Page 78 of Miss Vincent’s Vow

“Well?” Alexander asked, challenging Jethro with his eyes. “Is it on offer?”

Could he refuse the request without being seen as ungentlemanlike? These men were not his guests, but it was his house, and if they were ill served, it would be his reputation as a host that would be questioned, not the captain’s.

While Jethro hesitated, his wife entered the room, followed by Mrs Timms and a maid, carrying trays piled high with the contents of his larder.

“Ah, excellent,” the captain said, turning his attention to Cassandra and taking in the full extent of the feast being laid out for them. “What a gem of a sister you are. Your husband is just going to bring us some burgundy, though I didn’t like to put him to the trouble. You should get a butler to manage such things for you.”

Cassandra shot Jethro an anxious glance. Could she see how her brother was manipulating him?

“I’ll fetch a bottle,” he said, heading for the door.

“Make it two—if not three,” Alexander called after him. “One won’t last five minutes between so many.”

Jethro retrieved the key to the wine store from his study and hurried down the stairs to the cellar. He did not want to leave Cassandra alone with their unwanted guests for any longer than needed. Perhaps Alexander had a point, and he should hire a butler.

He selected a couple of bottles of burgundy and a third of a lighter wine and gave them to a footman to carry upstairs. Lingering only long enough to relock the cellar door, he hastened to rejoin his wife.

To his horror, when he returned to the drawing room, card tables had been set up, and two of the lieutenants had ventured to light cigars. What kind of men were these officers? Did they have no manners at all?

Cassandra sidled over to where he stood. “I’m sorry. They would have gone outside to smoke, but it’s raining, and Xander said—”

“I can imagine.”

She bit her lip, an apologetic look in her eyes, but when he found her hand and gave it a sympathetic squeeze, she managed a slight smile.

They both sat down to play cards. To stand watching would only make the evening last longer, and Jethro could not wait for it to be over. He would be certain to rake down his obnoxious brother-in-law in the morning, but he would not do so in front of the others.

As the clock struck midnight, Jethro sensed the end drawing near. The game at his table finished, and he stood up.

“Enough cards for one night. I hate to bring the evening to a close, but—”

“Go ahead, Hunt,” said Alexander, a faint slur in his speech. “We don’t need you. I must win back what Danny’s stolen from me.”

“Stolen?” Atkins said. “Mind your words, Cap.”

“Or what, you rascal?” Alexander said.

“I’ll draw your cork, that’s what,” he said with a laugh.

“Come, come, old boy. You don’t stand a chance against me. I could get you court martialled for insubordination. How would you like that?”

Matters were getting out of hand. These men had been drinking, and Jethro didn’t trust them to behave. “Not in front of the ladies,” he growled at Alexander.

The captain let out a raucous burst of laughter. “You actually believe we’d fight in the middle of your drawing room? What do you think we are? Savages?”

Atkins leaped to his feet, tipping over the table, sending cards and coins everywhere. “Is this man questioning our honour? Shall I call him out?”

“Go take a damper,” Jethro said, unable to keep the scorn out of his voice.

His words seemed to have the contrary effect. To his horror, Atkins advanced toward him, fists raised, as though he intended to punch him.

Jethro turned on Alexander. “If you can’t control your men, I think you’d better leave.”

The man sneered in response, but laid a restraining arm on his comrade. The lieutenant’s steps were so uneven that the movement caught him off balance and he stumbled into the captain, sending him flying to the floor.

On the way down, he knocked into a whatnot, and one of his wife’s Wedgwood vases toppled off and smashed in the fireplace.

Cassandra and Miss Day both squealed, but Julia just laughed.