Lady Flora almost bounced in her seat and went on. “We can’t wait for that, in any case. The duchess says we must do what we can in the meantime.” She nattered on at some length about baskets to fatherless families and visits to hospitals. At least she now had the stern Lady Georgiana and the others at her side.
Thoughts of the men he’d come back with dropped a pall on Ethan’s mood. Many had no one to see to them, and no skills beyond fighting even if there was work to be had.
“What do you think, Lord Ethan?” Her question caught him out; he had drifted out of the conversation and into his shadows.
“I apologize, Lady Flora. I was woolgathering.” The manners his mother drummed into him came to the fore.
“The ladies plan a Venetian Breakfast before the duchess’s annual charity ball at Haverford House to benefit the cause, and there may be a Frost Fair if the weather holds another week or two. If there is, we can host the breakfast on the ice before the ball. All of London will go, of course, and it will be a perfect venue for distributing Georgie’s pamphlets and raising awareness. There’s to be an auction of picnic baskets as well.”
“That ought to be well received. Everyone loves treats.” Ethan clamped his mouth shut after that banal comment.Baskets, indeed, as if that will do the men good.
“The proceeds of that particular effort will go to widows and orphans. We’ve collected names of women in desperate straits, and plan to distribute funds, which we believe will be rather more useful than charity baskets,” Lady Georgiana explained. “In addition, we expect a public auction to draw attention to the problem.”
Wiser than I gave them credit for.“Admirable,” Ethan murmured. The footman brought the fish course, and he gave his attention to his dinner.
“She didn’t explain all of it,” Flo said. “Each lady will contribute a picnic basket and then share the meal with the gentlemen who are successful bidders. There’s talk of sharing a dance at the ball afterward. Will you come?”
Ethan’s head bobbed up. Lady Flora’s startled expression made him aware of his scowl, and he attempted to soften it. He glanced at Will to see the earl smiling benignly at his sister.Doesn’t the fool mind she plans to auction her company off? Even if it is for a good cause…
Lady Flora broke eye contact when he didn’t answer her question. A sudden thought seemed to possess her quicksilver mind, and she changed the subject. Perhaps he’d embarrassed her.
“Will! How could I forget? We had a letter today from Louisa. I can’t imagine how it got through.” Lady Flora turned to Lady Georgiana. “My sister lives in Philadelphia and mail, as you can imagine, has been difficult. In fact, hers makes it clear she hasn’t received many of mine.”
“Is all well with them?” Will asked.
“Yes! She sent news that she expects a happy event in the summer, and that Samuel is thriving. He is two years old already. How I wish I could see him.”
“There’s been little fighting near her, thank God. The major conflict so far has taken place in Upper Canada,” Will said.
“Heaven help the Americans if Napoleon surrenders. Now that Wellington has invaded France the end may be close. When that happens, there’ll be troops to spare to North America.”Putting Lady Flora’s sister in the line of fire.Ethan regretted his outburst as soon as he said it. His dinner companions stared at him; none seemed able to reply. He had been right; he wasn’t fit company for ladies.
Will turned the conversation to family matters, news of cousins and happenings among the tenants at Chadbourn Park. Ethan drew breath. He had naught to contribute.
“Flo, about this Frost Fair—do you think Charles would enjoy it?” Will asked. “It might be a good excuse to ask Emery to let him visit us. I can offer to send my secretary to fetch him.”
Lady Flora positively glowed at that. “He would love it, Will. Do it! The Frost Fair will be wonderful.” The glance she sent Ethan at mention of the fair skittered away. She sobered just as quickly. “It is unlikely he will come, however,” she murmured.
Surely the foolish woman isn’t angling for an escort! She can’t be that idiotic.
The conversation drifted about, making no demands on Ethan, while he tried to squash visions of promenading on the icy Thames with Lady Flora on his arm. The ladies relieved him by rising to leave the gentlemen to their port.
“That wasn’t so terrible, was it?” The earl raised a questioning eyebrow.
“I’m sorry about my hasty words about the North American war. I—”
Will waved his apology away. “You only spoke the truth, and the ladies would puzzle that out sooner or later.”
“Still, not fit conversation for family dinner. Lady Flora dotes on your nephew?”
“She worries for him,” Will replied. “My brother-in-law is a cold fish.” He grimaced. “You and I were blessed in our fathers.” He leaned toward Ethan. “You ought to give him a chance. I know what happened at Badajoz. He doesn’t need the horror, only that his son fought, suffered, and is home.”
The blood drained from Ethan’s head and his sight blinked out for a moment. “How—”
“I had Glenaire enquire. But gossip among former officers is enough to give anyone a general picture of the horror. The battle was bad enough, but the aftermath—England’s shame. Wellington dispatched troops to restore order.”
Glenaire enquired… How much does he know?Ethan swallowed bile. “We— I— In the end we tried to stop it. Some of us tried. It wasn’t enough. Those poor people.”
“You have been pronounced missing, presumed dead.”
