“No, but you certainly were the talk of last evening. All the society pages are talking about you.”
He shook his head and took a bite. “I don’t know why. I certainly didn’t do anything.”
“People gossip, Charles.”
“Yes, I know, but doesn’t one have to do something odd to be gossiped about?”
Charles lowered his toast to his plate and stared at Arthur as reality set in. “I’m the oddity, aren’t I? So now let’s tellall of London since seeing me at the theater wasn’t enough entertainment.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I should be used to it by now. People are fascinated by me. I don’t know why I can’t just accept that fact and go about my life.”
Arthur held up one of the newspapers. “Care to read one for yourself, or I could read it to you?”
He grabbed the paper and began reading the article. Nothing unusual. It was the author’s opinion that he did not know why his brother, the duke, couldn’t keep his twin out of sight and out of mind. Then they made mention of Cathryn, wondering how and why she married the eccentric gentleman.
Charles felt his teeth gnash as he continued to read the article. This was exactly why he didn’t want to go out into society. He was perfectly happy with his life otherwise. Now people would stop and stare if they ran into him. Or they’d look at him in horror and back away from him. It was what had happened a few times on Wight. When it happened, he would simply disappear to his cottage and keep a low profile. He found people forgot quicker than they remembered.
“After my talk at Oxford, I think it’s time to return to the country until all this blows over. Cathryn and Daphne don’t need to be part of this.”
“They won’t be. If they are, Daphne will set the record straight, and I believe your wife is just as capable. Do not underestimate either of them.”
“I’m sure you’re right. Do I need to address this or ignore it as I usually do?” Charles asked his brother. He’d lost his appetite. It was easy for him to go through this. He never acknowledged any articles. The same needed to be done here. Still, he was sure it would affect Cathryn one way or another. It wasn’t fair for herto get pulled into this situation. He would have to keep an eye on her and how she acted.
“Ignore it,” Arthur replied.
“Ignore what?” Cathryn asked as she glided into the room. She looked breathtaking in a stunning lavender dress.
“It seems you and your husband made the society pages of some of the newspapers,” Arthur said.
Cathryn sat down and, smiling, looked between both men. “That doesn’t surprise me. I hope they were not too horrid.”
“No, I’ve seen worse,” Charles replied.
“The ton is so fickle. Something new will interest them and we’ll be yesterday’s news,” Cathryn said.
“We’ll return to Kent after my speech at Oxford.”
“That’s probably for the best,” she agreed.
“You don’t mind?”
She shook her head. “No, not at all. While I love London, there is only so much one can endure.”
“Now you sound like Daphne,” Arthur said with a laugh as he folded the newspapers neatly and moved them near his brother. He rose to his full height. “If you will excuse me, I need to tend to some correspondence.”
Once Arthur left, Cathryn got up and took two of the newspapers from the small stack. Sitting back down, she placed them to one side as a footman set a plate in front of her. She wasn’t a huge eater this time of day but appreciated toast along with tea.
“What are you doing?” Charles inquired.
“I want to see what they had to say.”
Charles firmly shook his head. “You don’t need to read such trash, and you don’t need to get yourself upset.”
“I’m not going to get upset, Charles.”
He said nothing for a moment, mulling over how to word what he needed to say next. “You say that now. I’ve made a decision.”
