“I am, Mr. Diard.”
“It is a wonderful thing to pick up a book and escape from life briefly, do you not think?”
“Yes, indeed. Something my father taught me at a young age,” Dimity added.
Gabe watched Lady Levermarch and listened to Diard talk to Dimity. The man was polite, and he would tolerate nothing less. She was uncomfortable enough without someone making her more so.
“Thank God!” Cam said when the door opened and Chibbers stagged in with a tray, followed by servants carrying more refreshments. “I was feeling weak.”
“As you ate this morning, I fail to see how that is possible.” The Duchess of Raven looked disgusted.
Gabe watched Dimity rise and move to assist the staff. The woman did not look out of place here surrounded by nobility. Her beauty was the equal to every other woman’s in the room.
“Miss Brown is clearly a valued companion of the duchess’s.” Diard looked to where Dimity stood laughing with Benjamin Hetherington. Gabe saw the interest in his eyes and battled the need to growl at the man.
“She is under my protection also,” he said, just so the man knew she was not alone in the world. “She was my sister’s piano teacher.”
“A very talented woman then,” Diard said in his French-accented voice that suddenly annoyed Gabe.
“Oh, Captain Broadbent, how will we ever reach our destination with so many obstacles in our path?” Cambridge Sinclair cried mournfully, now taking his turn on the chair. He had the material around his head, making him look like a little old woman. “But Lady Nauticus, love will carry us there on silken wings, until we reach our destination.”
“Rubbish,” the duchess said. “Silken wings,” she muttered. “Utter rubbish.”
“Kiss me, Captain Broadbent,” Cam cried. He then bent to place a gentle kiss on Walter’s nose, who in turned sneezed loudly.
“Cam, you are a fool,” the Duchess of Raven said, laughing, when he’d finished. Cam bowed deeply.
“Hard to believe the man is really quite intelligent and runs a successful newspaper,” Benjamin said conversationally.
“I heard that.” Cam leapt from the chair. “And unlike your sturdy soul, Benjamin, I can be many things, including a thespian.”
Michael went next, his voice taking on each character with ease. His applause was just as loud as Cam’s.
“Your turn, Raine,” the duchess said when his brother was done. Her look dared him to refuse.
“Of course, not if it’s too much,” Alexander Hetherington said with an insincere smile. “After all, it is not for everyone. One is almost born being able to—”
“Shut up, Hetherington,” Gabe growled, regaining his feet. “I have three brothers, and that attempt at pathetic manipulation will not sway me.”
“Subtle, not pathetic,” Alexander added.
Gabe did not take the book Michael handed him; instead he simply vaulted onto the chair.
“If I must do this, then I will say what I wish.”
“That is not how this works!” the duchess cried. “I wish to hear more of the story.”
“Dimity will read it for you later.”
“Let him read what he wishes. It is, after all, his first salon,” Cam said, holding a huge wedge of cake in one hand, seemingly oblivious to Walter sitting an inch from his face.
“Poetry,” Gabe began, “is where the real skill in writing lies.”
“I’ll concede that,” Alex Hetherington said.
Gabe let the silence settle until he had everyone’s attention, and then he began.
“My heart leaps up when I behold
