Page 25 of Lady Dramatic
Chapter Seven
Charles arrived toGrosvenor Square a little bit on the early side. Not too early, as that would inconvenience the host and he intended to stay in the duke’s good books. But hopefully early enough to beat Thorpe inside the doors.
He wore his best set of clothes which, thanks to his own duke’s generosity, had been tailored by Weston himself for an exorbitant price. He could not recall when he’d attended a dinner that Thorpe also attended. In general, they traveled in different circles. Thorpe preferred the stodgy end of thetonand Charles preferred the more interesting end. Thorpe preferred the coffee room at Whites, while Charles preferred to take his opportunities on the dark walk at Vauxhall. Thorpe preferred to enter a horse at Doncaster, Charles preferred to while away the night and early dawn in a low gaming hell.
But here they both would be. This particular dinner would prove to be interesting. Charles was convinced that Thorpe had a strong interest in Lady Serenity, and therefore, so did he.
Charles supposed Thorpe would be frustrated when he realized his brother had sent a sketch of the mysterious dog, Nero. It was a personal gift and very suited to Lady Serenity—his brother would never have been so clever. If Thorpe dared to claim Nero had never existed, he would sadly shake his head and wonder at his brother’s disregard for animals. How anyonecould forget such a dog as Nero was beyond comprehension. Let Thorpe argue further if he dared.
Charles hoped Lady Serenity’s dog would make an appearance so he could praise it to the skies. One would not usually expect the household’s dog to turn up at a dinner, but this was the Nicolet household, so he had every hope of it. He must just mask his revulsion over the idea that it was missing a leg.
He used the door knocker and the door swung open to reveal an odd-looking butler. He could not tell if the fellow was deformed or had something stuffed underneath the left side of his coat. It was most peculiar. “Lord Charles Garner,” he said.
“This way, my lord.”
Charles followed the odd butler, whose eyes seemed to dart all over the great hall as if he were expecting somebody to jump out at him.
The fellow opened the drawing room doors to a crowd of people. “Lord Charles Garner,” the butler said flatly.
It was an entire room full of women, right down to one who could not be older than nine or ten. Two he recognized, Lady Felicity and Lady Grace. Lady Grace came forward. “Lord Charles, I believe we met last season at Lady Peachbottom’s musical evening.”
“Indeed, Lady Grace, charmed,” he said with a bow. Though there was an unusual number of women in the room and no sign of Lady Serenity, there was also no sign yet of Thorpe.
Lady Grace made the introductions, though Charles did not think he had a hope of remembering all their names. Except perhaps for the youngest—Lady Valor glared at him as if he were a housebreaker come to steal their belongings.
“Goodness, I am coming in late,” Lady Serenity said, hurrying into the room.
“But you have still beat Papa,” Lady One-of-the-sisters said.
Lady Another-of-the-sisters said, “It is a usual thing for a duke to run late.”
Was it?
The duke strode in. “I see we’ve gathered one and wait for the other one.”
“And we wait for Stratton and Dashlend too, Papa,” Lady Felicity said. “They come together from their club. There was some critical meeting in the offing.”
“However,” Lady Grace said, “they have both sworn they will not be late.”
Charles was vaguely acquainted with both of those individuals. Dashlend was known as a Corinthian of the first stare. Stratton was one of those fellows who was a ‘hail fellow, well met’ sort that everybody liked.
They were not to wait long for at least one of the missing guests. The butler with a bulge under his coat reappeared and said, “The Marquess of Thorpe.”
Irritating. Why could not the man just say Lord Thorpe? Why did he insist on bringing his full title into it?
Thorpe bowed. “Your Grace,” he said. Then he greeted Lady Serenity, and proceeded to greet each and every sister. How did he remember their names?
Stratton and Dashlend came into the room in a rush, not having waited for the strange butler to announce them. “We are not late, I think?” Stratton said.
“No, no, here we all are,” the duke said. “Well, let’s get going to the dining room. Fingers crossed that the current resident butler has got it all sorted. But who knows?”
With that interesting idea, they proceeded to follow the duke across the great hall. Charles had intended to escort Lady Serenity in, but somehow Lady Grace got in his way and Thorpe was able to beat him to it.
They found the butler anxiously staring at the sideboard. There were place cards at the seats and Charles was at least gratified that he should be to the right of Lady Serenity. Less gratified that Thorpe was to her left.
The footmen brought the wine around while the butler stared at his staff as if he did not know what they were doing.
The duke looked down his table and said, “You see how it is, I’m surrounded by daughters. Even when I get them out of the house, they somehow get back in it again.”
