Chapter Two
HIS LORDSHIP LOOKED at the longcase clock on the far wall. Not ten minutes had passed since his arrival. He would stay another twenty minutes before departing for his favorite gaming hell.
“Surely you will give more thought to marriage now,” Katherine remarked.
If his aunt persisted on such topics, Alastair resolved he would stay only five minutes more. It was sufficient that he had curtailed his hunting trip to pay his respects to his aunt on her birthday. Aloud, he replied, “And why should you think that, madam?”
“You are the Marquess of Alastair now.”
Unimpressed, he said nothing, compelling his aunt to state the obvious.
“You will want an heir.”
“If I fail to produce one, the marquessate falls to my uncle.”
Katherine wrinkled her nose. “My younger brother is ill prepared to assume the title.”
“He is a d’Aubigne. That suffices.”
“I suppose if that is your view on the matter, you need never marry.”
“I see no reason to add unnecessary concerns to my plate.”
“You are fortunate you’ve no mother to fuss over your unmarried state.”
“Do you fret, m’lady?” he asked, for his aunt was as near to a mother as could be had, his own mother having been lost to him when he was a small child.
“I do not. You should know I am not the conventional sort of woman.”
He did indeed know, for it was his aunt who had introduced him to Château Follet, also known as the Château Debauchery, but he raised his brows nonetheless.
“It is not your bachelorhood that concerns me,” Katherine continued, “but will you never care for anyone?”
“I protest, madam. I would not be here tonight if I cared for no one. You are the reason I am willing to tolerate this tedious evening for any length of time.”
“As much as it warms my pride to know that you care for me, I would rather you not confine your affections to me alone. When I am gone, who will be left to care for you?”
He looked down at her ladyship, small in stature but large in heart, and with a willfulness that knew little retreat. “You do fret.”
“I suppose I do. Your friends are no friends at all. You have estranged your sisters with your profligacy. You think the rest of the family fools. If you do not find someone to care for, you will die a lonely, miserable old man.”
“Madam, there will always be those who care for my title and my wealth. I shall never be lonely.”
“Then you will be miserable.”
“That I am willing to accept.”
Katherine narrowed her eyes. “You think so now because you are at the height of vigor and handsomeness. You will think differently when the wenches are not so readily had.”
“Is that why you married?”
“Impudent pup! My dear Richard, God rest him, was the better half of me in every way. I never thought I should find a man who understood me so well. If not for Marguerite Follet, I should never have met my Richard. Perhaps she could recommend a lady for you when you are at her château this week.”
He recoiled at the idea. “Madam, I intend to spend my time at Château Follet suffused in depravity. The only mate I seek is for purely venereal purposes.”
He was about to excuse himself and make for the card tables when Mr. Abbott approached with a young man who had styled his hair in long, soft curls, though they did not hide his prominent widow’s peak. The many layers of his cravat gave him the appearance of a fancy rooster, and his cutaway coat revealed his large midsection and wide hips to no benefit.
“Lady Katherine, Lord Alastair,” Mr. Abbott greeted. “May I introduce to you the gentleman who will be my son-in-law, Mr. George Haversham?”
Katherine held up her quizzing glass, and Alastair knew she was hardly impressed.
Haversham bowed. “A pleasure, Lady Katherine! Many, many happy returns on your birthday. May I compliment you on a delightful soiree? I look forward to the performance of the chamber quartet.”
“Son-in-law?” she queried, and despite her poise, Alastair detected a hint of vexation. “When did this happen?”
“Yesterday, my lady, and my happiness is not lessened by the passage of a day,” Haversham answered, his silly grin reaching from ear to ear. “Lord Alastair, may I compliment you on your generosity for supplying the dowry for Miss Abbott? Will you be participating in the drafting of the marriage settlements as well?”
“Good God, why would I?” Alastair returned. “Miss Abbott is not my daughter.”
Mr. Haversham laughed as if he had been told a droll jest. “No, indeed! I merely thought, as you seem to be quite charitably supportive of your family, that you would extend your interests to all areas of concern. I certainly would not refuse you if and when you saw fit to intervene. Indeed, I should be honored by your involvement.”
