“Thomas, when did you become such a prig?Gresham and I merely wanted to stop by and greet you and—and Miss Salisbury.”
“Here, Leith,” said Gresham.“I want to make clear that I love your mother.I will take care of her.You needn’t worry on that score.”
“Very comforting,” Leith hissed, his irritation at the man’s silvery handsomeness growing by the second.“And quite a gentlemanly sentiment—if I didn’t know you’d already dishonored her.”
“Thomas!”his mother cried.“Truly.”
“Your mother is her own master, young man,” Gresham huffed.“She does not answer toyou.”
“I never said that she did.But how can I respect the intentions of a man who takes such a low and creeping action as to bed a lady before he marries her?”
“Sir,” Gresham sneered.“Mind your company.”
Leith bit his tongue.He doubted Beatrice would be much offended by his intimation that she was not a lady in the same line as his mother.It was an entirely different thing, of course.But, still, he could see why this argument was less than profitable to him at this moment.
“My apologies, Miss Salisbury,” his mother said.“I did not mean to subject you to a family row.”
“Do not apologize, Lady Leith,” Beatrice said, her cool voice a balm to the irritation of the situation before him.“I am not at all affronted.”
Leith glanced at Beatrice.Her eyes sparkled with mirth.She was clearly finding the situation quite amusing.When he tried to see it from her perspective, he supposed it must look somewhat humorous indeed.
“I offer you my congratulations,” Beatrice said, smiling at her mother and Gresham.
“Your companion is more civil than yourself, Leith,” Gresham said.“I hope you are influenced by her.”
Leith opened his mouth to bite back a retort.
“Lady Leith,” another familiar voice called through the curtain.“It is always a pleasure.”
Trem strolled into the box.Leith could seldom remember a time when he had been so happy to see Trem and his wide, easy smile.Trem had a special easiness to him that made him liked wherever he went.And he needed that quality of his friend’s very badly at present.
His wife, Henrietta, was on his arm.Henrietta had once been merely John’s little sister, but, a year ago, she and Trem had shocked everyone by getting engaged.Their marriage had happened under chaotic, tempestuous circumstances that had scandalized society—and which fit the sensibilities of its principals quite well, if one knew them intimately, as he did.
Henrietta herself grinned as she took in the scene.Leith fought back a scowl.He loved Henrietta like a sister, but they had always clashed.She was so unruly.When she and Trem had become betrothed and run off through the countryside together, as of yet unwed and clearly fornicating, John had been apoplectic.It was a miracle that both parties could laugh now about the quarrel that had, at the time, seemed so serious.
“Lord Tremberley,” said his mother, smiling.“And your lovely wife.It is wonderful to see you both so well.”
“Thank you, Lady Leith.My wife and I heard a rumor and would like to tender our congratulations.”
“Ah, thank you, my boy,” said Gresham, smiling.
“It will be the match of the season,” Henrietta said, an amused smile on her face, which irritated Leith greatly.“We are thrilled to hear it.”
His mother beamed, clearly pleased by the good tidings.
“We are a bit uneasy about the gossip,” his mother said, confidentially, “given the circumstances.”
Leith scoffed.“Trem and Henrietta are hardly representative of society, Mother.”
Henrietta gave an exclamation of undisguised irritation.“What are you suggesting, Leith?”
“It means the circumstances of your own marriage were highly unusual.I am merely giving voice to that truth.”
“Leith,” Trem said, warning in his voice.“There is no need.”
It was a warning that Leith had heard often since Trem had married Henrietta.Trem was irritatingly, annoyingly defensive of his wife.A woman who, as she made clear time and time again, was perfectly capable of defending herself, especially where he was concerned!
“I apologize for my son,” his mother said.“He has become, as of late, impossibly rude.”
