Chapter 10 #2
“I admire it greatly,” he said. “I wish there was more schooling for the children of those who could not afford it. Education is the only way out of the mess that we’re in.”
“If we keep people ignorant and foolish, they can be controlled,” Leander ground out. “Surely, that’s what the upper class is meant for. To keep people in control.”
A muscle tightened in Cassius’s jaw. “I know you don’t really believe that, Your Grace. I have read the bills you’ve written.”
“Have you?” Leander countered. “You like punishment, is that it?”
“Perhaps,” Cassius ventured. “I like to know what’s going on in this country, even though I can’t control much of it. For some time, I thought about joining the army, but that seemed like a terrible idea.”
Leander snorted. “It is a terrible idea at present. All they do right now is—”
“No, no, let’s not get started on the political state of the world and England’s part in it,” Ajax inserted. “If we do, we’ll have to drink the whole bottle of brandy, and my wife will never forgive me for that.”
“Perhaps we should discuss fencing instead. There’s to be an exhibition next week at Carlton House,” Cassius suddenly said, apparently willing to abandon a topic that couldn’t be solved at the club.
“Do you like fencing?” Ajax asked, surprised.
“I’m all right at it, but I’ve never had a great opportunity to learn,” Cassius allowed.
“Well, we can arrange that,” Perseus said brightly, hoping to gain the man’s friendship. “Several of the gentlemen in our family adore a good fencing bout.”
Cassius nodded. “I think I’d rather know more about the theater,” he said, “and what’s going on there.”
Perseus winced. “And what exactly do you mean by that?”
“I’ve never seen my sister so happy.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Perseus said.
“Yes.” Cassius cocked his head to the side. “But what happens when it goes away?”
“What do you mean?” Perseus asked, feeling a wave of apprehension.
Hector, his father, and Lord Ajax suddenly exchanged several quick glances.
“Well, it’s you that’s making her happy, isn’t it?” Cassius pointed out.
“No,” Perseus said. “The theater is making her happy.”
Hector snorted, Zephyr cleared his throat, and Ajax rolled his eyes.
“What?” Perseus said. “It’s the truth. She loves the theater.”
“She’s always loved the theater. Didn’t you know that?” drawled Cassius.
“Yes, I did,” Perseus allowed.
Cassius seemed a determined young man. “She’s been to the theater, she’s read about the theater, but ever since meeting you, she’s someone else. She’s someone else so entirely that she’s now being courted by lords. My house was like a zoo of aristocrats this morning, one of every variety.”
“How exciting for you,” Ajax quipped.
“Not really,” Cassius countered. “I’m not overly fond of most aristocrats.
As you know, most of them are overbred and not very smart.
” He scowled. “At least a few of them were quite decent fellows. I’m assuming that’s because of the dowager duchess, who seems to be better than almost anyone else in the ton. ”
The Briarwood men guffawed at Cassius’s honesty.
But that honesty definitely lifted Cassius in the estimation of his uncles and his father.
“Very well said, young man. Very well said,” returned Leander. “Now, what will give you assurance that—?”
Cassius had the audacity to interrupt the duke with, “Only he can give me assurance.”
They all stared at the young man in surprise. Perseus’s uncles and father turned their gaze to him.
He wasn’t certain what he thought he would find from young Mr. Mitchell, but it wasn’t this. He’d thought the young man would come, hat in hand, hoping to impress the duke.
No, no. He had come like a prizefighter into the ring, ready to face an opponent, ready to stand up for his sister, and Perseus liked him for it.
“What do you want me to say?” Perseus asked.
Cassius drew in a breath. “I want to know that you’re not going to leave her in the lurch should something happen.”
Perseus’s jaw nearly dropped. “Are you asking me if I’m going to ruin your sister?” he asked.
“Are you?” Cassius demanded.
His father and uncles began looking at each other askance at the escalation of tone. Then they looked at the crowd of lords around them, drinking, reading, chatting, hoping that no one had overheard.
“I fear you are about to call me out, sir,” Perseus returned with a cheerful tone, hoping to appease the man. “Should it be pistols or swords at dawn?”
“It could be either,” Mitchell said.
“Considering you’ve just said that you’re not that skilled with a rapier, that seems like a bad plan, my boy,” Ajax said.
“I do just fine with pistols, thank you,” Cassius said with the sort of seriousness that only the young and honorable had. “And I’m willing to take my chance with a rapier if I have to.”
“Oh God, a man of honor, is it?” Leander drawled. But then he plunked his teacup down and clapped his hands together. “I like a man of honor, but you need to be tempered with more reality.”
“I just want to know what to expect,” Cassius stated. “I love my family.”
“Good man,” returned Leander. “Now, Perseus, tell him.”
“Tell him what?” he asked warily.
“Tell him what you intend.”
“I intend to make her happy.”
“That’s fine,” said his father. “But what does that entail, my boy? For everyone else can see it.”
“I’m not going to ruin her,” he said. “I will never ever do that.”
“Fine. I’ll take that,” Cassius said, though he didn’t look pleased.
“And I will probably ask her to marry me.”
“Probably?” growled Cassius.
“I’m not certain that she wishes to marry, but I think it could be very good for her. Me, that is.”
“Why?” Cassius demanded as Perseus’s uncles and father watched like spectators at a particularly exciting tennis match.
“Because she wants to be an actress.”
“What?” the brother demanded.
Perseus did not elucidate.
Cassius drove a hand through his perfect hair. “This is all you, isn’t it?”
“Not at all,” Perseus said, even as his uncles and his father groaned.
“An actress, old boy?” Ajax said.
“Oh God, I can see it,” Hector said.
“I’ve not met her,” his father said, “but from what I’ve heard, it makes perfect sense.”
“Actually, she’s got the look for it,” his Uncle Leander said. “Striking, confident when she speaks about what she loves—”
“Please stop supporting this,” Cassius lamented, his eyes widening. “I have sisters who need to marry.”
“Right, fine. She doesn’t need to be an actress. I’m certain that she can be content just taking part in our family theatrical happenings. Isn’t that the case, Perseus?” Ajax offered, widening his eyes as if trying to get Perseus to agree.
But Perseus could not agree, and so he said, “I’ll not stand in the way of her. And none of you will either.”