Page 9 of Avoiding the Merry Viscount
Elias scoffed. “I think there is a better chance that one of us takes a wife than Hudson embracing Matt as a friend again.”
“Oof. So I shall make a different holiday wish, since we are committed to our bachelorhood.”
“Good call,” Elias replied. The years of watching how his father still missed Mama had hardened Elias’s stance that he would never fall in love. Love would only bring pain and heartbreak. If he took a wife one day to do his duty to the title, it would be for an heir to continue his family line, and that would be all there was to it. And he wouldn’t even consider doing so for many years.
The rest of the ride to Elias’s family home in Sussex passed by quickly. The pair each took a nap in the carriage after their late night out, enjoying brandy, cards, and tending their respective needs with the willing women they had met.
Once the carriage rolled to a stop, and they both jerked awake. Elias glanced out of the carriage window, recognizing they had arrived at his family home. The men bounded from the carriage and were greeted by Elias’s family. There was a bit of snow on the ground, andthe air was crisp, instantly chilling his nose and ears.
“Good to see you, son,” his father said, meeting him at the bottom of the steps into their expansive country home, grabbing him into a hug. His father had a bit of gray lining the edges of his hairline, but otherwise was still a fit, handsome man. He’d have no trouble taking another wife if he ever wished to do so, but he wasn’t certain his father would ever look at another woman in such a way again.
Elias wasn’t certain how his father did it, given that Elias was already questioning how he was going to make it so many days without a woman’s touch. An outing to the tavern would be even more necessary, it would seem, even if he’d suffer the wrath of his sister if she caught them sneaking out.
His father moved on to greet Jude while Elias’s sisters took turns hugging him. “Come, sisters,” Elias said, noting their pink cheeks and noses. “Let’s get inside before you all catch a chill.”
They all entered the house, and Diana ushered them into the drawing room. She had asked Miller, their family’s butler, to bring tea. Each of them took a seat, with Diana and Jenny sitting together on one settee, Papa and Grace sitting on the settee that faced them, and then Jude and Elias each taking high-backed winged chairs. Elias was positioned near his father, while Jude’s chair was near Diana and Jenny.
“Now,” Diana said, as if she were conducting a meeting of business. “Most of the guests shall arrive tomorrow, so I will need all of you prepared to greet them.”
“I’m also a guest, am I not?” Jude asked, teasing her.
She rolled her eyes at him. “I suppose so. I arranged for you to be in your usual chamber. Your valet is already there unpacking for you. Hudson and Hannah will also arrive today, as well as Matt.”
Jude smirked at her. “You are quite the hostess.”
“Where is Aunt Penny?” Elias asked, glancing at the door. She was Diana’s sponsor for the season, and her presence made it acceptablefor Diana to play the part of a co-hostess, something an unmarried lady rarely did.
“She’s taking a nap, but she should be down after a while,” Diana replied.
A maid strolled in with the tea cart, placing it near Diana. His sister poured out for each of them, as she already knew how each of them took their tea. They remained quiet for several moments, enjoying the warm cup of tea in their hands and a saucer of tarts and biscuits.
“How many people did you invite to our home, sister?” Elias asked, shifting his attention to Diana.
“Ten, including their parents. Not counting all of you. Although, thanks to you and your friends, our numbers for unwed men and women will be even. We’ll have five sets of those who are unmarried.”
“Please tell me you aren’t cooking up some kind of matchmaking scheme,” Elias said, issuing a warning with his tone.
She waved him off. “I invited people I enjoyed during the season. Based on your reputation, I don’t think any of them will be interested.”
“Reputation for what?” Grace, who was only three-and-ten, asked.
“His inability to keep from mussing his cravat,” their father said to Grace before casting an annoyed glance at Elias.
By the time his father got around years later to having the conversation he had promised about the birds and bees, Elias was beyond need of the explanation, having already partaken in such delights. Papa supported a young man sowing his wild oats, but with Elias aged six-and-twenty, his father believed it was about time to consider taking a wife.
Elias wasn’t certain how his father could push him to marry so soon after the pain the man still lived with for the last twelve years. When Elias challenged him on the matter, his father always said that he would rather live with the pain than to have never had the timewith his mama. Seemed far easier in Elias’s mind to just avoid the whole matter entirely. At least until an heir became necessary.
“Well, I don’t think you should marry a lady who cares so much about your cravat, brother,” Grace said, raising her chin.
Elias grinned at her. “Quite right, sister.” He shifted his focus back to Diana. “I had better not catch you sneaking off with any gentlemen you have invited.” He narrowed his eyes, giving her the expression he’d used throughout the years when he needed to convey that he was serious and would brook no argument.
“I have already given her the same lecture,” his father said before Diana could retort. “With you and your friends in attendance, I think she shall be well chaperoned.”
“And as I already told Papa,” Diana said in an annoyed tone. “I don’t have interest in any of the invited gentlemen, nor do I wish to cause a scandal. We shall all have a happy Christmas.”
“Hear, hear!” Jude exclaimed, raising his teacup as if he were toasting a fine brandy.
Elias raised his cup to join him, and they clinked their teacups together. Causing Diana to roll her eyes, and his father to chuckle.
