‘Mother said that young girls like to marry an older man. They are far more stable.’

‘And it didn’t hurt that he was rolling in green either, I suppose,’ his half-brother said sardonically. ‘Never mind. I couldn’t do anything about it at the time and, as it turns out, it hardly matters. The bastard is dead. But you, Roddy. Make sure you marry somebody who suits you, not your mother. At first glance, I am pleasantly surprised by the look of Miss Hathaway. The chit is eye-catching.’

‘It’s not just her looks. She is kind and intelligent and gentle and… Confound it Kirkwood, I don’t have to justify my choice to you. Just tell me what you want. Why have you come to Almack’s, of all places?’

‘I thought I would turn up somewhere that you least expected,’ Darius looked around and curled his lip a little. ‘How can you stand this mindless pap?’

‘Yes, I can see it wouldn’t measure up to your expectations,’ Roddy said, trying hard for a bit of sarcasm himself. He wasn’t very successful. That was his brother’s forte.

‘Damn right. Has Margate been in contact with you?’ Margate was the Allingham’s solicitor.

‘He has.’

‘It’s all yours now, to do with as you will.’ Darius tilted his head a little, regarding his brother. ‘I handed the family fortunes back intact, despite your mother’s direst forebodings. In fact, you’re wealthier than you were before.’

Roddy hesitated. He had already heard from his man of business that the Allingham estates were doing well, although he had yet to return to Birchfield Hall to verify this for himself. It was probably true enough. His brother might be a thoroughgoing reprobate but there was no doubt he had a knack with money.

‘Thank you,’ he said, sounding stiff.

Darius grinned. ‘Don’t get all misty eyed on me. I imagine your dearest mama was predicting all manner of disasters. Part of my pleasure in handing back a well fed concern was to make her eat her miserable predictions.’

‘She wants only the best for Constance and me.’

‘Nonsense. If she’d wanted what’s best for Constance she wouldn’t have saddled her with Greeley.’

‘She wasn’t to know that… Oh for God’s sake, it hardly matters now. As you say, he’s dead.’

‘And Constance is in deepest mourning, no doubt. I would be loath to think that would throw your plans into disarray although I wouldn’t postpone anything for Greely’s sake. Just be sure you don’t fall for your mother’s little plots and plans. Marriage is an onerous business. Select somebody who you want to spend time facing over the breakfast table, not somebody your mother deems suitable.’

‘Hardly a subject you can profess to be an expert on.’ Roddy’s lips thinned a little. ‘You have always thought the worst of Mother, have you not?’

‘I do not think of her nearly as unkindly as she thinks of me. Be reasonable, brother. You are no fool. You must know that my relationship with your mother is none of my doing. But even that is irrelevant now, I suppose. You’re free of me, Roddy. Our relationship is done, is it not? Unless I am going to be invited to your forthcoming nuptials?’ He looked at his brother, who flushed a dull red. Darius quirked a wicked smile. ‘No, I thought not. There is only so far gratitude extends, after all. I wish you well, brother. Pointless as it is to offer it, if you need my help at any time you may call upon me or just send word.’

‘I hardly think I will,’ his brother muttered.

‘Perhaps not. We shall see. A belated happy birthday to you. May you spend your coming years well entertained. Boredom is the very devil, is it not?’ And, turning on his heel, he walked off.

Roddy looked at his half-brother’s tall, retreating form and regretted, for a moment, that he had not said something more gracious, something that in some way expressed his appreciation. He had profoundly resented the fact that their father had left the stewardship of the Allingham fortunes to Kirkwood. His mother had certainly predicted ruin for them all. But she had been wrong, in that. It appeared that Kirkwood had taken excellent care of things. Mother is not always right, he reflected but then, Judith Allingham hated her husband’s first-born son with a rare passion.

It was too late now to say anything, of course. And really, what could he say? Their relationship had been too acrimonious to build any bridges now. He would probably never see Kirkwood again.

Despite everything, the thought gave the earl a small pang of regret.

Chapter Two

Audrey almost managed to forget the peculiar Mr. Kirkwood, as there were a great many other demands on her attention with a string of dance partners presenting themselves steadily before her. She danced almost every dance and after another hour of energetic activity she found herself flushed and in need of a break. Not all of her partners were as light on their feet as they could be and, while it was gratifying to find herself the object of so much attention, there was a cost to avoiding heavy-footed men or partnering up with those gentlemen that enjoyed a reckless gallop around the dance floor as opposed to a graceful waltz. That level of effort took its toll and after a particularly vigorous quadrille, Audrey excused herself in favor of the relative peace to be found in the retiring room. Relative was the term, however, for time spent waiting in this apartment could be equally energetic, notorious as it was for gossip and speculation as ladies of all ages paused to discuss, dissect or dismiss. She had to run the gamut, stopping frequently as she made her way forward. It had become a popular on dit that Miss Audrey Hathaway might very well become Countess Allingham before many more months had passed and it had increased her social standing considerably. Allingham came from an old and distinguished family who wielded influence. Audrey was coming to see that becoming a part of Roderick Allingham’s family might mean more than she had realized.

As it was even warmer in the retiring room and almost as crowded as the main apartments had been, she did not linger but instead went searching for a peaceful place to hide for a moment and be alone with her thoughts. Audrey had become quite good at finding such places in stately homes and at the very public venues such as Almack’s. It was always nice to have a private place to retreat to for a few moments to catch her breath. Almack’s possessed several alcoves that were popular with couples that wished to spend scandalous minutes alone. Naturally she did not approach these well known trysting places. Instead, she quickly climbed a small stairwell that was used by the musicians and staff, hurrying up the steps, hands gripping her skirts so she did not trip. She knew that there was one particular alcove that was never used and was therefore an excellent place to gain a little peace, if only because nobody seemed to know it was there. If Audrey shared one unfortunate trait with her irrepressible sister Millie, it was an unnatural curiosity to know what lay at the end of a stairway or a corridor and this had led to discovering all manner of interesting places. In her shallow little alcove, which contained a solitary chair and possibly a broom, she was never interrupted as she took great care not to be seen going up the stairwell. It lay not far from the head of the stairs, before the musicians’ place on the curving gallery and she hurried towards it, eager for a place to be alone and think. There was nobody about for the second floor was generally deserted. In fact, she rarely encountered even a maid or footman. She slipped into the small alcove and let out a long breath, some of the tension draining out of her.

Tonight, in particular, she found herself craving the room for private reflection, although she couldn’t say why. Perhaps it was the unexpected pressure she felt from so many people who were eager to know if Allingham was going to come up to scratch. Perhaps it was her own inexplicable uncertainty about what she would say if he did… Was she really prepared to turn a perfectly nice earl down because he did not stir her emotions into a frenzy or occupy her every thought when she was not with him? She did think of Allingham, occasionally, but it was more to muse on the capricious nature of love. She wanted to feel swept up in a welter of passion for the man.  He was so very suitable in every way. And truthfully, he might arouse such feelings within her at some stage. Just because her heart did not stop for a moment in her chest when she caught sight of him, only to rush forward in an excess of joy was no reason to think that it might not at some stage.