extremely troubling. Because as he recollected, he hadn’t felt bored from the moment he’d first set eyes on Rosamund Davies. Not in the least.
Chapter 6
Dinner, once Rose had recovered her senses enough to return to the festivities, was loud and boisterous and very amusing. Even James appeared to rouse from his disappointment about the wagering currency enough to take part in the silliness.
“You never did that, Uncle Bram!” seven-year-old Caroline exclaimed around a mouthful of beef and gravy.
Bram nodded solemnly. “I did. Backwards, all the way from Dover to the Tower bridge.”
“You rode a horse sitting backwards for all that way and never once fell off? I don’t believe you.”
“I saw it in the book at White’s,” James put in. “Nearly fifty men wagered over the outcome. It’s noted as a successfully completed wager.”
“You see? I told you, Caro!” Oscar crowed. “I’mgoing to ride backwards all the way from Brighton to London. It will be very difficult, but I’m a sterling rider.”
“I don’t think so, young man,” a new, deeper voice said from the doorway. “If you break your head then your uncle Bramwell will inherit, and none of us want that.”
The children, followed by Lady Haithe and her husband, then James, hurriedly stood. Instinctively Rose followed suit, though Bram beside her remained seated, and in fact shoveled another mouthful of stew off his plate.
The Duke of Levonzy strolled into the room, eyeing each of the occupants in turn. His gaze lingered on her for a moment before it moved past her to Lord Haithe. “Apologies for my tardiness, August,” he rumbled, taking the seat at the foot of the table as footmen hurried to serve him. “I had a meeting with Prinny and Melbourne.”
“No apology is necessary of course, Father. Have you met Lord Lester and his sister Lady Rosamund? My father, the Duke of Levonzy.”
“Your Grace,” she said, curtsying. Across the table from her, James bowed before they all seated themselves again.
“Yes, we’ve met, though Lester there wasn’t yet in breeches, and the girl barely talking. The oldest girl, Beatrice, was the pretty one.”
Rose returned her attention to the meal. Hearing the duke’s assessment of her appearance was nothing new; she’d known precisely who the beauty in the family was since before she could walk. It did seem a bit of a slap in the face to hear a near stranger say it, butLevonzy and her father had known each other for ages. The duke was undoubtedly very aware of her family’s opinion of her.
“So says a crow among snowy doves,” Bram commented, reaching for another roll and gesturing for the butter.
The Marquis of Haithe made a choking sound. “How is the Duke of Melbourne these days?” he asked swiftly.
“Considering that his family doesn’t insult him to his face, I would say he’s quite well.” The duke finally looked at Bram. “I hadn’t realized you were here.”
“I’d prefer if you continued not to realize that. Or better yet, notice enough to keep your mind-numbingly heavy-handed insults aimed in my direction and leave August’s guests be.”
“He didn’t invite them,” Levonzy returned. “They are your guests. And why is that, pray tell?”
Rosamund’s cheeks heated despite her best efforts. Was the duke’s query because of Bram’s invitation, or because she was promised to Cosgrove? Neither one seemed likely to make her very popular.
“This is my house,” Haithe unexpectedly broke in. “Everyone here is my guest. And since Oscar is determined to end the evening with a pound of peanuts in his possession, I think the old axiom ‘The more, the merrier’ applies.”
“Two pounds,” young Oscar amended. “Did you bring any blunt, Grandfather?”
“I am not engaging in your ludicrous games.”
Bram chuckled, no trace of humor in the sound. “He’s embarrassed that he might lose, Oscar. No worries. You and I understand that the challenge is half the
Chapter 6
Dinner, once Rose had recovered her senses enough to return to the festivities, was loud and boisterous and very amusing. Even James appeared to rouse from his disappointment about the wagering currency enough to take part in the silliness.
“You never did that, Uncle Bram!” seven-year-old Caroline exclaimed around a mouthful of beef and gravy.
Bram nodded solemnly. “I did. Backwards, all the way from Dover to the Tower bridge.”
“You rode a horse sitting backwards for all that way and never once fell off? I don’t believe you.”
“I saw it in the book at White’s,” James put in. “Nearly fifty men wagered over the outcome. It’s noted as a successfully completed wager.”
“You see? I told you, Caro!” Oscar crowed. “I’mgoing to ride backwards all the way from Brighton to London. It will be very difficult, but I’m a sterling rider.”
“I don’t think so, young man,” a new, deeper voice said from the doorway. “If you break your head then your uncle Bramwell will inherit, and none of us want that.”
The children, followed by Lady Haithe and her husband, then James, hurriedly stood. Instinctively Rose followed suit, though Bram beside her remained seated, and in fact shoveled another mouthful of stew off his plate.
The Duke of Levonzy strolled into the room, eyeing each of the occupants in turn. His gaze lingered on her for a moment before it moved past her to Lord Haithe. “Apologies for my tardiness, August,” he rumbled, taking the seat at the foot of the table as footmen hurried to serve him. “I had a meeting with Prinny and Melbourne.”
“No apology is necessary of course, Father. Have you met Lord Lester and his sister Lady Rosamund? My father, the Duke of Levonzy.”
“Your Grace,” she said, curtsying. Across the table from her, James bowed before they all seated themselves again.
“Yes, we’ve met, though Lester there wasn’t yet in breeches, and the girl barely talking. The oldest girl, Beatrice, was the pretty one.”
Rose returned her attention to the meal. Hearing the duke’s assessment of her appearance was nothing new; she’d known precisely who the beauty in the family was since before she could walk. It did seem a bit of a slap in the face to hear a near stranger say it, butLevonzy and her father had known each other for ages. The duke was undoubtedly very aware of her family’s opinion of her.
“So says a crow among snowy doves,” Bram commented, reaching for another roll and gesturing for the butter.
The Marquis of Haithe made a choking sound. “How is the Duke of Melbourne these days?” he asked swiftly.
“Considering that his family doesn’t insult him to his face, I would say he’s quite well.” The duke finally looked at Bram. “I hadn’t realized you were here.”
“I’d prefer if you continued not to realize that. Or better yet, notice enough to keep your mind-numbingly heavy-handed insults aimed in my direction and leave August’s guests be.”
“He didn’t invite them,” Levonzy returned. “They are your guests. And why is that, pray tell?”
Rosamund’s cheeks heated despite her best efforts. Was the duke’s query because of Bram’s invitation, or because she was promised to Cosgrove? Neither one seemed likely to make her very popular.
“This is my house,” Haithe unexpectedly broke in. “Everyone here is my guest. And since Oscar is determined to end the evening with a pound of peanuts in his possession, I think the old axiom ‘The more, the merrier’ applies.”
“Two pounds,” young Oscar amended. “Did you bring any blunt, Grandfather?”
“I am not engaging in your ludicrous games.”
Bram chuckled, no trace of humor in the sound. “He’s embarrassed that he might lose, Oscar. No worries. You and I understand that the challenge is half the
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