Richard scoffed and muttered, “Would you object?”
“What?” Culfrey glared. “Don’t be pert, Rich. It would not do for this family to come to ruin because your plump little wife was revealed to be unfortunately
barren
. That is, until she eventually took a lover and was found to be a virgin anyway.”
Finding the strength to be angry was more effort than Richard was willing to give. Comments such as those had ceased being surprising a long time ago.
“That would not happen, brother,” Richard said wearily. “I would go to her bed until I got the son I wanted and then ignore her for the rest of my days while I pursued my interests elsewhere. You have been kind enough to set that example for me.”
“Get out!” Culfrey was red in the face, his eyes bulging. “I never want to see you in this house again!”
Richard cocked his head. “That should be an interesting turn of events for the servants to discuss. Not to mention everyone else.”
He turned and left as airily as he could, his riding crop tapping a rhythm against his boots. It was not the first time his brother had threatened to finally disown him, and he doubted it would be the last, but he knew it would never happen. Culfrey would never risk the scandal.
“Richard? What is all the shouting?” came a trembling voice.
He turned and saw Anne walking down the staircase. She was wearing a smart carriage ensemble, including a blue velvet pelisse. She clutched her gloves and reticule to her chest and glanced at the library doors.
“Tom is cross with me, my dear, as he well should be. I am dreadfully sorry about last evening.” He gave her his arm, which she took gratefully, and led her toward the main parlor. “First I was late, and then I had to leave almost immediately. Forgive me?”
“What happened?” she said in a small voice.
“It is not for a lady’s ears,” he said vaguely.
“Pooh!” She sniffed. “Richard, you should have seen poor Bridgette. And Mary Clarksdale snickering at her the rest of the evening, the cross-eyed harpy! I had a mind to lock her in the garden.”
He laughed at his sister’s choice of words, then brought his hand to his temple as the headache increased.
“Oh! Did you go out last night and get foxed? Is that why you look so worse for wear today?”
Richard groaned. “No. I would not abandon your most important day for such a ridiculous thing. I will not tell you about it, only that I felt a friend of mine was in desperate need of some help and I left to that end. I am sorry.”
They entered the parlor, where the duchess was sitting with her companion. Both ladies had their hands busy with embroidery.
“Richard,” Her Grace said with a warm smile. “How good of you to visit.”
He smiled and made a bow befitting her rank. He wondered how much his brother’s wife knew about him, for her smiles toward him always seemed somewhat sympathetic, as if she knew that he was often at the receiving end of Culfrey’s displeasure. If she knew anything beyond the fact that they were at loggerheads with each other, she never let on, and Richard doubted it anyway.
“Madam, I am always happy to step in,” he said cordially. He led Anne to a seat near the fireplace with the intent of leaving her there and making his good-byes. It was already the time of day when calls where usually made, and he did not want to get trapped with any visitors.
“Well, I hope your friend was not in any bad trouble,” Anne whispered.
“No,” he muttered. As he stood to make his excuses and head out, he finally acknowledged the fact that Anne was dressed for an outing and not the usual afternoon calls. “Where are you set for today?”
“Oh!” Her face brightened. “I am to go riding in the park.”
Richard felt his stomach gurgle. “I see. And who is the unfortunate swain?”
Before Anne could rattle off a retort, the butler entered and announced, “Lord Brenleigh for Lady Anne, Your Grace.”
The pounding in Richard’s head became blinding.
“Wonderful.” Her Grace set her work aside. “I feared he would not rally his health, and was expecting a message any moment with his excuses, but here we are.”
Henry strode into the room as if he had not a care in the world. His suit of blue superfine cloth and buff breeches were immaculate, and his smile was bright and welcoming without being unfashionably exuberant. Then he saw Richard.
Don’t react, Henry. For God’s sake, don’t.
It was nothing more than a pause. They made eye contact, and Henry’s smile vanished, then reappeared instantly.
“Lord Richard.” Henry made a small bow. “I must extend my apologies for my abrupt disappearance last evening. I am afraid it could not be helped.”
Richard opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He couldn’t breathe. He nodded and forced a smile.
