“That it has,” Lord Hungerton agreed. “If Lord Chatsworth can push this bill through, it could make a real difference for the poor.”
“I doubt it will pass,” Anette remarked.
Lord Hungerton lifted his brow. “Are you familiar with the bill?”
“I am, and the House of Lords will never agree to lowering the taxes, especially during a time of war. If anything, the Tories will push to raise the taxes,” Anette replied.
“With all due respect, young lady, you know nothing about politics,” Lord Hungerton stated. “Lord Chatsworth believes he has the support of the Tories and Whigs.”
“He would be wrong,” Anette said.
Lord Hungerton wiped the sides of his mouth with his napkin before responding, “I am not quite sure where you get your information, but I suspect it isn’t coming from the Social pages of the newssheets.”
“I tire of reading the Social pages,” Anette expressed. “Why should I care about what color ribbon someone wore when our poor are suffering?”
“This is why women cannot be in politics,” Lord Hungerton said. “You deal in emotions, whereas men deal in facts.”
His father pushed back his chair and rose. “I believe we should continue this conversation over a glass of port in my study.”
With a glance at his plate, his mother asked, “Are you not hungry?”
“I am not.” His father patted his stomach. “And I think it would be a good thing if I skip dessert this evening.”
Lord Hungerton rose. “I think a glass of port is a fine idea,” he said. “Mr. Bolingbroke? Lord Roswell? Will you be joining us?”
Caleb nodded as he placed his cloth napkin onto the table. “I think I shall.”
Roswell remained seated and said, “I would prefer to stay and finish dinner with my wife.”
“Very good,” his father responded. “Gentlemen?”
As his father and Lord Hungerton departed from the room, Caleb leaned closer to Simone and asked, “Will you be all right without me?”
She tilted her chin, a smile playing on her lips. “I have managed to do so my entire life. Why do you think tonight would be any different?”
Caleb chuckled. “I will miss you, too.”
The smile disappeared. “I never said that,” Simone said, most ardently.
“No, but I can tell you are thinking it.”
“You would be wrong.”
Caleb playfully raised his eyebrows. “I will return later to beat you at a game of whist. I am quite good at that particular card game.”
“As am I, and I do not intend to go easy on you,” Simone said.
“Nor would I expect you to, which will make beating you that much more satisfying,” Caleb remarked, rising.
Simone held his gaze, a mischievous glint to her eyes. “I will be looking forward to taking you down a peg or two.”
Caleb placed a hand over his heart. “You wound me,” he joked.
“I doubt that. I have never met a more cocky man than you,” she retorted.
“I would prefer the term ‘confident.’”
Simone rolled her eyes. “You have found yet another way to vex me.”
