“You are indeed. See that you continue to deserve her.”
“Still very much the head of the family,” Jason said with a grin. “I am no longer in need of guidance.”
“I gladly relinquish that duty. Now that Father’s trust has been set aside, and you are comfortably settled. Besides, I have my own concerns.”
“It was fortunate that the solicitors found a way around the trust. I shouldn’t have wanted to wait until my twenty-fifth birthday. It’s provided me with much-needed funds and our home.” He frowned. “But I sensed you were troubled about something. Anything I can help with?”
“No, but thank you. I had an altercation with a journalist, Lord Ambrose, a month ago. He was writing lies about a friend of mine who is too ill to defend himself. I’m afraid my blood was up. I didn’t handle the situation as well as I might have. The incident madeThe Morning Postand has been misinterpreted.”
“Did you punch him? Break his jaw? You pack a wallop, Charles.”
“No, just roughed him up a little.”
Jason gave a whoop. “Shook him out of his shoes, I bet,” he said approvingly. “Misinterpreted? It seems fairly clear-cut to me.”
“An unprovoked attack, it’s said. The newspaper is threatening to sue me.”
“But was it unprovoked?”
“No. The fellow took a swing at me first.”
He whistled through his teeth. “He dared to attack you?”
“He was on the defensive.”
Jason grinned. “Scared, eh? You are very intimidating when you glower. Any witnesses?”
“Sure to be. The street outside Parliament is busy.”
“If it doesn’t blow over, you should tell the lawyers to ferret out those witnesses.”
“It appears that I shall have to. Lord Ambrose is the Earl of Fairbrother’s son, and Fairbrother has a hearty dislike of me. We have crossed swords in the Lords several times concerning a bill. The earl will welcome the chance to get at me, so it is likely to go before the magistrate. Messy business all around.” Charles cursed. “And not the way a duke should behave.”
“I would have gone further,” Jason said. “Given the wretch a bloody nose. Might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.” He held up a hand in response to Charles’s frown. “All right, perhaps not. But I was hoping you were becoming more like your old self.”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean by myold self,” Charles said, suddenly nettled. “I prefer to move forward, not back.”
“Gah.” Jason refused to be fobbed off. “That’s rubbish, and you know it. You threw yourself into life once, Charles. Before…”
Charles glared at him. “I advise you not to continue.”
“I remain hopeful of Nellie’s influence.” Jason threw himself up onto his saddle. “I’m for breakfast.” He nudged his mount’s flanks. “Race you to the park gates.”
“Trickster!” Charles yelled, already sorry for having snapped at his brother when he only expressed concern. He leaped onto his horse and took off after Jason. Thor, delighted to be given full rein, thundered over the ground. His lengthy stride gathered up Jason’s mount within minutes. Charles laughed as he passed him.
“Call me a cheat,” Jason yelled after him. “You gave me the slowest dashed gelding in the stable. Wait till we get to Shewsbury Park. I’ll race you down the straight. And win!”
Charles slowed and allowed Jason to catch up. “When do you leave for Leicestershire?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Then, we’ll see you there. I have invited Nellie and her parents to visit next week.”
“Excellent. We can play whist, which Mama despises.”
“Nellie will be pleased. She and Beverly get on well. And Mother is a little distracted of late.”
“Dear, Mama, she seems to be always caught up in some cause or other since Father died.”