“Quite,” said the duchess. “Forgive me if I embarrass you, Lord Brenleigh, but my servants did relate to me the fearful state you were in when you had them call for your carriage. I am glad to see you are well now, but whatever could it have been? You don’t think it was any repast you may have had from my caterers, do you?”
“Not remotely, madam,” Henry assured her. “I was foolish enough to take luncheon at an inn near Tattersalls yesterday.”
“Ah.” The duchess nodded. “Terrible thing, that. Even a respectable-looking establishment can serve the most dreadful food. But where are my manners today? Lord Brenleigh, allow me to introduce you to Miss Berkle, my most esteemed companion.”
“Miss Berkle.” Henry bowed to the middle-aged woman.
“Richard? Is something wrong?” Anne whispered.
Richard pulled his attention to her, for he had been staring intently into the cold hearth. He was not at his best, and anything he did might give him away.
“Not at all, goose,” he said with a strained smile. He glanced at Henry, who was still being fussed over by the duchess and exchanging pleasantries with Miss Berkle. “Anne, you must not allow Tom to dictate what you do. It is beyond enough that he arranged this outing to the park.”
“But he didn’t,” she insisted. “Lord Brenleigh asked me during our dance last evening.”
Richard swallowed hard and made another glance. The duchess was coming around to releasing him any moment. Richard turned back to Anne. “That is all well, but you must not feel encouraged simply because it is what Tom wants. He…he is rather young, isn’t he?”
“Young!” Anne squeaked. She covered her mouth instantly, but they had already drawn attention. Henry was moving toward them now, his eyes focused squarely on Anne.
“Lady Anne, if we may be on our way? I would hate to miss all the fashionable crowds and have no one to envy me.” Henry’s smile was all that was proper and warm, and yet Richard could see the strain behind his eyes.
“Of course,” Anne said brightly, taking his arm.
Richard was forced to smile and nod, like any good brother watching his sister leave for a perfectly respectable ride in the park with a perfectly respectable gentleman. A gentleman who was unquestionably warm and approachable. A gentleman whom his sister was already looking upon with a light in her eyes…
“Madam,” he said, turning, “I do hate to cut my visit short, but as I’m sure you know, I had not actually planned on stopping by today.”
The duchess nodded with understanding, glancing in the general direction of her husband’s library. “Yes, I think I do. But do not let us old frumps keep a young man from his activities.”
He bowed and strode toward the door. Before he left, he remembered himself and turned back. “Old frump, madam? I never thought I would see the day when I would be forced to call a lady of your rank a liar. For shame!”
The duchess waved him away with some amusement, and he darted off into the hall. He reached the open door and waited impatiently for the butler to retrieve his hat and gloves. He could see Henry climbing into the seat of an elegant white phaeton. Henry took the ribbons from the groom and held them in one hand as he assisted Anne up next to him.
Richard had to speak to him. He wasn’t sure what he would say, but he would at least disabuse Henry of these horrible thoughts he was obviously having about Richard’s opinion of him. Richard also planned to reiterate the fact that Henry was
not
going to marry Anne under any circumstances. Beyond that…he was not quite sure. Perhaps nothing. What else could he say, after all?
We can get to know each other. We can be friends. We could…
“Come along, man!” Richard said impatiently, turning his hard gaze onto the butler.
The old butler hardly raised a brow as he produced the hat and gloves. Richard grabbed them and set down the stairs just as Henry and Anne were pulling away, his sister’s lacy white parasol twirling over her shoulder. Richard shot a fierce glare toward the house and shuffled his feet as he waited for the grooms to bring his horse.
* * * *
It was the very height of the fashionable hour in Hyde Park. Those on horseback and in various conveyances inched along the main path at a speed barely fast enough to be called a walk. Of course, speed was not the point. The point was to see and be seen, to people watch in a kind of open fashion that was not acceptable anywhere else. Staring, it seemed, was encouraged.
At least, that was how it appeared to Henry.
“Have you never been in Hyde Park, my lord?” Anne said, replying to his comment about a group of people openly eyeing him and talking to one another.
