LITMIR.BIZ

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Mama’s heart. And the disgrace will be hard to live down. And there’s Isabel’s wedding in a month’s time. What do you think Mark will say about a scandal like that hanging over the nuptials? Go away, Teddy, go and make yourself useful somewhere and let me think.’

      He stood up and left her. Her thinking led her nowhere, except to the realisation that she would have to forfeit her inheritance. The thought of all those orphan children continuing to suffer because of her brother’s selfishness was more than she could bear. She had always been tolerant of Teddy’s foibles, but this time he had really angered her. If it were not for her mother’s distress and her sister’s wedding, she would let him stew.

      * * *

      ‘If it isn’t Drew Ashton,’ Mark exclaimed when he saw his old friend striding towards him along Piccadilly. ‘Where have you sprung from? It’s years since I saw you.’

      ‘I’ve been in India, just arrived back.’

      ‘And looking very prosperous, I must say.’ Mark looked the other man up and down, taking in the perfectly fitting coat of clerical-grey superfine, the embroidered waistcoat, the diamond pin in his precisely tied cravat, the pearl-handled quizzing glass hanging on a chain from his neck, and the gold pocket watch. His trousers were strapped below his polished city shoes. ‘You didn’t used to be so elegant.’

      ‘I did pretty well out there. You don’t look so bad yourself. What have you been up to? How are your lady mother and Lord Wyndham?’

      ‘They are both well. As for me, I’ve been campaigning with Wellington. Came home after Waterloo and now about to be married. I’m in London to call on my lawyers about the finer points of the marriage settlement and to buy a suit of clothes for the wedding.’

      ‘You’ve time to join me for a meal at Grillon’s, surely.’

      ‘Yes, of course. Glad to.’

      Mark turned back the way he had come and they walked a little way down the street to the hotel, where they were soon settled at a table and ordering food and wine.

      ‘Tell me,’ Mark said, while they waited for the repast to arrive. ‘Why the sudden urge to visit India? I recollect you left Broadacres in somewhat of a hurry. I hope it had nothing to do with Mama’s hospitality.’

      ‘No, certainly not. Lady Wyndham’s hospitality is of the best. She made me very welcome. It was a family matter that came up suddenly and had to be attended to. I did explain that at the time.’

      ‘So you did. I had forgot. So, what are you going to do now you are back in England?’

      ‘I am thinking of buying a share in a clipper and continuing to trade. It has served me well so far.’

      ‘Trade, Drew?’

      ‘Why not? I am not so top-lofty as to turn my nose up at a good way of making a fortune’. He stopped speaking as a waiter brought their pork chops, succulent and sizzling with fat, together with a large bowl of vegetables. They helped themselves and tucked in.

      ‘A nabob, are you?’ Mark queried. His friend certainly gave that impression. It was the only way he could have come by such finery without inherited wealth, which Mark knew he did not have.

      ‘You could say that. I went out with the intention of making a fortune and in that I succeeded. I am no longer the poor relation to be pitied because no young lady of any standing would consider me.’

      ‘I’m sure that isn’t true, Drew.’

      ‘Oh, it is, believe me. The young lady I wanted to marry turned her proud nose up at me. Not good enough, you see.’

      Mark detected a note of bitterness in his old friend’s tone ‘There are plenty more fish in the sea.’

      ‘Indeed, yes, although, unlike you, I am in no hurry to become leg-shackled.’

      ‘I am not in a hurry. We have known each other since childhood.’

      ‘Tell me about her. Is she beautiful? Does she have a pleasing temperament?’

      ‘Yes, to both questions. You have met her, Drew. Her name is Isabel Cavenhurst.’

      ‘Cavenhurst!’

      ‘Yes, you sound surprised.’

      ‘No, no,’ Andrew said hastily. ‘I do remember the name. Don’t the Cavenhursts live close to Broadacres?’

      ‘Yes, on the other side of the village at Greystone Manor. We went there several times while you were staying with us. Surely you remember that?’

      ‘Yes, now you remind me, I do. There were three young ladies, I recall, though the youngest was no more than a child and the middle one, still at her lessons. The elder was seventeen or eighteen. I recall her name was Jane. I misremember the other names.’ He spoke nonchalantly, as if it were a matter of indifference to him.

      ‘Isabel is the second daughter. She is by far the most beautiful of the three, but Sophie is young and may grow into her looks. As for Jane, she has some very good qualities I can admire, but good looks is not one of them.’

      ‘So you have taken the pick of the bunch and not the eldest. Isn’t that a little unusual?’

      ‘We are not in the Middle Ages, Drew, my parents would never presume to tell me whom I should marry. I was able to please myself. Anyway, Jane would not have welcomed my advances even if I chose to make any. I believe there was some sort of disappointment. I don’t know the details, but she withdrew from society and I saw more of Isabel. Then of course I went to Portugal and was away six years. Isabel and I became engaged when I returned.’

      ‘So when is the wedding to be?’

      ‘Next month. The fifteenth.’

      ‘Then I wish you happy.’

      ‘Thank you. You must come down for the wedding.’

      ‘Oh, I don’t know about that.’

      ‘Why not? You do not have a prior engagement, do you?’

      ‘No, I am as free as the air until I find my clipper.’

      ‘Then why the reluctance?’

      ‘It is surely up to the bride’s family to issue the invitations? They may not wish to include me.’

      ‘That’s a feeble excuse if I ever heard one. I can put forward my own guests. Besides, there is something you can do for me...’

      ‘Oh, and what might that be?’

      ‘Jonathan Smythe was to be my groomsman, but he had to go to Scotland to visit an elderly relative who is dying and as his inheritance hangs on his attendance at the death bed, he has abandoned me to go to her. I need someone to stand up with me at the altar.’

      ‘I haven’t seen Jonathan since we were at school together. The terrible trio, they called us, do you remember?’

      ‘Yes. Always into mischief, the three of us.’

      ‘My great-aunt and Jonathan’s second cousin live in the same area of Strathclyde, both of them dragons.’

      ‘I know, but dragon or not, he has been summoned and I am left without a groomsman.’

      ‘I am flattered, Mark, but why me?’

      Mark looked at his friend, his head a little to one side. ‘Because I am sure you will do the job admirably and you are one of my oldest friends, so who better? As soon as I saw you coming down the street, I knew my problem was solved. You will do it, Drew, won’t you?’

      ‘I’ll think about it.’

      ‘Don’t think too long. I have to go back to Norfolk the day after tomorrow and before that I have to bespeak me a suit of clothes fit for a bridegroom. Will you help me find it? You can help me choose gifts for my bride and her attendants, too, if you’ve a mind. It is always

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