Anthony leaned against the wall and looked wistful. “Imagine if I were allowed to freely show you affection without the risk of being hanged.”
“Even if one of us were a woman, it would still be inappropriate.”
“I saw you waltz with Lady Matilda when I arrived.” Anthony looked down. “I would have given anything to be in your arms instead of her.”
“She’s my cousin, you know.”
Anthony shook his head. “That wasn’t my point. I do not anticipate you taking up with Lady Matilda. I knew she was your cousin. But I should like to waltz with you sometime.”
Something in his tone wrapped around Lark’s heart and squeezed. “Anthony…”
Anthony’s gaze went to Lark’s lips and Lark worried for a moment that Anthony would kiss him just as a number of other men walked down the hallway. But instead, Anthony said softly, “I’ll be at the Berkley Square house tonight.”
Lark sighed. “I’ll be there once I see to my mother.”
Anthony nodded.
The Duke of Rutland walked by then. He was Lark’s first cousin, the son of his father’s sister and only three years olderthan Lark. They’d been close as boys, though did not see much of each other these days. Now he paused to greet Lark and Anthony. Then he said, “Who invited Canbury?”
Lark braced himself for whatever was coming. Anthony chuckled and said, “I imagine Wakefield felt obligated. I believe they are school chums.”
“He is pretty deep in his cups,” Rutland reported. “Hamilton is trying to at least steer him out of the company of women.”
“What is he doing?”
“Well, it started with him mostly bragging about his relationship with Prinny, but now he’s telling bawdy stories to a crowd of interested young men. The Dowager Duchess of Swynford registered her disgust before asking Lady Wakefield to ask him to leave, although neither she nor Wakefield has budged to make him. I think Wakefield is, in fact, enjoying his bawdy stories, despite how inappropriate they are in mixed company.”
That was certainly terrible news. The dowager witnessing Canbury’s bad behavior herself would not make her much disposed to Lady Adele.
Rutland shook his head. “I’ve heard he devotes the time he used to give his wife to Parliament.”
“Caernarfon tells me as much,” said Lark.
Rutland smiled. “Ah, yes. I forgot he took his father’s seat. Lord help him.”
“I think he secretly enjoys parliamentary procedure. We all need a hobby.”
Anthony put a hand over his mouth but was clearly laughing.
“And what of Swynford? I read in the papers that he vanished for a week, and yet here he is.”
“He was ill, it turns out. Forgot to tell his mother he was leaving town to recuperate at his country home.”
Rutland nodded. “Ah, yes. I once forgot to tell my mother I was escorting my wife to the opera, and it was one of thosenights that the opera had a guestprima donnafrom Sweden. I can’t recall her name, but I understand she is quite famous on the Continent. Well, anyway, the crowd that night was even more of a crush than usual and my wife and I were detained trying to leave. Mother was hysterical by the time we returned home. She thought we’d been kidnapped and murdered.” He chuckled. “This is what I get for letting my mother stay with us while our children are young. Let that be a warning to you.”
Lark exchanged a glance with Anthony, who still looked amused.
“How are you fellows?” Rutland asked. “Headed for Wakefield’s cigar room?”
“I will momentarily,” said Anthony. “I saw Camden go in there and I am eager to relieve him of a few of his coins.”
Lark raised an eyebrow.
“What? Camden won a hundred pounds from me last week at the Effington fete. It is only fair.”
“Right. I would like to check on Swynford.” To Rutland, Lark said, “The society mamas have been quite all over him tonight. He may be in need of rescue.”
Rutland laughed. “That doesn’t stop until you say ‘I do’ to the vicar, alas. Having been through it a few seasons ago, I do not envy Swynford.”
