“Why am Ithe mantoday? Don’t say it is because ofThe Timesand you’re interested in a pot of gossip-water!”
Guilden laughed. “My wife greatly enjoys your amorous antics in the papers despite how I try to shield her tender gaze, but I was referring to how you nearly drowned that rat Lowry.”
Confounded, Philip asked, “How did you know about that? Surely Lowry didn’t tell anyone of his humiliation, nor that he had to leave by the back gate since he was wet from the top of his head almost to his waist.”
“No, but you were seen from the house by Holland, and he told me.”
“Huh.”Philip settled back in his chair. “And yet it didn’t make it into the Grub Street news, unless I missed it.”
“Only a few of us know, those with wives who were bothered by Lowry. None of us will let it get to the papers. We wouldn’t want you charged with assault, would we?” He raised his glass to Philip.
“I had no idea the man was a predator, and I thought I had his full measure.”
“He usually likes other men’s wives,” Guilden explained. “The women are fearful of scandal, and thus, no one complains. You’ve had no wife, nor long-term lady-friend until now. Speaking of which, you have chosen well with the delightful Miss Bright.”
Philip gestured the waiter over and ignored Guilden’s words while he ordered his meal. Not only hadn’t he chosen her, he had just rid himself of her. If he told his chum that, it was plain he would see a look of disappointment. Still, he could explain in some fashion.
“It was a temporary association. She and I will not be keeping company any longer.”
There it was, as expected, a look of chagrin flittering across Guilden’s expression, but then he brightened.
“If the lady is hoping for marriage, you might want to consider that one. My wife had a conversation with Lady Hartwell over tea and lavender ice cream at Gunter’s. She said your Miss Bright was a woman of good humorandgood sense.”
“That she is.”HisMiss Bright, except when she went off with Lowry or onto the Dark Walk with Lady Harriet. “But I have some other irons in the fire at the moment.”
“I see.” Guilden tapped the table. “Well, there is no accounting for the heart. If you don’t carry a tenderness for her, there isn’t much one can do or say to force such sentiment.”
A tenderness?He certainly had that. And before the Lowry incident, he’d been thinking of telling her he was becoming devoted to her in his fashion. But to see her inThe Times, linked with him. He could only imagine the magistrate reading it and exacting vengeance for his daughter’s besmirched name.
Philip had expected Miranda to be angry over the editorial.
Instead, she’d coolly and amicably released him from their arrangement. Maybe she had grown attached to someone else, that suitor he’d passed in her front hall. The man had a good head of hair, and no doubt about it.
Philip ran a hand through his own to make sure it was still thick and hadn’t fallen out with the stress that had begun with the Waltham’s solicitor banging on his door months earlier.
“But aren’t you weary of being less than you could be?” Guilden’s words brought him back to the present.
“Meaning,” Philip said before sipping the coffee that had been brought in advance of his meal. It was bitter and not hot enough.Was White’s going down the slippery slope to mediocrity, or was it merely his own discontent coloring everything?
“Every man-jack who served with you, including me, knows you’re as right as rain and have a heart as big as Prinny’s waistline,” Guilden said. “It’s fine to be rakish in our youth, but you are head of a great family. Currently, however, you’re only the titular head of those who came before with nothing and no one after you. In my opinion, you should start creating the next generation of Mercers before you have to go through the ox house on your way to bed.”
Philip rolled his eyes at the jest. “I am not so ancient as to need the ox house and you know it, but I take your meaning.”
Guilden shrugged. “As your comrade-in-arms, I would like to see you become as happy as I am.”
“You are one of the few, and if you’re riotously happy, why are you here?” Philip asked sourly.
That made his friend laugh. “Part of the secret to a happy marriage is giving each other time alone. All the sweeter when I take Lady Guilden to bed later.”
Philip nodded, and his thoughts turned to Miranda. She was the only woman he had ever met whom he could imagine looking forward to seeing every day of his life.
But even if he wanted to, he couldn’t ask for her hand while Lord Perrin expected him to offer forhisdaughter. If he betrayed Perrin and Miss Waltham, his brandy casks would be sunk to the bottom of the Channel. He had to wait just a week and a half longer, and then Miss Waltham would be out of time, according to the magistrate’s letter.
Besides Sir William’s permission would be hard won, considering the man’s low opinion of him, which was why a summons from him two days later did not bode well.
Arriving at the magistrate’s court, hat in hand, Philip tried his best to appear as innocent as a choir boy instead of a thundering buck.
“What did you do to my daughter?” came Sir William’s harsh greeting.
