Chapter Nine
“What made you decide to invite Chandos to dinner?” Charlotte asked.
The reason Theo had asked him had not entered her mind. “I do not know. He is easy to converse with and took me for ices. I suppose I thought to return the favor.”
“By inviting him to a family dinner?” Louisa’s brows rose.
“It is not like he has not been to one before. He appears to get on well with the children.”
“Very true. He was around a great deal last summer before Charlie and Oriana married.” Charlotte glanced at Louisa. “As you know, I spent a lot of time there helping Charlie.”
“You make me wish I would have been there as well.” Louisa tilted her head to one side and gazed toward where Chandos was speaking with some of the other gentlemen. “He does seem very comfortable with everyone.” She glanced at Theo. “You know, he might be an excellent prospect.”
“No.” She had to nip this in the bud. “I had heard things that made me think he might be a rake, and it was confirmed when I was shopping for gloves before Lady Bellamny’s event.
I heard some ladies discussing who he might take as a mistress this Season.
That indicates two things to me. One, he is not looking to wed, and two, he is a rake. ”
“I cannot argue with that.” Louisa shrugged.
Charlotte slid her a look Theo did not understand. “At least until some gentleman in whom you are interested comes along, Chandos is excellent company.”
That was true. “I agree. He can discuss everything.” And even understand her feelings. “He also has excellent taste in ices.”
“And he is accepted everywhere. Rake or not, he has never crossed the line with the major hostesses,” Louisa added.
“I do wish he would be more interested in the Lords.” To Theo’s mind it was a waste if a peer did not do his part to make the country better.
“I think you might have got that wish,” Charlotte said. “Con spoke with him earlier today, and he has agreed to attend the next meeting Con and the others hold.”
It was interesting. Charlotte’s husband was the only one they called by his nickname. “Excellent.” Despite his undesirability as a husband, his convictions were in the right place to help others.
Thorton called them to dinner, and Chandos was immediately at Theo’s side. “If I remember correctly, everyone escorts their wives in, leaving only you and me.”
“You are correct.” She grinned at him. “Although sometimes the boys will decide to escort me.”
“Yes, well.” He had a sly look on his face. “I made it worth their while to allow me to accompany you this evening.”
Silly man. “You did not.”
“As you wish.” He escorted Theo to her place midway down the table and pulled out the chair. Once she had taken her seat, he lowered himself into the chair on her left.
Hugh, Charlotte and Con’s son, sat on Chandos’s left. “When are you going to let us practice on your grays?”
Theo could not believe what she was hearing. Had he really promised her nephew that he could use his carriage horses for practice?
“You’ll have to arrange it with your father. I cannot take you away from your lessons.”
“I had forgotten about them,” Hugh said. She doubted he actually had forgot, he but probably wanted to. “We’ll work out a time and let you know.”
On Theo’s right, Constance, Charlotte and Con’s daughter said, “I heard Papa say that your phaeton will arrive by the end of the week.”
Chandos turned his head toward her. “Phaeton?”
“Yes.” Constance nodded. “A high-perched phaeton. Just like all my aunts have.”
He glanced at Theo, mirth brimming in his green eyes. “All of your sisters have them as well? How did that come about?”
“I am not exactly certain how it started, but my two eldest sisters received a phaeton that they had to share. If there is more than one sister making their come out, the last one to wed gets to keep it.”
“It’s an interesting view on how ladies think compared to gentlemen.” He grinned. “I can guarantee you that if I had a brother and we were in that situation, neither of us would choose marriage. Especially not at eighteen.”
She could understand that. “I cannot see two young gentlemen agreeing to share a carriage.”
His forehead creased as he seemed to think about what she’d said. “I believe you’re right. It would be a continuous squabble as to who had the rights to use the vehicle.”
“Ladies are more civilized,” Constance responded sagely. “And more mature.”
He looked at Theo again. “They must be. No one in their right mind would allow a gentleman to wed at eighteen.”
“I know.” Constance nodded. “They are supposed to become knowledgeable about crops first.” She frowned slightly. “But no one has told us the reason.”
Theo had never seen Chandos’s eyes that wide. She was hard-pressed not to burst out in whoops.
Around them, lips, tightly pressed together, were trembling as the other adults tried not to laugh.
“Right then.” Con rose. “You children need to get ready to go home and to bed.”
