The page stepped forward. “He saw you from the dais. You were with Lord and Lady Dearborn.”
Ah that explained it. Miles scowled down at the card in his hand. No one refused an invitation from the king. He nodded tightly. “We’ll be there.” And the page scurried away.
He turned to his brother. “They will have taken her away from here. Let’s split up and see if we can find out where they are staying while in Brighton. I’ll meet you back here for supper.”
Two hours later he and Daniel were escorted into the Banqueting Room with a dozen or so other guests. This was the first time Miles had ever seen the interior rooms of the palace as he had never run with the crowd of dissolute friends the king surrounded himself with even in his younger years. The first thing he noticed was the enormous chandelier that hung from the center of the dome overhead. The chandelier sported silver plated dragons roaring down at guests from amid the thousands of strung crystals. Right below the edge of the large dome inlaid wood paneling depicted snakes with great horns and phoenixes in battle. The mix of strange ancient creatures was unsettling to say the least.
Daniel settled next to him as they were shown to their seats near the middle of the long banquet table. He leaned close. “Lord and Lady Dearborn are staying at the Old Ships Hotel,” he said softly.
Miles laid his napkins in his lap and replied just as quietly. “Excellent. Thank you. Now if we can just make it through this dinner without calling attention to ourselves this horrible day can die a slow death.”
Unfortunately, just after the wine was poured the king peered down the table at him and his brother. “Lord Hawksridge, I saw you standing next to Lord and Lady Dearborn this evening as their daughter made a spectacle of herself. Pray tell, what was their reaction?”
“I did not notice, Your Majesty. The performance had my rapt attention,” Miles replied carefully as he realized the true reason for their invitation to dine was to glean gossip.
“Yes, of course,” Lord Comstock said from across the table. “Lady Ashby’s lovely calves held everyone’s rapt attention.”
Miles flexed his fingers under the table. He would like to wipe that smirk off Comstock’s face with his fist. Daniel laid a hand on his arm as though he knew his thoughts.
“Truly a vulgar display,” Lady Arnold said. “I always thought she was too wild. Lady Dearborn has always been far too lenient if you ask me.”
“No one has,” Miles muttered.
“Pardon?” the lady stared daggers across the table. Miles took a sip of wine rather than engage with the shrew.
“What do you think, Lord Weston? Your wife is good friends with Lady Susanna, correct?” the king asked.
“I think she is quite talented,” Daniel replied loyally.
“Harrumph.” Lord Woolsey thumped a hand on the table. “Scandalous is what she is.” His bushy white mustache vibrated. “This is what happens when men cannot control their daughters. Loose morals I tell you. She should have been married by now.”
The lady next to him nodded. “What is she twenty-five now? Lord Dearborn should have had her married off years ago. She would be busy with babies now instead of gallivanting on horseback like a circus performer.”
Lord Quincy leaned across the table toward his friend Comstock. “I wouldn’t mind seeing more of her talents.” He waggled his eyebrows and both men laughed heartily.
It was the last straw. How dare they! Miles stood, his chair scraping back loudly against the marble floor. “Lady Susanna might be scandalous but she lives her life with passion and a sense of wonder. She cares deeply about her friends no matter their station. She does not take for granted the gift that each day is and lives her life to the fullest. Which is something a bunch of jaded dilettantes like yourselves could never understand. So, you may take your snide remarks and innuendo and go to hell.” With his chest heaving he stared down all the blustering fools, daring anyone to retort. Then he heard clapping from one set of hands down at the end of the table. The Duke of Hartwick. With a small smile, the duke nodded his head.
“Good God, Hawksridge, sit down,” the king grumbled. “We are all just curious.”
“No. I don’t think I will, Your Majesty. Thank you for your hospitality.” He bowed deeply to the regent.
The king sighed loudly and waved a hand in dismissal.
Miles turned to go. His brother quickly stood and bowed to the regent as well before joining him as he walked out of the opulent banquet room. When the tall doors had closed behind them Daniel turned to him. “Well, that’s one way to defend the woman you love. But also, a way to make a roomful of enemies.”
Miles grinned at his brother. “Funny how little I care. I must go see her. I’ll meet you back at our rooms later.”
Daniel nodded and they strode out of the Royal Pavilion toward the main street of town. Miles headed east to the Old Ship’s Hotel. The hotel took up the entire block and faced out to the water. The sleepy man at the front desk directed him to rooms on the third floor where the Dearborns were staying without even asking his name. Clearly, the nightman had not been given a speech about discretion or perhaps he was just too tired to care. Miles accepted his good luck and quickly moved to the stairs.
On the third floor he knocked on the door to the suite. Anticipation pressed against his chest. He wanted to tell her how beautifully she had sparkled tonight. How sorry he was about what he’d said at the beach. How much he loved her…
“Who’s there?”
“Lord Hawksridge,” he replied.
Several moments went by in silence. Then the door opened halfway and Lady Dearborn filled the space. Her usual friendly smile replaced by a somber countenance. “Good evening, Lord Hawksridge.”
“Good evening, Lady Dearborn. I would like to speak with Susanna please.”
