Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Dinner was particularly excellent that evening.
Mrs. Gwen had always been the best cook in the whole of England, in Leander’s opinion, but somehow, whenever there was an event like this, she still seemed to outdo herself every time.
Mrs. Gwen had grown up in this household, where her mother before her was the cook.
Leander still had fond memories of her sneaking freshly baked honey biscuits to them as children.
He took in all the guests’ compliments on such a lavish and sumptuous meal. On top of it, he’d finally got Miss Julia Norish to agree to his plan, so when he retired to the lounge with the other men for brandy and cigars, he was feeling in a particularly good mood.
He sat in the corner with Anthony, preferring to spend time with his friend and simply watching the others form their own conversations.
He had never been much for large crowds of people, even at the club; their little trio had always been enough for him.
He listened lazily to the conversations happening around him as he sipped his brandy and sighed.
Today really had been a completely satisfying day.
“What about you and Miss Burbank, eh, Lord Blackwell?” piped up Lord Cauley, sitting in a chair nearby. He tapped out his ash and leered. “She’s very pretty, that one.”
“Well, her parents certainly seem set on the match,” Blackwell responded uncomfortably, shifting in his seat. Even here, he seemed oddly out of place in his own skin.
“I wish my parents had set me up with someone like that,” Cauley continued. “Blonde hair, perfect figure…”
“Are you talking about Miss Burbank?” interjected another voice, as two young men came to sit down beside them.
Leander rolled his eyes. The Suffolk brothers, sons of the late earl, were well-known rabble-rousers at the club, eternal bachelors who didn’t know when to settle down.
Leander pitied their poor mother, who had had to take up most of her husband’s work because neither of her sons would take on a single responsibility between them.
He’d invited them to the event, hoping they would take the hint and find some wives, but so far, his attempt seemed to be unsuccessful.
“I wouldn’t mind being set up with a girl like that,” Robert Suffolk said, nudging his brother.
“Lord, no.” Fred Suffolk shook his head and pulled at his collar effectively. “With that attitude? She’d have you run about after her from dawn until dusk, and even then, she’d manage to make you some enemies. You can keep her, Blackwell.”
“Well, nothing’s, uh, final yet…”
“Have you two boys got your eye on anyone?” interrupted Lord Cauley, cutting over Blackwell’s stilted reply. “Take pity on an old man who can’t get a second glance from a woman anymore. Tell me all about what you’ve been up to this week.”
Fred and Robert exchanged a look, then grinned.
“Well, Fred has been thinking about going after that younger Norish girl. Penelope or something. Given their situation, they’re not really in good standing anymore, so there won’t be any consequences for pursuing her and then dropping her.
Besides, she’s probably rather desperate for attention, so it means she’ll be more than willing to accommodate. ”
Leander’s ears pricked up at the mention of Julia’s sister. He didn’t like the way they were talking about her. Men tended to have these types of discussions, of course, but usually behind closed doors at the club, not at a civilized party where one was an invited guest.
“Sounds delightful,” leered Crauley. “What about the elder one? She’s rather pretty, too. That hair is one of a kind.”
“Haven’t you heard?” Robert jerked his head in Leander’s direction, clearly not realizing he was being overheard. “The Lion’s got his eye on that one. No doubt he’s got the same idea as us, but we thought we’d let him have his fun first; we’ll be there to pick her up right after he’s done.”
Even though this was exactly the impression Leander knew people would have of him if their plan succeeded, it irked him to hear the Suffolk brothers, of all people, discussing it so casually.
Even more so, the way they spoke about Miss Norish, as though she were an object to be passed around between them, spoils to be claimed.
He didn’t like that at all. He didn’t want her for himself, of course, but the thought of her with one of these cads?
No. He wouldn’t have that.
He stood and made his way over to where the four lords sat, making his presence very well known.
All of them lowered their voices upon his approach, as if they already knew they’d said something out of turn.
He surveyed each of them, then offered a smile.
“Good evening to you, gentlemen. Did I happen to hear you discussing Miss Norish?”
“Well, Your Grace-” started Fred, but Robert elbowed him. Lord Blackwell looked down at the floor.
