Page 70 of Scandalous Heiress
“Then you must,” Victor said into the jest now.“We could refresh his memory, couldn’t we, Arn?”
“Indeed.Just like we used to.”
Freddie held up a palm.“I will pass.Thank you, gentlemen.The memory of your days as my dancing masters is too painful to recall, let alone revisit.”
“Oh, come now.”Victor chided him.“We could ask Wells to give us one of the meeting rooms upstairs.Push the furniture aside and—”
“No.”
Victor barked in laughter.“But—”
“I like Lady Jessica Baldwin and I choose to court her without your assistance.”
Victor stared at Arnie.“Has he been this stubborn all these years and I’ve forgotten?”
“He has.And you did.”
Victor laughed, happy to be home with his oldest friends enjoying a tease.He’d missed the familiarity of men with whom he’d grown up and gone to school and learned in general how to be a man.In his circle, he should have stayed here in London with them, taken his place here and prospered.Instead, he’d gone another way.Far away.
“I say—” Arnie nudged him.“Have you gone dark on us, Cole?”
“Not at all.In fact, I’m delighted to be here with you.”
“Long overdue,” said Arnie in a solemn tone.
“We’ll value what we’ve regained, eh?”Freddie picked up his coffee cup and toasted Victor and Arnie with it.
“I intend to.”
“How long do you intend to stay?”Freddie asked.“Your brother told us just until October or so.True?”
Before Victor left Brentwood, Richard had bid him goodbye and told him he was headed for his own estate north of London.“Oh?You saw Ridgemont recently?”
“He came in yesterday.Irritable with Wells.Uncalled for.”Freddie had never liked Richard, not as a child or adult.Not surprising.Richard could be an uncaring cad toward men or women.
“You can’t see from your chair,” Arnie said beneath his breath and leaned forward, “but he’s just come in the far door.”
Freddie sat, hands folded, assessing Victor’s brother with disparaging eyes.“Well, do rise.Here he comes.”
“Good morning, gentlemen, brother.”Richard looked in good form, if a bit bleary-eyed.“An early meeting of the clan, is it?”
“Seeing Tildon, are you, Ridgemont?”Victor always addressed his brother by his formal name in public and ignored his jibe at the three of them.Tildon was not only Richard’s best friend, but also his drinking companion.Over the decades, the two of them had caused more problems for the sheriffs of various shires than escaped prisoners.
“Hmm, yes.We’re planning our week.Going to the high tea at the Wares’ today, are we?Meachum?Surely you are attending, aren’t you, Billings?Will the countess of Ware expect you for Jessica?I wonder.”
Freddie, no longer cowed by Richard at age thirty-one, stood two inches taller and four stone heavier than the man he faced and stared straight in the eye.
Victor silently praised his friend.
“I do go, Ridgemont.Meachum comes too.Victor as well.”
“Have an invitation, do you, Victor?”
Freddie said, “He’s coming with me.”
Victor saw no reason to add that he had received an invitation to tea from the earl and countess of Ware this morning.He was eager to attend to widen his social mark but also because he hoped Ada might be there.
Richard gave a critical glance at Victor.“Splendid.Into the swing of the season, then.Good for you, dear boy.”
