Page 2 of Courting Miss Lancaster
Harry had accepted the entire situation nearly a year earlier, within minutes of setting eyes on Athena. He had simply expected to have more time to resign himself to the fact that she would be courted by throngs of admirers with deeper pockets than his to recommend them.
“Athena arrived in London this morning with her horde of sisters in tow, along with their governess,” Adam grumbled.
Athena was in London? Harry couldn’t be sure if that was welcome news or not.
“The infuriating female informed mewithin moments of her arrival at Falstone House that she wishes to be brought out during the Little Season,” Adam continued. If Harry hadn't known Adam so well, he might have taken exception to the “infuriating female” comment. “She explained that she was certain it would be a more agreeable option tome.” His look of patent disbelief clearly displayed his evaluation of that bit of logic.
“Either Miss Lancaster”—Harry didn’t feel it was safe to callthe object of his regard by her Christian name in Adam’s hearing—“does not realize that you flee London quite religiously every August or she feels the smaller social throng of the Little Season would be more to your liking.”
“She was obviously misinformed,” Adam observed.
“And did you address the subject of her misapprehension?” Harry asked, careful to keep his tone casual so Adam wouldn’t guess at the slight increase in tension Harry was experiencing worrying over the outcome of Athena’s encounter with Adam’s testy temper.
Adam’s snort put Harry at ease. Adam very seldom made noises when cutting words would suffice. “The Lancaster women are manipulative,” Adam grumbled. “Athena informed me of her decision, smiled, and flitted from the room before I had a chance to say a single word. And the very next moment, Persephone was in my book room thanking me rather... gushingly for taking such wonderful care of her sisters. By the time I realized I was being distracted, the arrangements were already being undertaken.”
Harry chuckled. “Manipulative, indeed.” And very well planned. He knew Persephone had a good head on her shoulders, and he suspected Athena did as well. One could not, after all, be named for the Greek goddess of divine intelligence and be a complete featherhead.
“I have half a mind to return to Falstone Castle and leave Athena to her own devices,” Adam declared. “Let her sort through the ridiculous moonlings who will line my drawing room day after tedious day. If it were up to me, I’d send every one of them packing and send Athena to a nunnery.”
“Do you think she would go?” Harry chuckled.
Adam muttered something that sounded suspiciously like “Lancaster women” and took up the paper again.
“Perhaps you should hire out, Adam,” Harry laughinglysuggested. “Put an advertisement in theTimesrequesting the services of... How would one put that, exactly?... of an experienced suitor sorter. You would, of course, have to find someone who knewsocietyand could sort the bad apples from the horrible apples and who not only could endure the endless prattle of the social whirl but, preferably, enjoy it.”
“If your estate ever completely falls to ruin, Harry, you could hire yourself out for just such a position,” Adam said, stiffening his paper and allowing his scowl to settle on its pages. “You have described yourself perfectly.”
Harry laughed, earning a look of amazement from the youngling Adam had earlier sent into life-threatening palpitations of fear. Harry got that look a lot. Anyone who regularly laughed in the duke’s presence was either entirely mad or placed very little value on the continuation of his existence. It was a rather fine line, when he thought about it. Rather like being a court jester in the days when royalty could behead on a whim.
The sudden jerking of Adam’s paper should have been a warning. But Harry missed it, something he was later certain he would regret time and again.
“Suitor sorter,”Adam quite suddenly said, a look on his usually somber face that on anyone else might have been described as gleeful. “Harry, name your price.”
“My what?” Harry chuckled, certain Adam was truly addled.
“For taking over the tedious aspects of this ridiculous come-out.”
“I beg your—”
“Don’t be obtuse,” Adam snapped at him. The gleeful look was gone. “I have no desire to spend every night of the next few months at balls and soirees or drowning in tea with morning callers. You relish such things.”
“You are asking me to help your sister-in-law find ahusband?” Adam couldn’t possibly have known the irony of that request.
“Only to sort out the bad apples, as you said,” Adam corrected. “I’ll handle the formalities.”
“Like tearing limb by limb any less-than-worthies who apply for her hand?”
Adam’s face clearly communicated the joy he would find in that undertaking. “But the social niceties, I could do without. And as you are an almost constant guest in the house and a family acquaintance of inordinately long standing—”
Harry held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. He had only a shabby set of rooms in London to call his own and lacked the means of living in any semblance of style. He would not go to Falstone Castle in Northumberland when Adam was not there, and visiting his own dilapidated estate was always an exercise in futile frustration. One needed capital to repair generations of neglect—capital he did not have. Being the constant guest of his oldest friend was something of a necessity, a means of obtaining regular food and sitting in warmth he did not have to pay for. Adam had never asked anything of him in return for his hospitality. But Harry could not, in good conscience, deny Adam a favor when he wished for it.
“Just sort through the bushel?” Harry asked doubtfully.
“Unless you think Athena will receive little attention.” Adam raised an eyebrow. He obviously knew Athena would be something of an immediate sensation when she made her bows to society.
Harry shook his head. “She will receive ample attention,” he answered, trying not to grumble.
“And it is crucial that the less-than-deserving be dispatched rather immediately,” Adam answered.
