CHAPTER 9
Ryan knew that his brothers would demand an explanation for his bizarre behavior at Meecham’s. For that reason alone, he almost went to a hotel instead of the grand mansion the American Duke had inherited months earlier.
What he hadn’t anticipated was the completely overwhelming and altogether unfamiliar feelings of jealousy swamping him when both James and Oliver expressed interest in his lovely Lillian.
He wanted to smash some of his brother’s heads together.
He wasn’t certain when he had decided that she was going to be his. But she sure as hell wasn’t going to be one of his brothers. And the more they waxed on about how charmingly she blushed as she stomped upon their toes, the angrier he became.
Was he thinking more with his head and less with his heart, he might have realized that his brothers were well aware that their brother was in calf love.
“I had no idea the younger Moberly chit was such a treasure.” Oliver took a sip of the French brandy that Ian had just poured from the sideboard.
“That is because you were too busy hiding from her elder sister,” Ian replied helpfully, returning to the sitting area where all five of the Stanford brothers were in some state of repose.
“This is the best brandy I have ever tasted,” James rolled the words out languidly. “I think this has to be my favorite perk of Ollie being a Duke.”
Oliver scowled at his youngest sibling. These two were often at odds, “It is Your Grace, to you, plebeian.”
James gave a mock bow to the Duke, “Prince Ollie, I don’t want to pull caps with you!”
Jacob snorted, “You cannot expect for Jamie to put on airs Oliver. You might be a Duke, but you will always be our brother.”
Oliver rolled his eyes, “I am well aware of the fact. It is only that James delights in teasing me with that nickname that he knows I detest.”
Ryan smiled, at least they weren’t talking about Lillian anymore. He shouldn’t even have thought it.
“I should ask Lady Lillian if she is as averse to it as you are, Your Gracelessness,” James tipped his glass toward Oliver.
Oliver paled, “You wouldn’t!”
James lifted a brow, “Wouldn’t I?”
“I will tell her that we call you, Jamie!” Oliver said triumphantly.
James shrugged, “If that happens to come up in conversation I give you full permission. I am not ashamed of who I am.”
Oliver looked outraged, “I am not in the least bit ashamed of who I am!”
Ian huffed and then threw back the remainder of his brandy, “I think I shall call it a night. These two idiots could be at it for hours yet.”
Ryan and Jacob nodded.
Ian turned to Ryan, “I just want you to know, that the next time you expect me to dance with someone that apparently does not want to dance, I am demanding cold hard cash. That was damned uncomfortable.”
Ryan let out a laugh of reassurance. It would seem that at least one of his brothers hadn’t fallen under Lillian’s spell.
“Fair enough,” Ryan agreed, “Same for you, Jacob?”
Jacob, third born and a peacemaker at heart, smiled kindly, “I am a great deal smarter than I look. I escorted Lady Lillian on a short walk around the ballroom. I gave her a choice between that and dance, and she jumped at it. I was pleasantly surprised at how engaging her conversation and intelligence is. Usually with young ladies, I feel like they have no opinions at all and only agree with everything I say. Lady Lillian was well spoken. I liked her very much.”
Ryan growled.
Jacob laughed holding up his hands as a sign of surrender, “Obviously not quite as much as Ryan, but I did find the young lady pleasing.”
Ian glanced at his older brother, “Are we to know what brought this sudden infatuation on?”
Ryan frowned, “Not yet. I am not certain I can put it into words.”
Ian’s eyes widened, “I see.”
Jacob cocked his head, “Can you tell us why you wanted all of us to dance with her?”
Ryan nodded, “I met her in the hallway. She was standing there all alone. It was very unusual, but then it would seem that I am always coming across her in particular circumstances. I asked for a dance, and when I saw the card, I could not understand why it was empty. She said it was because she was so terrible at it.”
Jacob looked askance, as a gentleman he really couldn’t agree, but Lady Lillian was a deplorable dancer.
Ian had no such scruples, “She is the worst dancer I have ever danced with.”
“I know,” Ryan agreed, “I told her that it shouldn’t matter. Gentleman should be lining up just to hold her in his arms for the space of a dance.”
His brothers were silent. What they had thought was calf-love was quickly looking to be so much more severe.
Ian shook his head to clear it, “You are right of course. Her dance card should be full. She is a delightful girl.”
Jacob nodded, “I know that I will be sure to seek her out again, if that is what you would like me to do. I am not ready to set up house or anything, but I did like speaking with her.”
Ryan suddenly laughed, “I don’t think that any of us are ready to set up house yet, Jacob.”
The boys all laughed and went to their separate bedrooms but not before Ian and Jacob exchanged a long knowing look. Their older brother may not think he was ready for something more, but his actions were certainly proving otherwise.
Meanwhile, the eldest and the youngest were still arguing in the library with the expensive smuggled French brandy.