A chuckle escaped Alaina. “Ah yes, my reserved demeanor is infallible.”
“Quite.” Evelina paused before reiterating the question, “So?”
“So what?”
“What is the marquess actually like? What was he like today?”
Alaina thought once more, remembering his defense of her, something even Graham had failed to do, and her mind reeled from confusion. “I do not quite know what he is like, certainly more than he appears.”
“So, are you worried about the fact that your cousin is in town?” Christopher probed. The situation at the park this morning had been upsetting, but purely coincidental. Still, Christopher felt he had only heard part of the story from his friend.
Graham left his spot at the mantle, looking into the flames, to pace the room. “I do not think it unusual that he would be in London for the season, but Georgiana insists he is up to something worse, maybe even following us around town.”
“Where is Georgiana?” asked Christopher. When they had returned, both men had quickly retired to Graham’s study, where they filled glasses of brandy, and Georgiana had begged for reprieve.
“She is upstairs resting, or so she says. I imagine she is writing to her husband to tell him of the day’s events and her suspicions. She was quite adamant that Percy was up to something. I just think it was bad luck.” Graham stopped pacing and faced his friend. “So, are you prepared for another evening of avoiding young ladies wishing for just a dance? Alaina and her mother will be attending the Stamford Ball this evening.”
“I would assume so,” Christopher answered blandly, not wishing for yet another evening of parading about with Graham.
“You are coming, yes?”
Christopher released a sigh. “I guess. I fear I see more facets of Alaina’s personality by the minute. First, she is rude to me, then all smiles for you, and then today, showing a bit of backbone with your cousin. What type of friend would I be to leave you to your own devices?”
Graham smiled broadly. “Yes, she is marvelous, is she not? And that story about Lord Finch! How terrible for her to go through. It is amazing she decided to finish out the season after that.”
“It is,” was all Christopher chose to say.
“Well, as things are, I do not believe I need your help any longer with Lady Alaina, but with Percy on the loose, I could still use your support.”
Christopher found his doubts about Alaina were overshadowed by the situation with Graham’s cousin. “What is it that Percy did to make you so on edge?”
A sigh escaped Graham. “Like I said, he caused a ruckus at the family gathering portion of the festivities over the holidays. Percy overheard my sister and her husband talking about some renovations they were planning up in Cornwall at their estate and Percy became enraged. He started raging about how we had all this money that frivolous renovations could be completed with no thought to others who had less. He then had the audacity to threaten thatwhenhe came into the dukedom, he would quit being so generous with the staff and would sell the holdings so he could invest them in his shipping company. Something about having to work for his money. If I had to guess, he has debtors at his heels.”
“Hmm, that explains Georgiana’s reaction to seeing him in the park. Why did you not tell me sooner?” Christopher asked, and then thought to be a bit more reassuring. “I am sure‘when’is just an empty threat. Percy was always a spineless weasel.”
“I can only hope that is the case, but my mother and sister are quite shaken by it all. I would have told you last night, but Charles had impeccable timing,” Graham grumbled. “I fear where you are perceptive ofmostpeople and their character, you have a blind spot for your cousin. My dastardly cousin, Percy, may be more overt in his intentions and poor character, but do not forget, Charles tortured us through Eton.”
“That was just fooling around, you have to believe that. Besides, we are all grown now,” Christopher countered. “He is my only living family. And we have only been in touch since my uncle, his father, passed a couple of years ago. I do not want to punish him for something that was done when we were but adolescents.”
Graham blew out a breath and scrubbed his hand through his hair. “Yes, I know, I know. Let us hope that my paranoia over Percy is just clouding my judgement of all cousins, including yours.”
“Thank you,” Christopher said quietly.
Graham left his now empty glass on the sideboard and approached the large ornate wooden desk that overwhelmed its corner of the room, especially with its piles of papers left for too long without proper attention. Graham sighed and unceremoniously dumped himself into the chair behind the desk, looking intent to deal with the disorder just now.
“It seems like you have a full afternoon,” Christopher chuckled, taking another sip from his cup. Graham had never been one for extreme order, but even for him, his desk was untidy. Papers littered every corner, causing him to have to haphazardly shuffle things out of the way. After a moment of watching, Christopher noticed Graham had not found what he needed. “Is there something important you cannot seem to place? I would say I could help, but you have quite a disorderly pile.”
Graham paused in his search to give his friend an exasperated look before continuing. “It seems I have misplaced my ring. If I am to respond to these correspondence and invoices, I would need that.”
“Your family ring?” Christopher questioned, placing his hand on his pinky to ensure his own was in its rightful place. “I am surprised you do not wear it at all times.”
“Well, it barely fits on any of my fingers, and honestly, I do not like the feel of baubles on my hands. It gets in the way of riding,” Graham explained.
The shuffling of papers continued, the crease on Graham’s forehead deepening until he finally located the ring. It was a gaudy piece of jewelry with the large Ashford crest on it, speaking to the age of the title and its time in the Wallace family.
“Aha! Found it! See, with a desk this messy, the ring is in a safe space.”
Christopher looked at his friend, who continued to shuffle through the mess on his desk. “Well, now that you have all you need for an afternoon of fun, I will leave you to your business, and I will see you tonight.”