“Only on horseback and not at this hour,” he replied honestly. He should not have, though, for his mind went back to that incident with stark clarity. He swore he could still feel Richard’s hand on his knee.
After a few moments he realized that Lady Anne was biting her lip nervously, probably in response to his silence.
“I was just thinking,” he said cheerfully, “that if this fashion for such well-fitting clothes progresses much further, we gentlemen will have to be sewn directly into our coats each morning.”
Anne laughed in a delightfully shocked sort of way. She looked around until she spotted a gentleman wearing the very latest in skin-tight trousers.
“You don’t prefer it, sir?” She laughed.
“It would be a shame to put so many tailors out of work, Lady Anne, for every valet would have to become an expert with the needle and thread just to dress his employer, and then there would be no more need for tailors.” He smiled playfully.
“That is too funny!” She giggled. “Can’t you imagine a caricature in the paper of such a scene? A poor valet set to holding
two
professions just to dress his master. Though, still, I saw you don’t like the fashion. I am surprised. I didn’t think there was anyone under the age of forty who wasn’t a slave to Mr. Brummell’s fashion influence.”
“Argh!” Henry gasped and pressed a hand to his heart. “Are you calling me old, Lady Anne? What a terrible set down.”
She laughed happily and broke only to wave to a passing carriage. The occupants, two young ladies and their mothers, almost immediately put their heads together and began whispering. No doubt the sight of Lady Anne Avery, so happy in the company of Lord Brenleigh, would become the latest bit of gossip. Henry wondered, somewhat numbly, how long it would be before the date of the engagement announcement became a running wager in the betting books.
He reminded himself that this was precisely what he wanted. He could do this. He only needed to be himself, after all, for ladies had always found him to be delightful company, much in the way of another son or a cheerful brother. The thought made him cringe a little, for in his opinion brotherly friendship was not exactly the proper basis for a marriage. He refused to critique himself, however. Half the ton was made up of adulterers, many of whom were well-known to despise their spouses.
“You are terrible, sir!” Lady Anne smiled as the passing carriage moved off. “You remind me of my brother.”
“Oh?” he said. “I may not emulate the Brummell set, but I should hope I am a bit more fashionable than lace cuffs and long split-side waistcoats. Not to impugn your brother, of course.”
“Lace cuffs? Oh, you thought I meant Culfrey. No, I meant you remind me of my brother Richard.”
Henry sputtered and coughed. Recovering, he forced a smile and said, “Really?”
“Oh, yes.” Lady Anne nodded, smiling. “He is always teasing me with his theatrics and sarcasm. It is quite his way. Why, just last evening I mentioned to him how handsome I thought you were, and he groaned and winced as if I had placed spoiled cream under his nose. He—” Lady Anne cut off suddenly, staring at him.
He felt quite cold and, in a mad sort of way, wanted to laugh. Lady Anne, the woman he was planning to marry, had told her brother, the man he had
slept with
, that she thought he was handsome. What must Richard have thought?
“Oh, I am sorry.” Lady Anne fidgeted her hand in her lap like a terrified child. “That was not at all the thing, was it? Telling you that I think you’re handsome. What a cloying miss you must think I am.”
“Not at all.” he assured her quickly, schooling his face into amusement. “I was just…just shocked that you could tell your own brother such a dreadful lie. Handsome, indeed! I’m not sure you are quite trustworthy now, my lady.”
Her tense expression vanished in an instant. “Goodness! You really
are
like him.” She laid a slender hand on his and patted him in a friendly way, then left her hand there. There was not a thing amiss about the action. In fact, it was expected for a gentleman to offer his arm to any lady in his company. And yet an irritated and unfair part of him could not help but view her touch as a possessive gesture.
“Good afternoon, Lady Anne.”
A gray mare had trotted up along Anne’s side of the carriage, mounted by a young man dressed in the very height of dandy fashion. It was unfortunate, though, for the man’s physique leaned toward chubby, and the tight, high-waisted trousers did him no favors.
“Good afternoon, Ben!” Anne said. Her face lit up with genuine delight, and young Ben returned her smile equally. The smile became strained, however, when he turned his attention to Henry.
“I am afraid I do not have the pleasure,” he said expectantly.