“Your father spoke to Fairburn?” Sedgwick asked leaning back in his chair.

“Yes, he had his conversations while I was gone to my house party as though I had gone to the house party on a lark.”

He shook his head and took a sip of his port. They were at a dinner party hosted by Lord and Lady Alderside for Lady Sarah. The dining completed, he and Sedgwick were enjoying a glass of port in the dining room with the other gentlemen.

It had ended up being a larger crowd than the usual numbers for a dinner party but it had gone well. Lady Priscilla was also in attendance but had been seated with Lady Sarah and another friend, Miss Danielle Something-or-other at the other end of the table. Several times Lady Priscilla had smiled at him shyly and then turned to her friends with giddy laughter. Hugh was flattered by the attention but still somewhat grateful that she was sitting at the other end of the table.

“Did you still pay a visit to Fairburn?” Sedgwick put his empty glass onto the table.

“Yes, it was not as though I had another option. I cannot afford to offend Fairburn.”

“I am in complete agreement. It does you no good to spite yourself because of the actions of your father.” Sedgwick then asked, “What did Fairburn have to say?

Hugh sighed and glanced behind him to make sure that the other gentlemen in the room were paying no attention to them or their conversation. “There is a position for which Fairburn will appoint. The barrister chosen would be working with a certain member of Parliament that has little understanding of law and procedure. The chosen barrister would provide assistance to the Peer in subject matters that will be discussed in Parliament.”

“How odd,” Sedgwick commented. “Depending on the Peer, it could be a favourable appointment or…”

“Or complete Fustian nonsense.” Hugh finished the sentence for him with a deep frown. “Regardless of the work I would be doing, it would be wise for me to take the appointment. I would not be tethered to that position forever.”

“True, true,” Sedgwick agreed. “You are leaning toward taking it then?”

“No. I am no closer to making a decision.” Hugh blew out a long breath. “Although I have little desire to take a position that was offered to me only because my father interfered.”

“If you did not take the position what would be the alternative?”

“I would present cases brought to me by solicitors but—"

He was interrupted when the door opened and a servant appeared to announce, “Excuse me, gentlemen, tea is being served in the drawing room.”

Hugh, Sedgwick and the other men left the dining room to walk down the hall and join the ladies for tea and polite conversation.

Sedgwick chose a large upholstered chair close to the settee and Hugh gladly took the chair next to his. It was only after he was seated that he realized that Lady Priscilla and her friends were missing from the drawing room. A short time later they returned and took their seats on the settee.

The ladies had already been speaking when they sat down. Hugh and Lady Priscilla shared a smile while Lady Sarah continued with her story.

“I would not have believed it myself but I heard it straight from Miss Louisa.”

Hugh turned to engage Sedgwick but Webb had pulled him into a conversation across the room.

“Well, do tell what happened.” Miss Priscilla leaned forward excitedly.

“It seems that Lady Esther encountered Mr Russell and Miss Clara alone speaking in one of the back hallways,” Lady Sarah told them.

Miss Danielle leaned toward Lady Sarah to say, “Miss Clara is thoroughly compromised. Mr Russell will have no choice but to marry her.”

“From what I understand Miss Clara has argued that she had gotten lost and Mr Russell had come upon her and was only helping her find her way back to the ballroom.” Lady Sarah raised an eyebrow and continued. “My mother said that if the Banns are not posted in the next two weeks then it is likely that Mr Russell has refused to marry Miss Clara.”

“Oh my,” Lady Priscilla gasped. “She shall never recover.”

Lady Sarah smiled. “It is not as though she would have done any better than that dull Mr Russell. Her dresses this Season are abominable.”

Hugh tried to think of something to say to the young ladies that might change the subject, before he could say anything though Lady Priscilla suddenly blurted out, "Oh! I cannot believe that I almost forgot to tell you.”

She paused dramatically as she was assured that everyone within earshot was listening. "As you both know, my parents have rented a private box for the Opera for the entirety of the Season."

Lady Sarah nodded. "Yes, of course. Your father always ensures you are in the highest of fashion."

Lady Priscilla glanced over at Hugh making sure to catch his eye seemingly to make sure that he was listening. "Well their last performance of the Season was just last week and I was there of course."

"Of course," Miss Danielle said dutifully.

"But you would not believe what happened at the end of the performance," Lady Priscilla said and then paused again waiting for a reaction.

Lady Sarah leaned forward apparently waiting to hear the juicy tidbits of Lady Priscilla's story.

Hugh wished that Webb would go away so that he could speak with Sedgwick and not have to listen to more silly gossip.

"The performance was quite wonderful as you may imagine. But for some reason as the final scene played out someone in the opera house was laughing. Out loud. Everyone could hear it."

Missed Danielle frowned. "Laughing? Why ever for?"

"Clearly some uncultured heathen had gotten into the opera house," Lady Sarah said with a very unladylike snort.

"It was quite the upset. Everyone could see that Lord Norsely, as well as Lord and Lady Marsfeld, were quite upset by the incident."

Lady Sarah put a hand to her chest. "Certainly, the person laughing was not laughing at Lord Norsely or Lord and Lady Marsfeld."

"Oh no. It was Lord Norsely's companion, that impertinent Lady Julianna Merchant."

"Oh goodness," Miss Danielle said.

Lady Sarah sniffed. "Well, I for one am not surprised. She has always seemed somewhat beneath our touch."

"Yes, as have I." Lady Priscilla shifted into her seat. "And I have even heard that she spends most of her days out in the stables with the horses."

Hugh had known that Miss Priscilla enjoyed gossiping and while it was annoying and disappointing when she had discussed his brother and Miss Beatrice he found himself rather angered that she would be talking about Lady Julianna. Suddenly he could take it no more, Hugh stood up causing both Sedgwick and Lady Priscilla to look over at him.

He bowed slightly towards the settee and said, "If you will excuse me."

Hugh nodded to Sedgwick and left the drawing room.