“Very well.You know that the box is yours.”
While it was perfectly proper for a man to visit a courtesan’s opera box, gentlemen did not bring their mistresses into the boxes belonging to their families.Therefore, Leith always engaged a separate box for the exclusive use of himself and his mistresses, and which he kept under the name of his ladydu jour.
“Yes, thank you.I will be using it.Lord Gresham is attending me.”
His mother’s best friend, the Countess of Gresham, had died last year.She still saw the earl and his children frequently, however.It was sweet, really.He knew she missed her Louisa.And doubtlessly her family appreciated her continued warm regard for her memory.
“I understand.”
“I did want to speak to you about that, my love.”
He sat on the divan across from the sofa.His mother was just over fifty, with a sweet, lined face that, nevertheless, still looked very youthful about the eyes and mouth.It comforted him to see her in her usual position in the drawing room.He made it sound to his friends that he lived largely in St.James’s, and some weeks he did, but the truth was that it was rare that a day went by that he did not come back to Leith Manor and see his mother.
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, darling, itisa hard thing to say.”
“You are beginning to worry me.Is it your health?Should I call for Dr.Pembroke?”
“No, no,” she laughed.“I am making a hash of it.Oh, Benjamin will scold me when I tell him.”
Benjamin?
No, dear God.It couldn’t be.
“I am engaged to be married.Please do not expire from shock.”
Leith found that he could not move a muscle.Engaged to be married?What was the rage for matrimony lately?He had already had the misfortune of allthreeof his best friends marrying—that was bad enough.
But now his ownmother?It was an abomination.
“You aremarrying?Lord Gresham?”
“I am afraid so, darling.”
“But he is—you are—”
“I know I am not a young woman,” his mother said, a blush that he had not known her capable of dashing across her cheeks.
“That is not what I meant,” he snapped.Although, he had to admit, it wasn’tnotwhat he had meant, either.“He is your best friend’s husband!”
“Believe me, Thomas, I already feel bad enough about it.But if it doesn’t bother Benjamin or the children—”
“The children!They already know about this?”
The Greshams had two children, both around his age: a son, the heir-long-in-waiting, and a daughter, who had for many years now been the wife of the honorable Mr.Blanchett.
“They have cheered the match.They want to see their father happy.He has been—He has suffered without Louisa.We both have.And if we’ve found comfort in each other—”
“Enough!”The idea of his mother findingcomfortin the arms of anyone was too much for his delicate sensibilities.“That old satyr!Trying to seduce my mother!”
“Thomas, you are being far less reasonable than I supposed you would be!Do I say anything critical aboutyourproclivities?A new woman every fortnight?No, I do not.I haven’t for years.And Benjamin hasn’ttriedanything—”
“Well, thatisa comfort.”
“No, he has done better than try, he has succeeded!”
“Mother!”Leith stood and paced to the window, pure horror propelling him upwards.“I should call the man out!”
