Kendall arched a brow. “The same age you are, old man.”
Worth was only teasing Kendall. They were all the same age, save for a matter of months.
“Well, then,” Worth declared. “You’ve plenty of time to find a wife as far as I’m concerned.”
“That’s easy to say, coming from a man who’s never given a toss about securing hisowntitle,” Kendall shot back with a grin.
Worth returned the smile. “I cannot argue with you there.” He gave the barmaid a wide smile and ordered another round of drinks for the table.
“Yes, well, if you’re seriously looking for a wife, Kendall, the Season has just ended,” Clayton interjected. “It seems you’ve missed your chance. The entiretonis about to retire to the country as soon as Parliament closes next week.”
“I’m well aware,” Kendall replied with a curt nod. “The Season makes my skin crawl. Full of simpering maids and purse-eyeing mamas eager to show off their best behavior in the hopes of snaring a rich husband. I don’t want to find a wife that way.”
“How else do you intend to find one?” Beau asked. Yes, his ludicrous idea just might work if this conversation took the turn he thought it might.
“I don’t know how exactly.” Kendall took another drink. “But this time I intend to find a lady who loves me for myself.”
There it was. Kendall’s only allowance to Lady Emily Foswell.
“Yes!” Worth pounded his fist against the table. The duke’s normally jovial voice had filled with anger. “I think we can all agree that Lady Emily is the lowest of the low. There’s no excuse for what she did, tossing over one man for another with a better title. As far as I’m concerned, she no longer exists.”
Leave it to Worth to name the lady. Though it was true that Worth had been the angriest of all of them over Lady Emily’s behavior. And the most interested in ensuring Lady Emily knew that she’d inadvertently tossed over a future earl for a baron.
“Can wenotdiscuss Lady Emily, please?” Kendall groaned and covered his face with a hand.
Worth’s good humor returned with the arrival of the barmaid who’d appeared with their drinks. “Keep ‘em coming, love,” he said to her, before turning back to Kendall and adding, “I’m merely pointing out that if you want a lady who loves you for yourself, the Season and its ridiculousness are the last place you should go.”
“Yes,” Kendall replied with a sigh, lifting his mug into the air in salute of Worth. “Didn’t I already say that? The Season and itsfetesarethe last place I should go, which is why I’ve avoided it like the pox for the last two Seasons.”
“Oh, isthatwhy you haven’t attended the boring balls at Almack’s?” Worth replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I thought it was the tepid tea and small talk. That’s why I steer clear of them.”
“You avoid them because they don’t serve brandy and we all know it,” Beau said, staring fixedly at Worth, his arms crossed tightly over his chest.
Worth winked at him. “That and they won’t give me the bank that Hollister’s will.”
Beau rolled his eyes. Hollister’s was the duke’s favorite gambling hell. Hollister’s had given Worthcarte blancheand he won and lost small fortunes there regularly.
Kendall scratched his chin and stared blindly at his mug. “If only the ladies of thetondidn’t know I am an earl, I’d have a much better chance of finding a match.”
Worth’s laughter filled the air. “I’d pay to seethat. An earl dressed up like a common man to findtrue love. Has a certain poetic ring to it, don’t it?”
Clayton laughed too and shook his head, but Beau merely narrowed his eyes further and said, “It’s not acompletelyoutlandish idea.” He tilted his head to the side. Yes. The conversation was turning in theprecisedirection he’d wanted it to.
“What’s not?” Kendall had nearly forgotten what he’d said.
“The idea of pretending you’re a commoner to find a wife,” Beau replied.
Worth slapped Beau on the back again. “Are you mad, man? You’re not evendrinking.”
Beau leaned forward to address his remarks directly to Kendall. “Given the right circumstances, it could work, you know?”
“Pretending I’m common?” Kendall replied, blinking. “I don’t see how.”
“Everyone in thetonknows him,” Clayton pointed out. “How would he ever manage it?”
“Are you suggesting he wear a mask or alter his appearance?” Worth asked. The duke stroked his chin. His eyes began to narrow, too, as if he were also taking the idea seriously.
Kendall glanced back and forth between Worth and Beau. “You cannot be serious, either of you. Clayton’s right. How would it ever work?”
