She sat back in the vehicle, inviting him in. He shook his head. He was a man on a mission this morning. “I feared you weren’t going to make it,” she said. “Thank you for not shooting Lord Dervil.”
“Because you still have feelings for him?”
She gave a cackly laugh. “I gave up those long ago. No, I’m pleased because it wouldn’t have gone well for us if you had killed him. It would have ruined our plans. I have worked hard to lay the groundwork for this vote. This is the first true threat to my husband’s control and I won’t stand for it.”
“It is a pity you can’t be inside with us.”
His mother hummed her response. “It is a hinderance although I’ve learned to work around it. I have an informant. I will know everything that is going on.”
“Then there should be no problems.”
“I hope that this is only a beginning of your political career,” she said. “Believe it or not, you are both an enigmatic figure and a well-liked one. Especially from those who remember your father.” She paused. “They have always supported Fenton’s position as chairman, until now. This is the first serious challenge... and to have it come from Dervil?” She shook her head as if the Almighty was playing a jest. “Fortunately, it is all arranged. You will have the final vote, just asIpromised.”
“Thank you.” He started to climb out of the coach. She stopped him.
“I know you don’t think well of me. However, I want you to know, I don’t bear a grudge.”
It was all he could do not to smile. “I appreciate the knowledge, my lady.” He left to go inside the club knowing that very soon she would be so angry at him, she’d be happy to see him drawn and quartered.
And so it was that when the vote was taken, anewcoalition had been formed—by Mars. He had in a day organized many of the younger members in the Lords who were not satisfied with Fenton’s aging ways or Dervil’s lack of anything. They had agreed with Mars that the Earl of Jessup, a young ambitious man whom Mars had known in school, would be better suited for Chairman of Committees.
Quite simply, both Fenton and Dervil lost.
Mars didn’t cast the final vote because once members of Fenton and Dervil’s factions saw what was taking place, they threw in their lots with the more progressive player. His vote was only one amongst many.
Of course, the new Tory coalition Mars had formed wouldn’t let him escape after the vote. There were meetings to discuss “issues” and for some reason they wished his input.
Mars hated meetings.
And the only issue he was interested in was if he had a marriage or not.
Still, he had put this together and even though he didn’t know the intricacies of all the problems and concerns involved, he knew how to gather people who did understand. He was actually rather good at it. Perhaps there was a bit of his mother in him after all. He knew Clarissa would be amused.
So it was that he couldn’t start for Belvoir until late afternoon on Saturday. He wasn’t about to wait another day. He missed his wife, and he wasn’t fool enough to believe Clarissa would let him continue to take her for granted.
He also wanted to share with her about the vote.
The minute the last meeting adjourned, he set off on horseback and rode as far as he could. After several hours’ sleep in an inn, he was on the road again before dawn.
He was going home.
Chapter Twenty
I have become that luckiest of all men, one who loves his wife—devotedly, madly, deeply.
—Book of Mars
Clarissa was frustrated. She had wanted to take a pony cart to Sunday services at St. Martyr’s. Gibson would not hear of it. Instead, he ordered up the coach.
“My lady, you are a countess. You should travel accordingly.”
“I’ve been driving a pony cart around this parish for most of my life,” she’d countered. “I can easily take Dora into the village for services.”
“I’m sorry, my lady, a cart can tip or a wheel break. The earl would have my head if something happened to you.”
Clarissa wasn’t convinced Mars would be upset. Her temper had cooled since she’d left London, several days ago. She was now moreresigned to the fact that he would never feel for her what she felt for him. And she could not and would not condone dueling.
At the same time, it could be only a matter of days, or even hours, when her husband would return. He’d not sent word save for his admonishment—Do not give up on us yet.
