Page 18 of Two of a Kind
“So, we both need a drink or three,” he replied.
“Exactly.”
Once inside the Shepherds’ elegantly decorated reception hall, James hunted them down a drink. When the footman offered Caroline an orgeat and she recoiled in horror, James found himself laughing for the first time in days. He was still chuckling when he selected a glass of champagne and handed it to her.
Caroline sipped her drink while James nursed his wine. His bad mood and his father’s reaction to it left him deciding that a simple French burgundy was the wisest choice for the evening. A glass too many of whisky might lead him to tell Guy a few home truths, and thereby ruin the evening.
“I hear you are off to Lord Newhall’s house party in Derbyshire. I thought the two of you were enemies, so how did you manage to get saddled with that?” he asked.
She rolled her eyes. “Mama and Papa both think I need to get out of London for a time. Let things settle down with the populace of young unmarried men of theton,or something to that effect. As far as I am aware, my trip to Newhall Castle is purely to make up the numbers. Francis is coming with me, so we are hoping to steal away from much of the festivities. Just don’t let my parents find out the truth.”
“Don’t tell me the Ice Queen is thinking of abdicating,” said James with a grin.
She swatted him on the arm. “Horrid beast. And don’t say that too loudly in public; this country has laws against treason. I don’t want the Prince Regent to hear that people have dubbed me a queen. Knowing how sensitive he is about titles; he might just have me arrested.”
“Yes, and the Tower of London is not the most pleasant or warmest of places to spend your days,” he replied.
“I hear from Cousin Claire that you are also in a bit of a funk at present. She asked if Francis and I could take you with us to Derbyshire. I said I would speak to you,” said Caroline.
James put a finger to his lips and tapped them lightly. Now that was an idea he had not considered. Newhall Castle wasn’t that far from Burton-on-Trent where the two Tims were basing themselves for the winter. If he accompanied Caroline and Francis to the house party, he could easily slip away for a few days and spend some time with his friends. He increasingly felt more comfortable in their company than he did with Guy. This was an unexpected, but possibly welcome change to James’s plans.
“Are you serious about that? I mean, about me coming with you?” he asked.
Her face brightened and she smiled. “Absolutely. The three of us would have a lovely time together. Since I don’t think I have any sort of shot at becoming the next Countess Newhall, we could have our own little private party in the middle of his,” she replied.
Getting out of town for a week or so would mean James could avoid listening to Claire’s almost constant updates about the wedding preparations. His head would be glad for the respite, though there was little he could do for his heart.
The offer was extremely appealing. And since he would be accompanying his cousins to Newhall Castle, his family-centric father would be unlikely to say no to him going. His mood lifted for the first time in days. It wasn’t much, but he sorely needed it.
“If your father can spare both Francis and me for the time we are away, I could do it. I might be able to catch up with some friends who are undertaking a painting commission up at Burton-on-Trent. Hopefully Newhall won’t mind if I slip away for a few days. You know Timothy Walters and Timothy Smith, don’t you?”
He sensed a moment of hesitation from Caroline. “Yes, but since I plan to keep my visit to Derbyshire as low-key as possible, I don’t think you should make mention of it to your friends.”
He was about to ask her the reason for her guarded response when Francis suddenly appeared at his shoulder. Behind him stood Francis’s friend Harry Menzies. At times, James wondered if the two of them were joined at the hip. Wherever Francis went, Harry followed.
Caroline gave Harry the merest nod before paying close attention to her champagne. Harry, in turn, greeted her with a bright smile.
James held out his hand to Harry in friendly greeting.
“Radley,” said Harry, shaking his hand.
“Menzies. I didn’t realize you knew the happy couple,” replied James.
“I don’t. But my father is trying to get Tobias Shepherd to find me a seat in the northern counties. Manchester needs a new local member and his aim is for it to be me. Not that I have the slightest interest in a political career, but Papa is insistent the family strengthen our ties with the area.”
Harry’s father had made his money in the textiles trade, and was no doubt looking to gain more traction for his family with the elite of England by getting his son into parliament.
Francis drew his sister to one side. “Excuse us for a moment, would you?”
Caroline nodded, before she and Francis walked a few feet away and began a private conversation.
Not wishing to appear rude by eavesdropping, James turned from his cousins and back to Harry Menzies. “Well you seem to have come to the right place if you are hoping to find a way to get into parliament. You just need to do as Guy Dannon is doing and get yourself a wife,” said James.
James had been in jest with his remark, but the look that Harry gave in response, told him that Harry considered it to be no laughing matter. “I am working on that, Radley. Though I am aiming a touch higher than the Shepherd girl. With my family coming from trade, I need a wife with a more prestigious family name. Someone who comes from a traditional noble family,” replied Harry. His gaze was fixed on Caroline as he spoke.
James felt a shudder of icy premonition chill his bones.
Leah sucked in a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and stepped out of her room. As expected, her father was waiting for her on the landing. He offered her his arm. Their gazes met for an instant. The tight smile on his face almost matched perfectly to hers.
