“Calling it quits already?”
Charles did not have to turn to see who it was, and resettled himself in his chair just as Percy took the chair opposite him, the chair ironically occupied by the man’s cousin, the Duke of Ashford, just thirty minutes prior.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?” Charles said, feigning congeniality.
Percy seemed to catch Charles’s tone. “Come now, my friend, surely I am owed a better greeting.”
A tight smile remained on Charles’s face as he responded. “Forgive me, between my oft-ignored correspondences and your near-constant throng of flaky investors, I would have expected you would have harbored the frosty feelings.”
Percy waved his hand with an air of confidence. “Nonsense, I am just bad at writing ’tis all. As for the investors, the noncommittal group to date has infuriated me just the same. I am glad to have run across you in London, what good luck.”
“Hmm.” Charles placed his hands on his knees, silently hoping to escape Percy’s company. However, another gentleman quickly took the spot that Christopher had occupied earlier, flopping into the chair.
“Charles,” Percy started, seeming to ignore that one’s wish to leave, “May I introduce you to Lord Richard Finch. Finch, this is Charles Kendall, the trader I was telling you about just the other day.”
Charles felt heat rise in his face at the slight of the man’s introduction, one without his proper title, but refused to dignify it with a correction. The men were equal in the eyes of society, even if Percy held onto unrealistic ambitions.
Richard turned an almost predatory smile on Charles. “Nice to meet you, Charles. Percy tells me you trade all over the world, amazing how you work so hard.”
Charles gritted his teeth, all of a sudden wishing for a whole bottle of brandy to appear on their table. “Nice to meet you as well,” he responded minimally.
Only a moment of awkward silence fell before Percy seemed to once again take on the role of facilitator. “So, Charles, what are you finding turns a good profit in trade these days? Or are the rumors true that you are in London to get your business on better footing?”
Charles cleared his throat in an effort to clear his head; he was intent to leave, and was wary of being lured into a longer evening with inane prattle. “You should not believe everything you hear. Things have not much changed. Silks are always in demand, especially in London, and spices always turn a profit. And I am surprised at you, Percy, bandying rumors about when you know how much damage they can do. If I were to believe everything I heard, I would be worried to look behind you and see a runner ready to haul you away to debtor’s prison, but I know that could not be further from the truth.”
Percy’s eyes narrowed as Charles spoke, but only momentarily. Richard cut through the silence after Charles’ answer. “Sounds like good business, certainly enough for a good drink and a game of cards now and then, am I right?”
A grunt escaped Charles, which the other two gentlemen seemed to take as one of assent.
It was not long before a fresh decanter made its appearance on the table, each gentleman with a fresh glass, and cards were in Charles’s hand. A few sips of the brown liquid, and any thought of quiet twilight hours at home fled from Charles’s mind; he would play just a game or two to be polite and then be on his way.
Chapter 4
“Are you really going to wear your riding habit?” Evelina queried.
“The duke made a point to ask to call today and go for a ride in Hyde Park. I see no reason to get dressed twice, and I do not expect any other callers. With the duke around, no one really approached.” Alaina finished up the final touches to her outfit, adjusting her cuffs in the mirror, while Evelina looked over her shoulder from the four-poster bed. Alaina looked at her reflection and her mind drifted to last evening.
The duke seemed kind and genuinely interested in her. Their two dances had been magical; his debonair grace around the ballroom had lifted her spirits and made her feel even a bit giddy. It did not hurt that her mother and the dowager duchess had hit it off perfectly. The only thing that weighed on her mind was the interaction with the marquess. Alaina had thought the evening was going well, but when the duke left quickly with his friend, Alaina’s thoughts raced wondering at the reason. Perhaps the marquess had swayed the duke to leave early, and even to not call today as he had promised. Alaina knew she had not put her best foot forward, but how was she to know she would be arguing with what appeared to be one of the duke’s closest friends? And it was not like he had acted pleasantly either.
An unladylike snort escaped Alaina’s nose.
“What is that for, Alaina?”
“Nothing,” Alaina replied. She had not had the courage to tell anyone of her blunder with the marquess, preferring to focus on the positive; the duke would call today. “Just making sure I am properly dressed.”
She may not like to ride horses, or be very good at it, but Alaina certainly enjoyed a good riding habit and this was her favorite. It was a deep plum color, with the edges trimmed in black ribbon. The collar was flat with no lapels, and the deep plum skirt was slim enough to hint at Alaina’s physique. One final adjustment to her black hat, adorned with a deep plum ribbon, and Alaina looked the part of an accomplished equestrienne.
“No need to fuss over your outfit so much, you know it is your best riding habit. The duke is sure to be taken with you, just as he was last evening.” Evelina fidgeted, ready to be done and go downstairs to await visitors in the parlor; it was her one glimpse into the London social scene at her age, and she was excited for callers.
“Alright, shall we?” Alaina turned from the mirror, resolute to meet the day. She hoped the duke would show, as promised, for a ride, otherwise this outfit would be for nothing and it would look ridiculous should they have any other callers.
Alaina and Evelina descended the stairs from the second floor of the townhome. When the sisters reached the bottom, they crossed the small foyer to the front parlor. Once there, Alaina and Evelina took up the books they were currently reading to await guests.
Alaina sat near the window on a settee in order to best see the street outside as well as soak up any sun London had to offer, her book all but forgotten next to her. As it was, today was a bright, sunny day, a welcome change from the weather of the previous few days. She did not expect any callers other than the duke and his sister, but what of the marquess, would he be in attendance? She shook her head to clear the vision of his brooding look, and wished to ignore the flutter she felt in her stomach, the way her heart skipped a beat when she thought of the marquess’s piercing blue eyes. He wanted nothing to do with her anyways, their arguments made that very clear. Pushing back the thought that he was the cause of her jittery demeanor, she refused to give the marquess one more thought. Alaina was determined to focus on the duke.
Her mother, Charlotte, had certainly been industrious in making friends with the duke’s mother, Eleanor, which put Alaina at ease. Alaina forced her memories to those couple dances and interactions with the Duke of Ashford, a smile forming on her lips. She had fully expected the duke to be dull, or self-centered. He was certainly handsome, but also charming and intelligent, with a brilliant smile to light up the room. Not to mention his interest in her, and his promise to call after so short a time, but with no embarrassing theatrics or rudeness.
Alaina was pulled from her reverie by the sound of the front door opening. She quickly glanced out the window. Sure enough, Alaina saw three beautiful horses outside tied to the back of a large and well adorned carriage. Alaina assumed this was the duke and his sister. She did not consider the significance of the third horse before a quiet knock sounded on the partially opened parlor door.
