“Yes. My younger brother David has provided the family with an heir.” The viscount raised his wine glass in a silent toast. At twenty-two, David was almost eight years younger than his only surviving brother.
Nathaniel was glad his friend replied pleasantly enough and gifted his hostess with a smile. Cecil could make an effort when he chose to, and his friendship with Ashford was important enough for him to participate in lighthearted conversation.
He’d observed Edith stiffen at the mention of Diana. He knew Ashford’s sister once had a tendre for Cecil. Evidently Edith knew as well.
“There is plenty of time for you to supply an heir,” he commented slyly, needling his friend.
“I’ll bear that in mind,” Cecil replied with a twist of his lips.
“Congratulations to your brother and his wife.” Edith looked as if she wanted to say more to Cecil, and Nathaniel hoped she wouldn’t. If the lady desired a chance with the viscount, pointless chatter wouldn’t help.
Instead, Edith addressed Charlotte. “You promised to share stories about your wedding trip to the Lake District.”
Well done .
Charlotte and Ashford recounted several anecdotes about their recent travels, and the last course was served.
“Ashford, I may try to bribe your chef to come work for me.” He sighed blissfully, taking another bite of flummery.
Lady Edith leaned forward in her chair. “Charlotte, I would like the receipt for the chicken dish in the last course.”
“I’ll have a copy of the receipt sent around,” Charlotte replied. “Cook refers to the dish as Cider Chicken.”
He turned to Louisa beside him. “I understand your brothers are leaving for the countryside soon.”
The young woman had four older brothers. He couldn’t imagine having so many siblings; Alicia was enough to be getting on with. Ashford and Cecil were the closest thing he had to male relatives.
“Next week. My parents have agreed to my remaining in Town a while longer. I will reside with Edith and her father.”
He replied with a question, “Has Diana convinced any of you ladies to help with the registry office?”
Louisa nodded. “Edith is keen to volunteer.”
“It is the least I can do.” Lady Edith raised her chin. “If parliament won’t pass a bill to aid our veterans, we should all do our part. No matter how little it may seem.”
“Little?” Cecil raised a brow as he took a sip from his wine glass.
Edith replied spiritedly, “The men need more than a job. With the passage of the Corn Laws, food is expensive. In addition, taxes are too high, and the labor market is flooded. More must be done.”
“I agree.” He was impressed that the lady had a sound grasp of the problems facing the veterans who had returned home. “The repeal of the income tax is only a start.”
He wished Lord Liverpool’s government would show more interest in the plight of the veterans. The corn laws had merely proved to the populace that the government was more concerned with the interests of the landed gentry.
Cecil wore a brooding expression on his countenance. He knew what the man was thinking: they had done their best to pass legislation that could help veterans. Although finding solutions to assist the men returning from war wasn’t easy, Nathaniel was also of the mind that more could be done.
There was a tense silence at the table for a few moments. Edith had finally gained Cecil’s attention, if not in the way she might have wanted.
“I applaud your desire to help unemployed veterans,” Nathaniel said to Edith and meant it. “All the little things we do could make a very big difference.”
Charlotte rose to her feet, signaling the end of the meal. “Diana will be ecstatic to hear you want to volunteer at the registry, Edith, and I plan to volunteer as well. Shall we remove to the drawing room, ladies?”
* * * * *
E dith suspected that Lord Cecil had taken her comments about helping veterans as a slight against his work in the House of Lords. As far as she could recall, the viscount had never sponsored a bill in parliament. She knew Lord Harbury had done so, and he’d spoken up and agreed with her. It was a shame the baron wasn’t as attractive or as fascinating as the viscount.
Lord Cecil hadn’t shown the slightest interest in her opinion Edith abhorred playing the giggling debutante, and she was sure such a display would only irritate the gentleman.
Blast the viscount for being so handsome and mysterious. His jet black hair was worn long, the shiny locks curling around his cheeks, drawing her gaze to his strong chin. Whereas his friends wore white waistcoats, Cecil wore all black except his neckcloth. He cut a dashing figure, and she suspected he knew it.
The gentlemen stayed behind for cigars and brandy as the ladies gathered in the drawing room, where she imagined she could still smell traces of the viscount’s musky cologne.
“Now we can have a long catch up,” Charlotte said when the women were seated and a tea tray arrived. She poured for her friends, looking comfortable in her new position as mistress of the house.
“Lord Ashford’s mother is in the country?” Edith asked.
“She insisted on giving us some privacy.” Charlotte handed Louisa a teacup. “Although Diana is still in residence. My new sister had a prior engagement this evening.”
Edith winced at the name. From the easy way the pair had with each other, she suspected that Lord Wycliffe and Diana had been involved in some way in the past.
“What happened between Diana and the viscount?” Louisa asked, taking a sip of tea. “Not knowing is killing Edith.”
She glared at her friend. Louisa wrinkled her nose in response.
“Diana kissed Cecil in front of her brother in this very room. Ashford told me all about it. It was after her fiancé died, and she was quite undone. Ashford believes she did it to punish him as he’d decreed that the couple should wait until after the war to marry, and Diana’s intended was killed at the battle of Toulouse soon afterwards.”
“That is very sad. Do you think Diana has feelings for Lord Wycliffe?” she asked quietly, her attention on her teacup.
“Ashford says Diana was infatuated with Cecil when she was a young girl. Although I’ve never discussed Cecil with Diana, my husband is sure she was deeply in love with her fiancé and still mourns him.”
“And where is your sister-in-law this evening?” Louisa took a sip of the fragrant tea.
Edith looked up, also interested in where the lovely, capable Diana might be.
“Recruiting more employers to the registry.” Charlotte clicked her tongue as she studied Louisa. “Volunteering two days a week isn’t much to ask.”
“You’ve worn me down, Charlotte. I will volunteer,” Louisa replied with a groan, tucking a stray copper curl behind one ear.
There was a sound in the corridor outside. Charlotte turned in her seat to face the doorway of the drawing room. “That might be Diana now.”
And it was. The lady, in a beautiful periwinkle evening dress, her dark hair piled artfully on top of her head, entered the drawing room. Perhaps Cecil was attracted to dark-haired, voluptuous women. In other words, women who were quite the opposite of Edith.
“Good evening.” Diana smiled at everyone before releasing a long breath. “I’m sorry I missed your dinner, Charlotte. I did secure two more employers for the registry. If you ladies will excuse me, I’m exhausted and will retire for the evening.”
“Lady Edith and Lady Louisa are interested in volunteering at the registry,” Charlotte replied hurriedly.
“How wonderful! Please come along tomorrow, Lady Edith, if you would like to see what volunteering will entail. I could use your help, Charlotte and Louisa, Tuesday afternoon.” She nodded to her sister-in-law. “Goodnight!”
Diana exited the room in a flounce of skirts.
“She is a whirlwind,” Louisa said admiringly. “And a stylish one to boot.”
She remained silent. The woman was a presence to be reckoned with, her personality more vibrant than Edith’s could ever be.
“On the bright side, Edith,” Louisa continued, “I don’t think she is interested in Cecil. Nor he in her.”
“I don’t believe Lord Wycliffe is interested in anything or anyone that isn’t connected with the Rogue’s Alliance.” She shook her head.
Charlotte nodded. “I’m afraid you’re right, my friend. I’m afraid you’re right.”