Hugh stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth and jumped up. The rest of them pushed their chairs back and filed out of the room. Once the door was closed and they had given the children enough time to reach the hall, everyone started to laugh.
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with sowing wild oats, would it?” Chandos glanced around the table.
“Exactly that.” Con rubbed his forehead. “My mother in her infinite wisdom told my daughter that I needed to sow my wild oats before marrying.”
“And she thought it meant actual farming.” Chandos chuckled. “It’s a very reasonable explanation to a child or children who are in the country for much of the year.”
“Yes, well,” Charlotte said. “Now they all think that is what it means.”
“I’m trying to remember when I first heard the term.” Leo thought it must have been when he developed an interest in females.
“The boys will discover the meaning long before the girls do,” Rothwell said.
His duchess gave him a dubious look. “Somehow, I doubt they will be able to keep it to themselves. And I do not believe that they should. Girls deserve to have and should have more knowledge than society believes.”
“Exactly,” Charlotte chimed in. “It is unfair and actually harmful to keep it from them.”
“To be forewarned is to be forearmed.” Theo gave a firm nod. “I heard of a girl who had no knowledge at all who was harmed by a man. All she knew was that he had hurt her. It was not until her mother called a doctor that they knew she had been raped.”
Leo had never thought of that. Although, he did know men, he refused to call them gentlemen, whom he would not put past that kind of behavior. “I’m glad that you are aware of what can happen.”
Grace stood. “Let us resume our conversation in the drawing room.”
Leo rose as did the rest of the gentlemen. He was not surprised when they joined their wives to stroll out of the room.
Theo placed her hand on his arm, and he wanted to keep it there. Forever. He needed to make plans to be with her again. They soon gained the parlor, and glasses of wine for the ladies and brandy or port for the gentlemen were passed around.
Theo accepted a glass of claret. “Has anyone heard from Charlie?”
“I had a letter from Oriana,” Charlotte said. “They plan to travel down next week with Dotty and Merton.
It seemed as if Theo had let out a breath of relief. Leo hoped she’d feel better once her younger sister was here. “Excellent. It will be good to see them and the little ones again.”
“It will be.” Theo smiled slightly. I cannot believe it has been almost a year since the wedding.”
“I remember when he won that card game from Oriana’s cousin Ognon.” Stanwood’s skill with cards never ceased to surprise Leo. Yet, Theo’s talent outshone even her brother’s. “Do you ever have card parties while in Town?”
Rothwell groaned and Kenilworth had an evil grin on his face.
Lady Worthington shook her head. “Only if it is just family.
Usually, the Season is so busy we do not have the time.”
“Will you take Lady Theo to a card party?” Leo asked.
Her eyes brightened. “I would love to attend a card party.”
“And fleece everyone present.” Worthington’s tone was as dry as dust.
She lifted one shoulder and dropped it in an elegant shrug. “They should learn to play more proficiently.”
“We shall see.” Lady Worthington smiled at her husband. “I cannot remember the last time I was invited to one. They took place all the time when I had my shortened Season.”
“I have to admit, it is mostly the older crowd now.” In Leo’s mind it was a lost social event. “Most of the gentlemen, and even ladies, want to gamble for higher stakes than those at a card party.”
“Well, I think it would be fun.” He could see Theo’s mind working on how to get one up.
“Wait until you have gone through your first two weeks of balls and other entertainments before you start planning one,” Lady Kenilworth advised. “You will be exhausted.”
“Speaking of balls and entertainments,” Lady Worthington said. “Lady Thornhill sent an invitation for a private viewing of some artifacts that they brought back from Italy recently as well as other objects they have collected.”
Lady Kenilworth appeared interested. “That should be fascinating. I have attended her salons but have never seen all the items they have displayed in their house.”
“Yes, indeed,” the Duchess of Rothwell agreed. “When is it?”
“On Saturday.” Brows raised, and Lady Worthington gave those gathered a questioning look. “Shall I accept for all of us?”
Everyone nodded, the ladies more emphatically than the gentlemen. Why was that? It really didn’t matter. If Theo was going to be there, Leo wanted to be there as well. “I have never been.”
“It is so interesting,” Lady Montagu said excitedly.
“Other than having to watch those artist chaps trying to get your lady’s attention, it was enjoyable.” Montagu scowled slightly.
“I wholeheartedly agree.” St. Albans huffed. “About the artists.”