He could hardly wait.
CHAPTER 25
“So many guests today,” Charles Membury said as he made his way through the foyer to the sitting room. “You didn’t tell me you were having a party, Levi.”
Caroline couldn’t help but take note of the scowl on her husband’s face. “This is not a party,” he said. “My wife’s family is here, nothing more. At my invitation, I might add.”
By which he meant, Caroline was sure, that Mr. Membury had not been invited. She suppressed a smile. She didn’t know this man well, but she didn’t much like him. He had a way of walking about the place as if it belonged to him. His presence always put her in a foul mood. The fact that he had the same effect on her husband, of course, only made matters worse.
“I’m delighted to meet your family, Caroline,” Membury said.
Caroline had never cultivated the habit of telling people to call her by her proper title, but with this man, she felt the urgeto insist uponYour Grace. “My family is not taking visitors,” she said instead. “My sister and my cousin are furthering their education at the moment, and my mother is resting.”
“Education! What do young ladies need with that? They ought to be working on their socializing, if you ask me.”
“But I don’t believe anyone did ask you, Charles,” Levi said. “If you’d like to come in for a drink with the duchess and myself, we’re more than glad to have you. But what she said is true. Her family will not be joining us today.”
“Well, I find that appalling, personally,” Charles said. “You’ll never get those ladies married if you keep them locked away like that, you know. Besides, I saw them on my approach, leaning out of an upstairs window and waving at my carriage. That’s how I knew they were here! You aren’t doing a very good job at hiding them away from the world.”
“Would you like a drink or not?” Levi asked.
“Oh, you know I would. I’m really only teasing you! You can’t get upset about it, Levi. You’ve changed so much since you inherited this land.”
“I don’t believe I’ve changed.”
“You have.” Charles strode past him into the sitting room. He walked over to the most comfortable chair in the roomand dropped into it, slouching, legs splayed. “Ahh, that’s more comfortable.”
Caroline couldn’t help staring at him. What sort of man walked into someone else’s home and behaved this way? She couldn’t imagine doing this in her own home, never mind as a guest somewhere.
Levi took the seat opposite him, leaving the second-best seat for Caroline. She sank into it.
“So,” Charles said. “Are the rumors true?”
“If you came here to verify rumors, you can go now,” Levi snapped.
“What rumors?” Caroline looked from one man to the other.
“Pay this no mind.” Levi’s jaw was set. “He’s talking about the gossip that’s been spread about the two of us and the state of our marriage. You already know all about it, Caroline, and that it’s a bunch of errant nonsense. I’m not going to address this for every curious party that comes knocking.”
“Why are you being like this, Levi? You and I are friends, aren’t we?” Charles adopted a pout. “You know, when you inherited this place, I was nothing but happy for you. I still am! But I hate to think your title might have changed our relationship. I truly thought our friendship could survive almost anything, but lately, I feel as if I hardly know you anymore.”
That hurt Levi. Caroline could see it in the way he winced, ever so slightly, though she wondered whether anyone but herself would have noticed. If Charles noticed that his words had struck a nerve, he gave no sign of it. He leaned forward, braced his elbows on his knees, and waited for a response.
“You know perfectly well how little store I set by a title,” Levi said at last. “Whatever you may be perceiving, it has nothing to do with that, and if anyone should know I would think it would be you, Charles. You know this was nothing I ever anticipated or asked for.”
“I know that,” Charles agreed. “But better men than either of us have been seduced by money and power, by social standing. Maybe you’ve spent enough time as a duke that you’ve forgotten what it is to be a commoner.”
“What it is to be a commoner is living life without having someone gossiping about you at every turn,” Levi said. “I suppose no one ever comes to your house and asks you about your relationship with your wife.”
Charles laughed. “Haven’t got a wife,” he pointed out.
“You know what I mean.”
“You’re right. No one comes to my house and pries into my business, and I wouldn’t let them if they did. I see where you’re coming from. But even so…you must understand, people are curious, Levi. Like it or not, care about it or not, youarethe Duke of Mowbray, and people are going to pry into your affairs.That’s simply what’s going to happen. You can’t do anything to prevent it.”
“Well, that doesn’t mean that I have to indulge it,” Levi said firmly. “And I don’t intend to. Is that the only reason you came here today, Charles?”
“Oh, of course not. This is a social call first and foremost. I’m sure you know that. How long has it been since we’ve spent time together, after all? I’m not sure I even remember when the last time was, you’ve been keeping to yourself so much!”