“My involvement extends only so far as providing Mr. Abbott the funds he seeks. What he chooses to do with the monies, even if he should choose to wager it all on horseflesh, is his affair.”
Haversham’s brow furrowed as he contemplated what it was the Marquess might be implying.
“I shall be forever indebted to you for your munificence, my lord,” Mr. Abbott said.
The marquess expected the man knew better than to comment further or Alastair would be compelled to withdraw his donation. Millie was no dolt, and her intelligence had to come from one of her parents.
“Yes, yes!” Haversham nodded. “We are immensely indebted and exceedingly grateful for your kindness! I cannot give words to express how delighted I am that we shall all be family! Of course, the d’Aubigne name is an illustrious one, whereas I must claim a more humble background, but I think we shall deal well with each other. I should only be too happy to be of service, always, and your humble servant, etcetera.”
With a frown, Alastair looked to Abbott to have the sycophant removed.
“Come,” Abbott said to Haversham, “I think his lordship and Lady Katherine must have many other guests to greet.”
“It was an honor to finally make your acquaintance,” Haversham said with a final bow.
When they had left, Katherine turned to her nephew. “My goodness, how much did you promise Abbott?”
“A mere two thousand pounds,” Alastair replied. “I thought granting him the sum would spare me his attentions, but I worry that is not to be the case. You had best advise your brother-in-law or I shall rescind my offer.”
“I must say that this is perhaps the kindest display of benevolence I have ever seen you make. I am impressed. Perhaps there is hope for you yet.”
“Madam, I hope not.”
“It is a shame two thousand pounds could not attract better for Millie.” Her brow furrowed. “This is all so sudden. I wonder that she did not speak to me of this. I do not think he will suit Millie at all. Not at all. I am rather surprised that Abbott approves of this Haversham fellow. I think her mother and father worry that she will be doomed to spinsterhood if she does not marry soon. Still, I think they underestimate her qualities.”
Alastair suppressed a yawn and glanced once more at the clock.
“It was kind of you to take an interest in your cousin.”
Alastair felt the keen eye of his aunt surveying him. “If my giving Abbott two thousand pounds gives me the appearance of altruism or suggests that I give a damn what others are about, then I have made a grievous error. Ah, I see Mr. Priestly is here. He had asked me to invest in the purchase of a racehorse with him. Pray excuse me, madam.”
“You will be off soon, I gather?”
“You know me well.”
“I intend to travel to Bath within a sennight. I know the fashionable prefer Brighton or Weymouth these days, but the rooms at Bath are still in good shape. I should consider it a fine birthday present if you were to join me.”
Alastair suppressed a shudder at taking the waters at Bath. “Recall that I am to spend three days at Château Follet.”
“Of course. If I were years younger, I would certainly prefer Château Follet to Bath.”
“I had commissioned for your birthday a pianoforte from Vienna. I regret that its delivery has been delayed, but it will have a full six octaves.”
“I appreciate the grandeur of such a present, but you need not have. You would make me a happy woman if you granted me something far less impressive but much more meaningful. I would ask nothing more of you if you granted me this one wish.”
He raised his brows. “If it is in my power, madam.”
“Choose for me one person whose concerns you will take to heart. One person to care for—that is not me. Do this, and I shall even refrain from ever troubling you with talk of marriage and heirs.”
He frowned. “Who is to be this person?”
“It is for you to choose. You have many in your family whom could use your protection, guidance and wisdom. I am certain you will make a selection that will make me happy. And this would be the best birthday gift of all to me.”
From the corner of his eye, he saw Priestly walking away. “Very well, I will give it consideration.”
“Well, do not take forever to make your decision or it will not qualify as a birthday present.”
He sensed that Katherine had more to say, but she knew better than to stay him too long. After speaking with Mr. Priestly, he would take his leave. There were too many mothers present who had set their sights upon him, though if they knew what he planned in the way of female companionship this weekend, they would reconsider him as a marital prospect for their daughters. They would be appalled and horrified.
He had not been to Château Follet in some time and looked with anticipation to indulging his most wicked penchants in the coming days.