‘Sev, you’ve gone mad,’ Leo said bluntly. ‘Daizell Charnage? Travelling withyou? For the Lord’s sake, man! It’s one thing not to be high in the instep, but—’
‘He is not responsible for his father’s crime. It is a great shame he has been punished for it.’
‘He was very kind and pleasant,’ Miss Beaumont offered, looking from face to face.
‘Oh, pleasant, absolutely,’ Leo said. ‘Very likeable fellow. Nevertheless—’
‘No, notnevertheless.’ The Duke could feel his cheeks heating. ‘Daizell cannot be blamed for what his father did.’
‘Oh, yes he can. The sins of the fathers are visited on the children, like it or not,’ Louisa said. ‘And as I understand it, he’s done plenty of his own accord. Was there not an elopement?’
‘That was me,’ Miss Beaumont said meekly, looking at her plate. ‘But it was not his fault, precisely.’
‘It was a complicated situation,’ the Duke said. ‘And half of what is said about him is Vier’s spite, which comes back to what George Charnage did.’
‘He was unquestionably running a gaming ring at Eton,’ Leo said. ‘I should know; he cleaned me out twice. Honestly, Sev, there is adventure and there is mere recklessness. What are the chances he recognised you? What will you do if he goes around claiming a close friendship with you? If he uses your name or turns up at Staplow, presuming on your acquaintance?’
‘I should be very glad to welcome him to Staplow.’ Under the cover of the table, the Duke was twisting his napkin, tighter and tighter. ‘He is myfriend.’
‘For pity’s sake. I can see you have been living it up on your holiday and I always liked Charnage, and I dare say it isn’t fair, but life is not fair. Severn cannot be friends with his sort and that is all there is to it.’
‘Perhaps Severn can’t,’ the Duke agreed with a dry mouth. ‘As with all the many things that Severn must and must not do. I understand they matter. But do I not matter? I cannot be Severn all the time, only doing what Severn does and behaving as Severn must, with no life of my own that is not Severn. I willdiein there.’
Louisa frowned. ‘Are you all right, Sev?’
‘I’ve no idea what you mean,’ Leo said briskly. ‘The fact is, you have your position and you have its obligations, and can you imagine what Father would say, knowing you were associating with George Charnage’s son, giving him countenance? Still, he won’t let the fellow set foot in Staplow so I dare say there’s no great harm done.’
The Duke stared at his plate. Then he looked up.
‘Remind me,’ he said. ‘Who is the Duke of Severn?’
Louisa and Leo exchanged glances. Louisa said, ‘Sev—’
‘Who?’
‘You,’ Leo said. ‘Of course. But—’
‘Who is master at Staplow?’
Leo tried for a joke. ‘Well, that’s a tricky—’
‘Who?’ the Duke shouted, and saw his cousin recoil. ‘By God, I will not have this! Constant dictation of what the Duke may do, and how, and who with –Iwill decide what I do, and make my friends as I please! Who the devil are you to tell me otherwise? If people don’t like my choice of friends, they may set themselves outside my acquaintance, and if the family don’t likemyguests inmyhouse, they are not obliged to live there! I will have no more of this accursed trammelling. I am a grown man, and the obligations and duties of my station do not extend to having my friends selected for me! Howdareyou tell me who I may care for?’
He was standing, fists planted on the tablecloth. He wasn’t sure when he’d got up. Leo and Louisa were both bright red. Kentridge watched with interest. Miss Beaumont’s eyes were wide.
‘And I will tell you this,’ the Duke added furiously. ‘Daizell Charnage has been unfairly maligned, and I will not have it. If he has my countenance – and he does, because he is my friend – then any man who chooses to abuse or to cuthim on his father’s account offends Severn. I shall make that known, and we will see how the sheep of the Polite World behave when the dog barks!’
He stopped there, for lack of anything else to say, heart pounding. He’d never in his life lost his temper so comprehensively or shouted so much.
Leo’s mouth was set tight. ‘I must beg Your Grace’s pardon for any offence I have given.’
‘Shut up, you fool,’ his sister hissed.
The Duke looked between them, and quite suddenly could not bear any more. ‘I apologise for raising my voice, but – you must understand – it is not tolerable. I will not tolerate it. I think I should go; I have some way to travel tomorrow. I hope I can safely leave Miss Beaumont with you?’
‘Of course,’ Louisa said. ‘Take whatever time you need, Sev. I hope we will see you soon.’
The Duke nodded to them all, and walked out. As he left, Leo started to speak. Louisa told him to shut up again.
