“What?” Anthony asked shaking his head to remove the imagine of Evangeline Spencer’s nicely rounded backside pressed to his groin.
“Marriage mart. They have to look their best at all times and show their good sides to impress would-be husbands. I would hate that.”
“That’s because you don’t have a good side,” Jamie told Toby.
“It must be hell though,” Anthony agreed. “We can do what we like, and they have to watch their every step. I was glad when Harriet met Simon and stepped away from society.”
“How is Harriet?” Jamie asked.
“My aunts called this morning. It seems I am to be an uncle.”
“Now, that is exciting news,” Toby said.
“A little person for Uncle Anthony to dote on,” Jamie added.
He didn’t tell them he wasn’t capable of doting on anyone.
“As you can imagine, my aunts are excessively happy.”
“I love your aunts,” Jamie added.
“Me too,” Toby said.
“That was not the only reason they called early to see me,” Anthony said. “My Aunt Louise told them that seeing as it was not likely I could produce an heir, her son will become the next earl. Aunt Petunia then said, and I quote, ‘it’s imperative that simpering weasel Nigel is never the Earl of Hamilton’.”
“She’s not wrong,” Toby said. “And your aunt isn’t a very nice woman.”
“All true,” Jamie said raising his glass. “Your aunts will be terrified she’ll cut off their funds and leave them penniless and living on the streets if you died.”
“Exactly right,” Anthony added.
“I bet they are going to apply the pressure for you to wed and come up with lists.” Jamie said.
Anthony looked at him.
“Lord, they’ve already done so. Tell us at once who is on it?” Jamie said.
“No.” Anthony took another sip.
“It is not like we are not getting the same pressure. Lists have not yet been formed, but it’s only a matter of time,” Toby added.
“I have no wish to discuss this further.”
“We could just sit on him. Between us we’re larger,” Jamie said.
“Get Chadders. He’s excellent at getting things out of people,” Toby said.
“Lady Hester, Miss Amelia Leighton, and Miss Evangeline Spencer,” Anthony said because they’d keep at him until he told them. He should have just kept his mouth closed.
“All good prospects,” Jamie said.
“Miss Evangeline Spencer? The woman is prickly and opinionated, and we can barely tolerate each other,” Anthony protested. “In fact, we dislike each other excessively. I crossed her off the list.”
“I didn’t know you had spent that much time together to form these opinions,” Toby said.
“I haven’t.”
“But you did save her today, and there is that reaction you have to her—”
