Autumn Glory and Other Stories by Barbara Metzger

Author:Barbara Metzger [Metzger, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Published: 2013-08-16T04:00:00+00:00

6

That all bills be paid on time.

“You said you needed an escort, Sylvia. Since I was busy, I have furnished you with one.”

“You always did have a deplorable sense of levity, Arthur. I would have thought that now you had risen to Henry’s title you would have assumed a modicum of his dignity.”

“No, did you? But I am not teasing, you know. You lectured me at great length, if I recall, about my duties to the family. Providing you with a resident gentleman seemed to be a close second to providing an heir. I believe your words were that you had not had a good night’s sleep since Henry’s passing, worrying over the safety of the household with no man to protect you. Well, Lieutenant Durbin is the bravest man I know, so you should rest easy tonight.”

“He is a coward! A deserter!”

“Rumors. All false. The lieutenant will soon be awarded a medal for his gallantry under fire.” Even if Arthur had to give him one of his own.

As usual, Sylvia did not listen to any view but the one she held. “How dare you bring such a despicable creature into my home.”

Arthur politely refrained from mentioning precisely who owned Huntingdon House, brushing at a speck of dust on his sleeve, instead.

Sylvia understood his unspoken message and changed tack, nearly grinding her teeth: “What I meant by a gentleman was a proper escort for my sister, as you well know. She’ll be cut dead if she is seen on your lieutenant’s arm.”

“Nonsense. He will be accepted, nay, honored if you show your approval. I thought you had enough credit with the dowagers to sway public opinion, among the ton at any rate. I’ll take care of the military.”

Sylvia helped herself to another bonbon. She did not know whether to be flattered that her brother-in-law thought she held such power, or to be offended that he placed her with the dowager set. “I am not in my dotage, you know. But I do have considerable influence in the beau monde. I suppose such a thing as bringing him back into favor is not beyond my capabilities.”

“The lad’s uncle is an earl, remember, so it’s not as if he’s a mere nobody.”

“But he is in such bad odor.”

“He’ll wash up nicely,” Arthur said, choosing to misinterpret her latest complaint. Then he added, “He saved my life, Sylvia. Without him, Cousin Nigel would be viscount, and you would be living in the dower house in Suffolk, most likely with Aunt Aubergine.”

Sylvia quickly popped another sweet in her mouth to replace the bad taste of such a dire fate. “I suppose we do owe him some kind of assistance. But to take him around with us?”

“I intend to see he is added to the guest lists for the ambassadors’ balls and such, so you won’t have to beg your friends for extra invitations. Of course you’d be welcome to accompany him, if you’ve a notion to meet the Ziftsweig delegation. And Miss Ferguson would be included, of course.

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