He looked up to find the Earl of Peterborough smiling at him.
“My lord.” Robert stood quickly to make a shallow bow. “Of course.”
“Thank you. Are you waiting on your cohorts, then?” Edward was still smiling. Of course, he could smile and joke at Evan’s and Michael’s expense. They were all Peers, not just peers.
“We had not scheduled anything.” Robert shrugged. “I came on a whim.”
“May I ask what had you so deep in thought?”
“’Tis something of a long story, I’m afraid.”
“Ah, the universal polite way of saying mind your own business. Right, then. How have you found the weather?” The earl sat back and crossed one leg over the other, making himself comfortable.
Robert rolled his eyes but attempted courtesy. “No, it truly is a long story. About a woman.” Why had he said that last part?
“I should have known. Right, then. May I ask who the lucky lady is?”
“Lucky because she’s no longer with me,” he muttered. “Beth Jenkins.”
“Beth?” Edward stared at him in shock. “And…you?”
“Thanks ever so much. ’Tis been lovely talking with you, but I think I shall take my leave now.”
“Sorry, sorry. Wait, please. I didn't mean that to be unflattering. Rather that she’s a handful.” The earl rocked his head. “Actually, an armful.”
“I beg your pardon, my lord—”
“Edward, please.”
Robert ignored him. “I’ll ask you not to disparage her figure in my presence.”
“What? Oh, armful. Geez, I’m making a muddle of it this evening, aren’t I?” Edward chuckled. “’Twasn’t a reference to her shape or size. She’s a lovely little thing, a friend of my wife’s. I alluded to her attitude, energy, personality…” He waved a hand in a helpless circle.
“Right, then.” Robert was still indignant, no matter how friendly the earl—Edward—wished to be. “And you think I can’t handle her?”
“Not at all. I was simply surprised. I would not have put you two together. But opposites attract. Look at Sophia and me. I wouldn’t have put us together either.”
Robert’s shoulders loosened.
“So what seems to be amiss?”
“She sees my desire for privacy as a statement on her disregard for society’s opinion of her actions.”
“And discretion is that important to you?”
“Well, that is what I was sitting here contemplating,” Robert admitted.
“You may recall that certain secrets can exist even in the Ton?” Edward asked, glancing around.
“The school?” Robert nodded. “Yes. Although that seems less and less secret the more people I speak to.” His lips twisted. “I assume you’re now aware of my trade, then, too?”
“No, actually. Nor do I need to know if you prefer otherwise.”
“’Tis not important to this conversation, I think.”
“Right, then.” Edward was silent for a long minute, sipping his drink. Then he leaned forward. “I shall tell you something private, that only Sophia and Suffolk know.” He referenced his best friend and Sophia’s cousin, the Earl of Suffolk. “Because they both have needed to help me with the issue.”
Robert’s brows rose in curiosity.