“I mentioned that I like her hair, Your Grace,” offered Lord Cauley with another leery grin. “She’s quite the beauty.”
“Indeed,” replied Leander. “I simply wanted to remind you all that I won’t tolerate disrespect towards any of the guests in my household, and you should keep your tawdrier opinions to yourselves, especially where they might be overheard. Am I clear?”
“Perfectly, Your Grace,” stuttered Blackwell apologetically.
“Of course, Your Grace.” Cauley inclined his head. “I spoke out of turn; my sincerest apologies.”
Leander looked at the Suffolk brothers, who had refrained from making eye contact with him up until this point. “Well? I asked whether my words were clear.”
“Your Grace,” said Robert as he cleared his throat and squared his shoulders, “It’s not that we meant any disrespect.
We’re only saying things the way they are; that the Norish girls aren’t really part of Society anymore and don’t need to be treated as such.
You’re pursuing the elder, aren’t you? You understand. ”
“I understand that you have continued to insult the woman I’m courting, in my house, despite having already been warned to the contrary, Lord Suffolk.
” Leander kept his voice very calm, although inside, he wanted to roar at them.
How dare they assume such things? “Mr. Bentley? Please have the valets collect Lord Suffolk’s belongings. He’ll be leaving tonight.”
“You’re throwing my brother out?” Fred stood up angrily.
The room quieted around them as he raised his voice.
“After everything Lord Norish did to you - to all of us-” He made a sweeping gesture around the assembled lords.
“You’re going to take the side of his daughter, who doesn’t even belong here?
We all know you’re only pursuing her because you don’t have to marry her afterward.
My brother and I are the only ones to say it. ”
Leander could hear the blood rushing through his ears, but he remained motionless in the face of Fred’s onslaught.
When the buffoon finally stopped talking, he didn’t reply but turned once again to his butler.
“Mr. Bentley, please also see to it that Master Fred’s belongings are removed from the premises.
Neither of them is to be permitted back on this estate in the future under any circumstances. ”
“Come now, Your Grace,” interjected Cauley weakly, “don’t you think that’s a little harsh? They’re only young lads.”
“Lord Cauley, you would do well to stop defending their conduct, unless you also wish to depart early,” warned Leander.
The old man shrank back into his seat, cowed.
The Duke then looked the defiant Suffolk brothers up and down.
He had never cared for them, but hearing the way they disparaged Miss Norish and her sister - and openly defied him in front of half of London - he needed to remind them just who they were dealing with and how such behavior would be repaid.
“I know everything there is to know about Society, much more than either of you two likely ever will. I know exactly how many extra aces you brought, Robert, to the Cavendish on June 8th of last year. And I know, Fred, about the serving girl who lives on Lark Street, whom you visit on Thursday nights. Up until now, I have not used this information for any particular purpose, but if you do not leave my estate in the next three minutes, you will soon find out that I do not make threats lightly.”
The brothers exchanged a terrified glance and backed away without a word.
Fred’s face was red as a beetroot, and Robert had sweat dripping down his brow.
They turned and fled out of sight, tripping over each other in their haste to get out of the door.
Leander watched them go with a contemptuous look, then turned back to Cauley and Blackwell, both of whom were pale as ghosts.
“Have a good rest of your evening, gentlemen. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t, will you?”
Meanwhile, the objects of the commotion in the lounge were blissfully unaware of the goings-on between the men, happily sipping tea across the hall in the parlor.
The Duke had had some exotic flavors brought in from the East Indies, and Julia and Poppy tried each of them with delight.
They had never had the opportunity to indulge in anything so lavish before; their own father’s income had been substantial, but not enough to afford such rarities.
“Try this one, Poppy,” Julia said eagerly, holding out her cup, which contained a beautifully fresh tea with a hint of mint and some spices.
“They’re all so good,” her sister gushed, sipping it. “Do you think we’ll be able to import these again someday? I simply adore the jasmine.”
“I’m sure once we get our dowries back and find you a husband, he’ll allow you to order whatever you please,” Julia smiled. “And I shall be visiting you every week to share jasmine tea.”
“Oh, I should like that very much.”