âLADY ASFORDBY, OF ASFORDBY GRANGE, requests the pleasure of the company of Mr. Jack Lester, of Rawlingâs Cottage, and guests, at a ball.â
Ensconced in an armchair by the fireplace, a glass of brandy in one long-fingered hand, the white card of Lady Asfordbyâs invitation in the other, Jack Lester made the pronouncement with ill-disguised gloom.
âSheâs the grand dame of these parts, ainât she?â Lord Percy Almsworthy was the second of the three gentlemen taking their ease in the parlour of Jackâs hunting box. Outside, the wind howled about the eaves and tugged at the shutters. All three had ridden to hounds that day, taking the field with the Quorn. But while both Jack and his brother Harry, presently sprawled on the chaise, were clipping riders, up with the best of them, Percy had long ago taken Brummelâs lead, indefatigable in turning out precise to a pin but rarely venturing beyond the first field. Which explained why he was now idly pacing the room, restless, while the brothers lounged, pleasantly exhausted, with the look about them of men not willing to stir. Pausing by the fireplace, Percy looked down on his host. âLend a bit of colour to your stay, what? Besides,â he added, turning to amble once more, âYou never knowâmight see a golden head that takes your eye.â
âIn this backwater?â Jack snorted. âIf I couldnât find any golden head worth the attention last Seasonânor during the Little SeasonâI donât give much for my chances here.â
âOh, I donât know.â Unconsciously elegant, Harry Lester lounged on the chaise, one broad shoulder propped against a cushion, his thick golden locks rakishly dishevelled. His sharply intelligent green eyes wickedly quizzed his elder brother. âYou seem remarkably set on this start of yours. As finding a wife has become so important to you, I should think it behoves you to turn every stone. Who knows which one hides a gem?â
Blue eyes met green. Jack grunted and looked down. Absent-mindedly, he studied the gilt-edged card. Firelight glinted over the smooth waves of his dark hair and shadowed his lean cheeks. His brow furrowed.
He had to marry. He had inwardly acknowledged that fact more than twenty months ago, even before his sister, Lenore, had married the Duke of Eversleigh, leaving the burden of the family squarely on his shoulders.
âPerseveranceâthatâs what you need.â Percy nodded to no one in particular. âCanât let another Season go by without making your choiceâwaste your life away if youâre too finicky.â
âI hate to say it, old son,â Harry said. âBut Percyâs right. You canât seriously go for years looking over the field, turning your nose up at all the offerings.â Taking a sip of his brandy, he eyed his brother over the rim of his glass. His green eyes lit with an unholy gleam. âNot,â he added, his voice soft, âunless you allow your good fortune to become known.â
âHeaven forbid!â Eyes narrowing, Jack turned to Harry. âAnd just in case you have any ideas along that track, perhaps I should remind you that itâs our good fortuneâyours and mine and Geraldâs, too?â Features relaxing, Jack sank back in his chair, a smile erasing the severe line of his lips. âIndeed, the chance of seeing you playing catch-me-who-can with all the enamoured damsels is sorely tempting, brother mine.â
Harry grinned and raised his glass. âFear notâthat thought has already occurred. If the ton stumbles onto our secret, it wonât be through me. And Iâll make a point of dropping a quiet word in our baby brotherâs ear, whatâs more. Neither you nor I need him queering our pitch.â
âToo true.â Jack shuddered artistically. âThe prospect does not bear thinking of.â
Percy was frowning. âI canât see it. Why not let it out that youâre all as rich as bedammed? God knows, you Lesters have been regarded as nothing more than barely well-to-do for generations. Now thatâs changed, why not reap the rewards?â His guileless expression was matched by his next words. âThe debs would be yours for the askingâyou could take your pick.â
Both Lester men bent looks of transparent sympathy upon their hapless friend.
Bewildered, Percy blinked and patiently waited to be set aright.