Page 37 of Lady Dramatic
“It does in that house. I think you would find that Quinn would take no orders from you and the footmen follow Quinn’s lead in everything. You’d be lucky to get a tea tray when you asked for it.”
“Quinn,” Charles said derisively. “You must be the only marquess in England who holds on to his nanny.”
“Quinn has more value, in both common sense and a moral compass, than you have as yet demonstrated.”
At the mention of a moral compass, which Roland was certain Charles understood to be a failing, his brother looked as if he would explode.
“What ho!”
The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the duke and Lady Serenity. Roland’s attention was immediately diverted from his steaming brother. Lady Serenity was looking entirelysmashing in a crème colored satin with a midnight blue gauze overlay that was embroidered with bees charmingly circling daisies in a matching dark blue thread.
“Your Grace, Lady Serenity,” Roland said.
“Lady Serenity, Duke,” Charles said, pushing himself forward.
The duke looked at Charles, frowning. Roland understood his brother had just done a very ill-considered thing. In an effort to attempt to somehow place himself above Roland, he’d assumed a familiarity with the duke that had not been invited and was clearly not welcome.
“Your Grace, I think you meant to say,” the duke pointed out to Charles.
Charles reddened at the chastisement. As well he should. It was the stupidest thing in the world to assume equal footing with a duke unless and until that duke insisted upon it. Roland was not aware of anybody who’d been given the honor by the Duke of Pelham, and he speculated that it amused the duke to be monikered in any way graceful. Heknewit amused the duke to put a person on the back foot, as it seemed to be his preferred sport.
“Of course, Your Grace,” Charles mumbled.
“Well, now that we have that sorted out,” the duke said, “Thorpe, I got your invitation to dine for Friday and as I was certain to see you here, I could not bother writing out an answer. We will attend.”
Roland was both gratified that the duke indicated attendance, and aggravated that it had been mentioned in front of Charles.
“There is a dinner? Atourhouse?” Charles asked.
It did not escape Roland that his brother put the emphasis on “our” house.
“A very early dinner,” Lady Serenity said. “Lord Thorpe has been so good as to take into consideration my youngest sister’s fortitude, or lack thereof, when staying awake past her usual time for retiring.”
“I see,” Charles said. “It is in consideration of Lady Violet.”
“Lady Valor,” Roland corrected.
The duke looked at Charles and said, “Hah! It doesn’t look like you were invited to this early dinner.”
Lady Serenity laid a hand on her father’s arm and said softly, “Papa, do not tease.”
“I do not mind an early dinner; I would be delighted to come,” Charles said. “My father has been urging me to visit the house and this will provide a perfect opportunity.”
Before Roland could inform him that he had not and would not be invited regardless of what their father thought of it, Charles bowed. “Your Grace, Lady Serenity, I excuse myself to greet Lady Sommersby.”
The duke said, “I suppose I put my foot in it there.”
“Certainly not, Your Grace,” Roland said. It was very true that the duke had put his foot in it, but there could be no benefit to confirming the idea.
“I know what the problem is,” the duke said.
Roland braced himself for some comment on the less than genial relations between him and his brother.
“I have not yet had a glass of Lady Jellerbey’s fine claret. I’ll take myself to a sideboard and try not to singe her curtains this time! Thorpe—show my daughter round the place.”
The duke strolled off, laughing to himself. Lady Serenity turned to him. “You do not like your brother much.”
