The Earl, the Vow, and the Plain Jane by Cheryl Bolen

Author:Cheryl Bolen [Bolen, Cheryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Regency romance
Publisher: Harper & Appleton
Published: 2018-06-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

The Duke of Fordham, Alex's brother, turned out to be the first to arrive. Alex enthusiastically introduced him to all the Parliamentarians who had gathered to support him, then Slade and Alex led him to the drawing room to introduce him to their hostess and the two other ladies.

"Her father is Harold Featherstone," Alex said after introducing Jane.

The duke's brows lowered. "The Whig?"

"Yes, your grace," she answered.

The duke's lips thinned, and then he politely took his leave of the women. "I beg a word with you, Alex."

The frigid tone of Fordham's voice made Slade uneasy. He watched as the brothers went into the morning room and closed the door.

When the two men reentered the library moments later, Alex's face was grim. The abrupt change in their manners went unnoticed by most of the men present because the corridors of Stourside began filling with men's voices as the first wave of visitors arrived.

"I'd best go greet them," Lord Framptingham said.

Slade approached Alex and spoke to him in a low voice. "Pray, what is the matter?"

Alex eyed the open doorway. "Come with me."

Slade followed his friend to a small china closet off the dinner room. The chamber was ringed by white, glass-fronted cases displaying turquoise porcelain in every shape and size imaginable. This was the only room in the bustling downstairs where privacy could be obtained since the visitors had begun flocking to the manor house.

Alex's face was still sorrowful. "I shall be obliged to drop out of the contest."

Slade felt as if he'd been punched in the gut. "What's happened?"

"My brother refuses to support a Whig."

It was a moment before Slade could gather enough composure to respond. "I suppose we should have been honest up front." Slade had felt uneasy that Alex had evaded the most important topic when seeking assistance from his brother. "Though I will own, I thought he'd be more accepting."

"You're right, of course. I wish now I'd been more passionate in expressing my opinions. Who knows, I may have been able to convert him to our views. But it's too late now."

Slade nodded. "I believe we will have to accept that Fordham's not going to be able to help." He held up a palm. "That's not to say you need to give up today. We are expecting hundreds of guests--guests who've come to see you. This is your opportunity to court them. Tomorrow we'll address the funding problem."

"I don't know how I can go out and be congenial the way I feel at present. It's as if Freddie's yanked the rug out from beneath my feet."

"Forget you're a person. Think of yourself as a vessel of change. You're not representing one man. You're representing thousands."

Alex drew a deep breath. "I don't see how this can work."

"Somehow, it will." Slade found himself wondering how rich Wycliff was. Would he be able to bestow enough money on his friend to establish the campaign? But underlining everything was Slade's fear that they would not be able to raise the money, and Alex would have to drop out.

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