“I am not acting like a madman.”
“You are not acting like the man I have known most of my life, that is certain. It is well you did not call for Langford because he would have theories regarding that point that you would not want to hear.” He leaned in. “But you already know that, which is why he was not invited.”
“You are here instead because you give better advice, and, yes, I do want to hear it.”
“First, you apologize to the king. A nice letter will do. Otherwise—you will have no more consultations by ministers. No more invisible hand in the deepest of state matters. No support from the government for any bills you particularly favor. He is still the king, and even weak and constrained, he can make his power felt if he chooses. He rarely does because he is lazy, but hecan. But of course you know that too.”
He knew it. Damnation. “I trust you do not expect me, in this letter of apology, to capitulate on the notion of marrying that woman.”
“If you were acting like the Brentworth I know, I would. You have to marry someone, and why not her if it solves the matter of those lands? You have never expected love in a match, or even wanted it, from what I have seen, so it matters little who you marry.”
“I’ll be damned before I—”
Stratton held up a hand, stopping him. “I accept that you refuse the idea, so I am not advising that. However, in your letter, you might assure the king that you will find another way to appease her. Then you only have to find a way that does.”
Eric paced to a window, drew the drape, and gazed into the dark outside. Appease her? He could probably find ways to do that, much as it would infuriate him to appease a fraud.
While he stood there, a renewed calm descended. It had been good to call for Stratton. He hadn’t been himself lately, especially where Miss MacCallum was concerned. He had allowed his annoyance to have its way. This really was a simple matter if one addressed it rationally. He had helped devise the most complicated diplomatic responses in times of crises for the realm. Surely a Miss MacCallum could be dispatched with ease.
“I will say that it is very odd to be the one giving advice,” Stratton said from the divan behind him. “Normally, it is the other way around.”
“Yet you have been more helpful than you can know.” He watched the streetlights, and noticed that one kept changing position. Not a streetlamp, but a lamp on a carriage. From the way it swung, he assumed it was moving fast.
“Of course, Langford would say you are only behaving out of character because you found this woman appealing, and are disappointed to discover she is an adversary.”
“Langford is an ass sometimes.” The lamp kept coming, growing bigger with each instant.
To his surprise, it stopped in front of his house. A door opened and a man jumped out of the coach.
Two minutes later, the library door opened and Langford barged in without announcement or ceremony. He stopped short on seeing Stratton, but then strode right up to Eric.
“I came as soon as I could in order to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“It is out. Everywhere, I assume. It was being discussed at the dinner party. I had Amanda feign illness so we could leave. I came here after I brought her home.”
“What is out?”
“You. Miss MacCallum. Her claim on that land. It will be everywhere by morning is my guess.” Having done his duty, Langford looked around. “What are you doing here, Stratton?”
“Visiting.”
Langford took that in the stride he made toward the decanters. “Well, just as well you are here. There is plotting to be done.”
“I do not need your help plotting,” Eric said.
“Of course you do.” Langford came back, glass in hand. He threw himself into a chair. “You will have to find some way to buy her off if you don’t want to be the subject of gossip and prying for the next half year.”
Gossip. Prying. He could live with the former. He definitely did not want the latter, especially aboutthoselands.
“Do you want my advice?” Langford asked.
“No.”
“Yes,” Stratton said.
Langford stretched out his legs and sipped some whiskey. “The way I see it, you want the lady pliable and open to compromise. As an enemy, she never will be. She will be on her guard, and suspicious that you seek to press an advantage. Which will give her the advantage instead.”
