Page 22 of Indecent Desires of a Proper Lady
Juliet turned back to Margaret, and said, “I think you should consider selling some of your paintings as well.”
“Juliet!” Leonard cried, standing up forcefully. “Am I to be so overthrown?”
Felix laughed heartily at his friend’s distress. “I would get used to it, Leonard. Now that we are married, our fates are completely tied to the women we love.”
Leonard scowled, but Margaret could see that his anger was not as strong as before. “Leonard, you will see. All will be well.”
He grumbled, and she wanted to giggle. Her newfound happiness was making her dizzy with its power, and she wished she could run out into the world to see it in a new light once more.
Sarah suddenly clapped her hands, “I know it. Why do you not host a ball, Juliet and Leonard? To commemorate this new decision as well as your upcoming anniversary?”
Leonard groaned, and Juliet laughed, placing her hand lightly on her husband’s shoulder to calm him. “That is a wonderful idea! I say it is done.”
Felix winked at Leonard. “I told you, friend. We are no longer even consulted!”
Margaret’s whole body began to thrum with excitement at the thought. A ball? She could make herself anew and begin her fresh life at once. She only hoped that Philip Winston would be in attendance.
Chapter Ten
When Philip walked down to breakfast, his father, Rupert Winston, Earl of Camden, and his mother, Diana, were already eating at the table. His brother Edward, the incumbent heir, sat reading the newspaper.
“I see that I am a bit late this morning,” Philip said a little groggily.
His mother glanced up at him with one of her usual looks of censure. “You certainly are, young man. No doubt you have been traipsing about London with that friend of yours, Charles, and racking up gaming debts.”
Philip smiled. His mother was always pretending she thought ill of him, when he knew that she would do anything for him. He leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. “As it so happens, family, I am not such a renegade as you suppose. I was merely at the gentleman’s club yesterday and at Bartley Manor before that. Nothing untoward happening there. And check with the gaming hell. I have no debts to speak of.”
Diana pursed her lips, but his father laughed. “Oh, do relent, My Dear.” He glanced at Philip. “I have prepared the sum for you to purchase the commission.”
Philip was drinking his tea as his father spoke, and he glanced at Edward who was watching the interaction with a lazy interest.
“Thank you, Father.”
“Tell us, Brother, when do you plan to purchase the commission? Perhaps something keeps you here?” He tapped his chin. “Perhaps a certain person who resides at Bartley Manor?”
Philip shot his brother a dark look and hoping that his parents would gloss over his older brother’s words, he replied, “This week I hope, Father.”
“I hope as well for your sake. But what keeps you from going today?” Rupert’s eyes were wide as he looked at his younger son. His father was a very good man, kind and patient, but he had dreams for Philip sometimes that Philip did not always agree with.
Philip decided to try a new tack. He looked around at his family. “You can understand how difficult it will be to leave you and Mother, and Edward, I suppose.” He laughed as Edward grimaced.
“Edward gets to remain here while I must travel across the sea and leave you all for a long while. I will not know how long I would have to be away until I begin. Does that not sadden you in the slightest, Mother?”
Diana turned her scrutinizing eyes to him but then smiled. “It does, my son. Rupert, we can surely understand his plight.”
Philip’s father placed his spectacles on the end of his nose once more. “Ah, yes, what a plight he has, My Dear. Second son of an earl.” He clicked his tongue. “He will certainly not survive!”
Philip grinned, glad that no one had thought to bring up Bartley Manor just yet. It was too bad that Edward decided to take up the reins again. “You could have selected an occupation more close to home, Brother? Perhaps the clergy? That way our dear mother would not be left so lonely without you.”
This time it was Philip who grimaced, and Edward laughed. Philip said, “No, it has been a long wish of mine to join the Navy, and I am very much looking forward to doing so.”
Edward continued, dissatisfied at not having rankled his brother’s nerves. “So, we have one question sorted, Father, but not the other.” Edward looked at Philip with barely contained glee.
Philip narrowed his eyes at his older, light-haired brother, sending a warning. Philip was by far the stronger and would always beat Edward in a physical fight, but still, the firstborn could not resist taunting the second born.
Rupert took off his glasses again and laid his paper next to his breakfast plate. “Ah, yes, we have not sorted that matter. Is this about that Margaret Whitfield?”
Diana said, “Oh, Philip, everyone in Christendom knows that her heart is already taken by that gaming friend of yours. Is that not true?”
