He had never intended to be the leader of their club. Never intended to lower their moral resolve and turn them into lords of debauchery. But he had by acting the way he did. And now he was being praised for it. “Graham,” he said seriously. “I am tired of not having a home—nothing to protect and believe in. I will be thirty years old next year. It is time to make a commitment to my family and title.”
“Do not allow me to dissuade you, Your Grace,” the earl said. “As I see it, we’re both going to hell no matter what we do. So whatever we can do to make things right now, we should. And I intend to help you.”
Alonzo had no desire to end up in the fiery depths of Hades after he died. “Absolution is possible, my friend. I wish you would give it a try someday.”
The earl chuckled. “When is the last time you stepped inside a church and talked to a parson?”
Too many years… Once his parents died, Alonzo became a skeptic of religion and faith. In essence, he had lost his. But now, someone had given him a reason to hope again, and he’d be damned if anyone got in the way of his future.
Chapter Nineteen
Adozen tableshad been set up in the main drawing room to play whist. The women and men were paired off, and Julia was surprised to see so much money exchanging hands. Had the Duke of Stanhope suddenly transformed his home into a gaming hell? Never interested in playing or gambling, she kept to the perimeter of the room, walking quietly by the tables, gazing at the hands of cards some the guests held. None seemed to notice her, for they were too deeply absorbed in the game.
Willa welcomed her to an empty table by one of the hearths, and they sat down together, happy to spend some quality time after being apart for the last day.
“Is it true?” Willa asked.
“What exactly?”
“That Madeline Hershey is Mr. Garland’s half-sister?”
“Who have you been talking to, Willa?”
“The Earl of Ganes, of course. He seems to have a fair knowledge of all the people here, their family histories, financials, even which noblemen have children outside of their marriages!”
Julia didn’t know whether she should be impressed or frightened by the earl’s collection of knowledge. “Are you saying he is a gossipmonger?”
“Not precisely, but I find it fascinating.”
“Perhaps you ought to be careful about what you discuss with him. After all, he is practically a stranger.”
“Why? Mama has given her approval for me to foster a friendship with him. And I prefer his company over any of the other gentlemen here.”
“And what does your earl have to say about me?”
Willa smiled. “Wonderful things, really.”
“Should that not be worrisome?” she asked with an air of annoyance. “What does he know of me?”
Her friend reached across the table and took her hand. “I wish you would learn to trust again.”
“I never lost trust in the people I care about. Just in the general public for their lack of concern over the less fortunate.”
“Such a noble thing to say,” came a practiced, female voice with a refined, American accent.
Julia cringed the moment she heard Miss Hershey, and nearly gagged at the amount of potent perfume she wore. She turned her head slightly to find the woman standing at their table.
“Good evening, Lady Julia,” she said.
“Miss Hershey.”
“May I join you ladies?”
“Actually…” Willa started.
Julia shook her head at Willa to stop her from refusing to allow Miss Hershey to join them. “Of course, sit with us.”
“I could not help but overhear your conversation about the unfortunate souls who populate your dear country—especially in London.”
