Chapter Forty-four
THIS REALLY WAS ONEconversation Montgomery shouldn’t be having yet, since he couldn’t address any of his father’s concerns. But Brian Townsend, Earl of Marlham, wouldn’t accept half-truths or evasions, which is why Montgomery had done his best to avoid him. At least he had time to think up a good excuse on the ride back to London, though not a single one had occurred to him yet.
“I think he’s more angry at having to chase you down a road than he is about those silly rumors. They were dying down, you know, while you kept out of sight. And then you suddenly showed your face in London again and poked the hornet’s nest.”
Andrew was amused by the whole situation and had offered to share his horse with Montgomery for the ride back to town. Their elder brother, Weston, had made his displeasure clear with his typical condescending look rather than a greeting. But their father hadn’t said another word after his warning, which Vanessa must have heard. At least she had stayed hidden. He didn’t need any further censure from his father about riding in a coach with a young debutante unaccompanied by a chaperone.
“How are you three even on this road?”
Andrew laughed. “We were on our way to the Blackburn residence to find out if that’s where you’ve been hiding yourself, when Weston spotted you jumping into that coach.”
“Why there?”
“Because Claire noticed the attention you were paying to the Blackburn ladies at a recent ball—you even introduced her to one of them—and mentioned it to Father. Despite his fury over those sordid rumors, he was actually intrigued by her news. I think he secretly hopes you are interested in one of them.”
Montgomery didn’t address that when he was more concerned about his father’s anger. “Fury? Really?”
“I’m afraid so, at least, once he started getting ribbed at his club over it. Typical nonsense, although Weston was with him and repeated the one that lit the fire, ‘Passing down old mistresses to your sons now?’ Even Weston was furious over that one.”
“No doubt,” Montgomery mumbled. “But why are you and Weston with Father if he was only going to make an inquiry at the Blackburns’ house?”
Andrew chuckled. “I wasn’t invited, but once I knew where they were going, I insisted on joining them. I guess Weston went along in case you needed to be dragged home.”
Montgomery snorted. “The last time I fought with our elder brother, I believe I won.”
“Did you? Or did Claire’s distraction let you get in that lucky punch? But in either case, I’m glad force wasn’t necessary. I assure you I would have been quite annoyed if Father told me to pitch in.”
“But you would have?”
“Of course! You might ignore Father’s wishes, but none of the rest of us do. So will you tell me now why you were chasing old dames around London?”
“No.”
“But you’re going to tell Father?”
Montgomery groaned. “No.”
“It’s your funeral, Brother.”
“I know, so give me a little peace so I can figure out how to keep him from shutting the lid on that coffin.”
“Very well, but please, please don’t hop off and run down one of these alleys we’re passing. That would be the final straw, you know.”
Montgomery laughed. He wasn’t sure if Andrew was suggesting it or really trying to warn him not to. But they were back in London already, the family residence even in sight, so he said, “Relax. I’ve been caught. I’ll shoulder the ceiling when it falls.”
Inside the house, the earl went straight to his study. Weston gave Montgomery a little push in that direction. “I don’t usually feel any sympathy for you, Brother, but for once I do. I believe you are supposed to follow him. Get it over with. You’ll feel better.”
That was quite possibly the nicest thing Weston had ever said to him. Montgomery nodded and entered the study, even closed the door behind him.
His father was already seated behind his large desk, arms crossed, brows furrowed by a daunting frown. There was a sprinkling of gray in his auburn hair, but his light green eyes were still crystal clear and sharp.
“Sit down,” he said.
Montgomery ignored the two comfortable chairs in front of the desk other than to put his hands on the back of one of them. “I’d rather not.”
“Sit!” Brian barked. “You’re not going to stand there poised for flight.”
“But I find comfort in having that option.”
