Page 77 of Courting the Country Miss

The duke regarded him with thoughtful eyes. “Serving king and country is a great place to start. There are other ways one can find meaning—small and simple ways.”

“Like the school my sister-in-law and Leticia Wentworth have funded.”

“Yes, a worthy cause to be sure. Also, simply placing another’s wishes ahead of your own can be strangely gratifying.”

Tristan considered. Aware of a hovering servant who no doubt bore a message for His Grace, Tristan bowed, thanked him again, and left the ducal residence with clearer goals and a knowledge of requirements he must meet in order to serve as a Member of Parliament. He had only to decide now if he should take this path.

Wordsworth said:

“…And what in quality or act is best

Doth seldom on a right foundation rest,

He labours good on good to fix, and owes

To virtue every triumph that he knows…”

Leticia would, no doubt, approve if he went into Parliament. However, he refused to take a position simply to impress her or prove to her he’d changed. No, he must be certain he wished to serve in order to make a meaningful contribution.

“Barrett!” Armand Palmer called and waved.

Tristan looked up at the familiar voice. “Good afternoon, Palmer.”

“I haven’t seen you in an age. Where’ve you been?”

Did he not know? “Recovering from the accident.” Not that Palmer or any of his friends had paid him a call.

Palmer sobered. “Oh right. Bad luck, that. Appleton was a good egg—miss the bloke. Miss you, too. Good to see you up and about. You looked half dead when they carried you off. Do join me. Catch up, and all that rot.”

“Where are you bound?”

“The White Stag.” Palmer launched into a favorite drinking song.

Tristan glanced around in the event anyone might have overheard the bawdy song, but no one of polite company seemed to be nearby. “Thank you, but I have another engagement. Perhaps another time.”

“As you wish. Good to see you. Truly.”

“You, as well.”

They bade farewell and parted. Odd, but Tristan hadn’t missed his old friends. He’d been so involved in finding prospects for Leticia, then recovering from his accident, he had failed to notice their absence. Still, he should have jumped at the opportunity to enjoy the comfortable familiarity of their friendship. Time in their presence held little appeal at the moment, however. Perhaps the group held less interest without Appleton.

How sad that he didn’t remember those last few moments of Appleton’s life. It seemed too cruel that fate snatched away their last moment as friends.

Or perhaps fate had given him a gift. Memories of Appleton’s laughing face as they steeple chased, their outrageous dares, bets and other tomfoolery, remained untainted by the scene of his death.

Tristan rode through the streets under a cloudless sky, passing St. James Park as a balloon rose from the trees like a silvery sunrise. As a child, he’d ridden a gas balloon, a rare, cherished memory with his father and brother. His mother had declined, choosing to wave at them from the ground. She’d been happy then, giving no indication she would one day leave.

Richard had hung on to the basket with one hand and to the back of Tristan’s coat with the other—always protecting Tristan. Tristan had laughed and leaned out as far as he could, exhilarated at the sensation of flight. As he grew, he considered such past times mundane. Still, racing and drinking and carousing had not eclipsed sweet family moments such as balloon rides.

He arrived at Mrs. Tallier’s house, but paused at the front steps. Was today their at-home hours? Did it matter? He and Leticia had been friends so long that they never used to stand on ceremony, but now that he sought to be respectable, should he observe social niceties such as a lady’s at-home hours?

If Tristan were to win Leticia’s heart away from either Captain Kensington or Lord Bradbury, he must use any advantage. Moreover, he was already here.

Leticia, Isabella, and Mrs. Tallier greeted him in the parlor. Tristan’s focus narrowed on Leticia.

She eyed him. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, yes, no need to worry. I am feeling quite the thing.”