“Pour one for me, Swygert,” Wade called from across the room.
Lord Crewe took a long pull of whiskey. “I thought you’d turned a new leaf, Wadebridge.”
“Apparently not,” he said, accepting the glass Mr. Swygert offered. What was the point of doing better—ofbeingbetter—when he would never be enough?
His wooing of Cassandra Staunton had been a dismal failure. There was no shame in licking his wounds. He might as well salvage what was left of the evening.
Wade circled the carpet. The drawing room seemed dull without the sisters’ presence to illuminate the space. He recalled how Cassandra had shone among the brocade and pier glass.
Was there ever a more brilliant woman?
He sank onto the sofa with a huff. Thank God he’d be leaving tomorrow. He was scheduled to return to town on the afternoon train. There would be no want for company in London. He could drink, dance, and—hopefully—forget this wretched holiday.
It certainly had not proved a respite from the social whirl of the Season.
Lady Crewe joined him on the sofa. Her wide, silk skirts took up an entire cushion, though she tucked them neatly into place. She took one look at the half-empty glass in Wade’s hand and read his thoughts. “They were such lovely girls, weren’t they?”
He swallowed. “Who?”
She smiled, for he had learned his lesson. He refused to give her bait to make sport of him. “Why, the Stauntons, Your Grace! I admit I did not have much opportunity to converse with Miss Cassandra, but the youngest sister was quite charming.” She leaned in very close and whispered, “What do you think of Althorne’s governess?”
Wade considered his response. He had the greatest respect for Simon, and owed his dearest friend his discretion. “She is like no governess I’ve ever known before.”
“Oh, to be sure! One can see why our host is taken with her. Octavia Staunton would not be out of place among the highest echelons…”
“You think he ought to take a governess as his viscountess?”
She lifted her shoulders and sighed, for the Raineses had made yet another grand entrance. Mother and daughter were enjoying the sisters’ absence. “He could do worse.”
“You’d rally ‘round them, Althorne and Miss Staunton?”
“I would,” Lady Crewe replied. “And should you voiceyoursupport, I am certain Lord Althorne will feel more optimistic in his choice of lady.”
He downed his drink. “Why should he care what I think?”
The countess paused while a footman refilled Wade’s glass. “Friends have a way of making things clearer. I find a long talk with a trusty confidante helps when I’m feeling…conflicted. Of course, you and Althorne are such dear friends. Like brothers, really.”
If there was anything Wade could do to help Simon attain happiness, he’d do it without question, yet it seemed the countess hadhisfuture happiness in mind, as well. She was crusading to move all three Stauntons up in the world.
“Were he to marry the governess,” she offered, “the two remaining sisters would be brought to town, presented at court. I should be all too happy to host Miss Cassandra and Miss Honoria…”
“Where I’d find myself frequently in the company of the middle sister?”
She smiled. “Precisely.”
He did not return her enthusiasm. “What’s in it for you?”
“I like them,” she said. “I like Althorne, and—despite your best efforts, Wadebridge—I’m growing fond of you, too. Besides, we both know society could do with a breath of fresh air.”
Lady Crewe proved a worthy ally. She admired the Stauntons despite their lack of wealth or connections, and cared little for the scandal surrounding their parents’ marriage. The countess judged everyone by their true worth—kindness, compassion, honesty, and dignity—and found the sisters qualified to join the ranks of the aristocracy.
Wade rose to his feet. He bowed over his co-conspirator’s gloved hand, saying, “If you’ll excuse me, I think I had better find Althorne.”
“Yes, Your Grace, I rather think you ought. If you will be so kind as to send the Raineses to me on your way out, I shall keep mother and daughter occupied.”
He nodded. “Thank you.”
Wade escaped the drawing room. A footman pointed him to the entrance hall, where His Lordship had last been seen bidding the Staunton sisters farewell.
