Page 14 of The Remarkable Myth of a Nameless Lady
Jacob only just managed to keep from rolling his eyes. “I am in utmost admiration in how quickly you were able to manage not only the planning of the ball itself but the guest list, as well. I am equally astonished by your ability to find English ladies in Ireland.”
To his surprise, she gave a most unladylike snort in reply. “You will find that there are many such families as ours in Ireland, who took our rightful place among these…people. And why should we not, if only for the sake of solidifying the claim of the British empire upon what rightfully always should have been part of England in the first place?”
“And dare I guess that there will be a lack of Irish ladies upon that selfsame guest list?” he asked, thinking oddly enough of the new maid who had so troubled him only a short time before. He found himself wondering what one such as she would think of this truly English ball.
No doubt she would tell him precisely what she thought as soon as she heard tell of it.
The look that his mother gave him was quite scandalized. “The very idea, as though the Irish peerage is even of a consideration with our own.”
“I should think, if Ireland is truly to be considered a part of Great Britain, then would not that make whatever peerage there is in Ireland, British by definition? Meaning any young lady of suitable family should be ideal for your purposes.” He was goading her, perhaps, but her constant insistence regarding British superiority was beginning to grate upon him.
“Oh, you do not understand anything! Why must you vex me so!” With that, the Duchess threw down her sewing upon the settee and looked crossly in the direction of the door. “Where is Finola? I find one of my sick headaches coming on, and I would like to lie down.”
So pained was his mother’s expression that Jacob sighed and came to sit next to her, taking her hands in his. “I apologize, Mother. I should not tease you so. I am sure whomever you have invited has precisely the qualities needed to make an excellent wife for a Duke. I am surprised you have not successfully married off my brother by now.”
If anything, his words only pained her further. Her lips turned down unhappily. “Owen has refused my every attempt. It is entirely shameful that neither of my boys carry any interest in furthering the family line. It is yourdutyto marry, and to marry well.”
Jacob squeezed her hand. “Darling mother, I am not opposed to marrying, at all. While I was away at war it was not convenient. When was I home to even consider matrimony? I have every intention of taking to wife someone suitable. I only ask that you keep in mind that I have just gotten here.”
His mother sighed noisily, clearly still not mollified. “As you say. It is true you have only just arrived. But you will…consider…the idea.”
He smiled, though it took some effort. “I look forward to the opportunity to consider whatever ladies you have invited. I have always enjoyed dancing, and promise to look forward to your ball. I ask only that you give me some warning next time. My retinue is only just arriving today, along with the bulk of my belongings. Had you arranged this any sooner, you might have left me unprepared.”
“Your cravat is rather crooked,” she complained and reached to straighten it.
He brushed her hands away, not wanting to be fussed over. “It is tied well enough,” he said and rose to go. “I will trouble you no further, seeing as how your head pains you. Miss Barrow, I am sure, is just outside. I will send her in that she might tend you properly.” He bent to kiss his mother’s forehead.
“And what will you do?” she asked, and he realized that she still seemed unsure of him, despite his attempts to mollify her in her matchmaking attempts.
“I shall find Owen and ask him to explain how to read the stack of ledgers I found in the study. You, on the other hand, might wish to plan for another type of soiree entirely. Though I might have to put that off. Unless I miss my guess, the carriages I see crossing the bridge will be the rest of my belongings, and a few additional houseguests.”
She turned her head to glance through the window behind her. “Why, there are many officers on horseback…and ladies as well…”
Jacob grimaced. “I suspect I have been a little too broad in the wording of my invitation to my new ‘posting.’ That would be several of the men that had been under my command, and their wives. I might have made known that I would entertain them here. I had no idea they would take me up on the offer so quickly.”
“There must be a dozen of them!” she cried, getting to her feet, a rapturous smile upon her face as she eyed the uniforms with their bright buttons and gleaming swords. They had arrived decked out in their finest, and quite a picture they made, riding out in front of the carriages on steeds every bit as polished as their riders.
There were rather a lot of them now that he thought about it. “If this interferes with your ball…” he started hopefully.
“Nonsense!” She turned toward him, hands clasped eagerly at her bosom. “In fact, this will make this ball the talk of the county. Of course, we might need to ask a few more ladies to make up the numbers, but we will adjust. Finola!” she raised her voice to shout for her companion, who burst through the door, her eyes wide with fear. “Come, we have much work to do!”
“And your headache?” Jacob asked, unable to resist poking fun at her at least a little bit.
His mother stared at him as if he were stark raving mad. “Nonsense. I do not have time for a headache. Can you not see we have guests arriving? There are chambers that will need to be aired, fresh linen…Finola, are you listening? Hurry, we have only moments to arrange everything before we must greet our guests!”
Jacob watched her go with a sort of perverse satisfaction. Let her fuss over his guests, there would be enough there to keep her busy for days to come. In the meantime, he had one very specific person to find. While he’d fussed at not having Tom at his side to act as his valet and personal steward, the truth was the man was the best intelligence officer in the British Navy. And right now, he needed several questions answered.
Allies indeed.
Chapter 9
Jacob paced the room, far too angry to sit. “Tom, I have not accomplished a thing here since I have arrived. Instead, I am cooped up in this study poring over old books, when there are matters that are surely more pressing than how much wool we sold last year at market.” He gestured wildly at the piles of musty books upon the desk, as though he expected them to leap out and attack him somehow.
Tom was trying hard not to laugh. The corners of his lips twitched, something that could be blamed on his annoying good humor which had proved invaluable in Jacob’s first command. That lightness had eased the burden of a command in perilous waters and reminded him that laughter sometimes helped, where otherwise he might have despaired.
What victories I have had, what honors I have been given, I would not have earned without Tom to see me through. It would do me good to remember that,he reminded himself now as he felt, not for the first time, the irritation of knowing he was entirely in the wrong.
Jacob threw himself down in the chair opposite the other man, knowing full well he was sulking. “You may as well indulge in your cackling now and be done with it,” he muttered. “It seems I am complaining about there being no more wars for me to fight.”
