“A duke cannot be that free—”
“That is nonsense. There are hosts of them who are rascals and rakes.”
“I’m not cut of that cloth.”
“I imagine you could be if you gave yourself half a chance. I was and I bet Ben has had his moments. Gavin, you deserve happiness. Even Mother has Fyclan Morris.”
“Not actually. She was telling me before all of this nonsense started that they were having a parting of the ways. She told me that although they are friends, Fyclan may never recover from his wife’s death. He loved her deeply and Mother doesn’t wish to be Jenny’s shadow.”
“I can understand. Although he may change his mind with time. I never thought to love again after Hope. If anything happened to Charlene, I would go mad with grief. However, is Mother all right? She appeared to enjoy having an escort when she went out.”
“She told me she wants to be free to find a man who will give her all of himself.” He fell quiet a moment. “Do you remember telling me that I needed to be attentive to Lady Charlene?”
“You wanted me to entertain her whenever you were called away.”
“Is that when I lost her?”
“No, Gavin. I would not be so dishonorable. However, what lies between Charlene and me started when we first met, which was weeks before your ball.”
“Weeks?”
Jack nodded. “I caught her picking Matthew Rice’s pocket.”
“You knew she was a thief?”
“Did you?”
“Not until Mrs.Pettijohn informed me. I was shocked.”
“I was shocked as well—first when I actually caught her and tried to shake Rice’s purse out of her.Thatis when I discovered she was female.”
“Did she give you back the purse?”
“No, she almost gelded me.”
“Oh,” his brother said as if this was new, and troubling, information.
“The second time I was shocked was when I recognized her on your arm,” Jack confessed.
“You could have warned me,” Gavin said.
“Would you have believed me?”
He didn’t even have to consider the matter a second. “Probably not. I was bowled over by her. However, now, hearing what you have to say, I may be lucky she chose you.”
Jack laughed his agreement.
Gavin took a step back. He looked tired, weary. He held out his hand. “Can you forgive my actions in London? I’ve cost you your opportunity to make your mark.”
Jack pushed aside the hand and he gave his brother a hug. “My mission was a wild shot from the beginning. Lawrence and Rice had been forced upon me to undermine me.”
“At least they sent you. That was good. You did try and your cause is noble. But in the end, Jack, I didn’t have anything to do with your delegation. No one wanted to listen to even me speak about the grievances.”
“Will they be surprised when my country declares war?”
“Sometimes I suspect it is the only way to get men to think.”
“A pity.”
