“You look beautiful,” Jasper said warmly.
Beautiful andflushed, Anne thought. Lady Celia had already fallen asleep before Anne left. Had she awakened long enough to admire her daughter’s appearance, or was Katherine prevaricating? Had she instead been looking for the letters her mother had confiscated?
Jasper rose to pull back the chair for her and then reclaimed his own.
The meal commenced with white soup and cod in a cream sauce, followed by fricassee chicken and fresh buttered vegetables. Anne had not eaten such delicious, well-prepared food in some time.
Dishes were passed and the wine flowed, but conversation lagged. When the awkward silence stretched, Jasper looked around at his cousins. “What shall we talk about?”
Jude replied, “I know, why don’t you tell us what happened to cause your discharge?”
Jasper grimaced. “Not exactly a cheery topic for a birthday supper.”
“Do tell us,” Katherine said, eyes round with concern. “We want to know.”
“Very well.” Jasper sent Anne an apologetic glance, then began, “You may not realize it, but the army sometimes putsofficers in a difficult position. Military law prohibits duels, while militarycustomsometimes demands it.”
“What do you mean?” Katherine asked.
“The Articles of War make it plain that no officer or soldier should challenge another to fight a duel, upon pain of being cashiered. But custom decrees that an officer should not permit any man to insult him, impeach his courage, and certainly not to strike him. Failure to defend oneself against such slights to his honor will find that officer arraigned before a court martial, or at least before a council of inquiry of his brother officers. Now, a certain captain hated me for some reason, and—”
“What reason?” Jude asked.
Jasper sighed. “He publicly accused his young batman of taking something of his—a silver snuffbox—until I reminded him that he’d lost it in a card game. He’d been drinking and apparently didn’t remember. And he certainly didn’t like me contradicting him in front of all and sundry.
“After that he insulted me on a number of occasions. I shan’t scorch your ears by repeating the particulars, yet I resisted calling him out and demanding satisfaction. As a result, my fellow officers and many soldiers refused to associate or even dine with me.”
“What about the captain?” Anne asked.
Jasper shook his head. “He was not censured forstartinga quarrel in violation of the Articles of War, but I was for allowing myself to be insulted. The honor code called for a duel between us, but calling him out would violate military law, and then I would surely find myself in front of a military tribunal.”
“How unfair!” Katherine exclaimed.
Jasper shrugged. “I hoped the captain would give up when I did not take the bait, but he did not. Eventually I was charged with receiving language unbecoming to the characterof an officer and a gentleman without taking proper notice of it. My fellow officers testified against me, repeating the insults the captain had heaped on me. I was found guilty of neglect and suspended from pay and duty.”
“Oh no,” Anne said. “That’s awful.”
Jude sipped his wine, then said, “And some people accusemeof being financially desperate.”
“Enough of that,” Jasper insisted. “Let’s talk of something else.”
At that point, Mr. Dalby rose, folding his napkin. “Do excuse me. I forgot something upstairs. Please go on without me.”
“But we’re to have cake,” Jasper reminded him.
“I’ll be back in time. If not, save me a piece.”
Anne watched him leave the room. Heard his tread on the stairs. Where was he going? Had he really forgotten something? What could take him from the table mid-meal—a gift for his cousin, perhaps? Or was he searching Lady Celia’s room as well?
“Well, Kat. To you.” Jasper lifted his glass. “You’ve reached your thirty-first year as Jude and I have. It’s not so bad. You’ll see.”
“For a man, perhaps,” Katherine replied. “For a woman, it’s a death knell to her dreams, to the hope of marriage and children.”
“I disagree,” Jasper said. “What do you say, Anne?” The appeal in his eyes was clear.
“I certainly hope it is not,” Anne replied. “For I shall reach that age in only a few years.”
“Better make them count,” Miss Fitzjohn said and finished her wine.
