Page 25 of Whiskers and Wiles

“What are you doing?” Waldorf asked, narrowing his eyes as Lawrence handed him his hat, then donned his coat.

“What does it look as if I am doing?” Lawrence asked. “I’m attending Lady Ryman’s ball with you.”

Waldorf had the distinct feeling he was being baby-minded. “You were not invited.”

“Yes, I was,” Lawrence insisted, taking his hat and popping it on his head. “I’ve got the invitation upstairs. Somewhere.”

With an even broader smile, Lawrence turned and headed for the front door. Jacob, one of the footmen, leapt from his position to hold it open for him.

“You weren’t invited,” Waldorf said in a long-suffering voice, pinching the bridge of his nose and following his brother outside.

“Fortunately,” Lawrence said as the two of them started down the street toward Lord and Lady Ryman’s townhouse, which was only a street and a half away from Godwin House, “renowned artists, such as myself, are generally welcomed at any ball, whether they’ve been invited or not.”

Waldorf rolled his eyes at his brother as the two of them walked on. He was devilishly proud of everything Lawrence had accomplished, but the man could be smug. It was just Lawrence’s luck that his overwhelming good nature and his easewith people, something Waldorf had never possessed, canceled out his smugness.

There was already a line of carriages in front of Ryman House when Waldorf and Lawrence arrived. They were pouring out what felt to Waldorf like half the population of Britannia. Then again, it was in the best interest of the cause Waldorf worked for that as many people as possible attend the ball. Quite a few conversations would take place that night that would, if managed correctly, plant the seeds of a whole new Britannic kingdom in the minds of the men who would shortly debate the issue, and hopefully vote on it.

All the same, Waldorf did not enjoy parties of any sort. Even though he and Lawrence had not had to wait in the carriage line, the servants of Ryman House were so overwhelmed with ladies and gentlemen entering the house that they were required to stand in the front entryway for longer than Waldorf wanted to while everyone’s coats and hats were dealt with.

From there, Waldorf and Lawrence headed straight down the hallway and into the Ryman’s grand ballroom.

One of the reasons such an important social event was taking place at Ryman House was because the house itself was one of the largest in London. The ballroom was reputed to be larger than the one in Kensington Palace. It rivaled some of the galleries in London’s parliamentary buildings, and was decorated in a style that even Lawrence would approve of.

Waldorf was not particularly interested in ballroom decoration. He was more intrigued by the collection of men and women already milling about the vast space. Groups had formed, conversations were well under way, and even without the orchestra tuning in the far corner, the noise in the room was enough to make it difficult to think.

Waldorf spotted what, or rather who, he needed almost right away, however. It was hard to miss men like him, who hadovergrown facial hair. Members of the Badger Society were easy to pick out across a distance, which was the point. As soon as Waldorf spotted Lord Pollock, he made an excuse to leave Lawrence to his own devices and started across the ballroom.

“Lord Waldorf,” Lord Pollock greeted him. “What a pleasure to see you here this evening.”

“Lord Pollock.” Waldorf bowed stiffly to him, then to Lady Pollock, who was standing there with her daughter, Lady Vivien, and a younger, overwhelmed lady.

“Have you met my niece, Lady Elizabeth Hartley?” Lady Pollock asked.

Oh God. This was why Waldorf hated balls. He would be expected to smile like Lawrence and converse like Alden when he was capable of neither behavior. It was why he’d enjoyed Kat’s company so much in those days, why he’d gravitated to her in the first place. Kat could speak to anyone, and later, once they’d been disengaged from the conversation, the two of them could laugh about the ridiculousness of thetontogether.

A sudden, powerful wave of nostalgic pain hit him. He missed Kat. It wasn’t just her fire or her bull-headedness. He missed her laughter and her wit. How had he lived so long without her?

“Lord Waldorf?”

Waldorf blinked when he realized Lady Pollock had spoken to him. “I beg your pardon, Lady Pollock, Lady Vivien, and Lady Elizabeth,” he said with a polite bow. “I have just noticed someone I had hoped to speak with this evening, and it distracted me from our conversation.”

“It was not of any importance,” Lady Pollock said, sending a smile of understanding to her husband. “Dearest, perhaps you would escort Lord Waldorf to greet his friend?”

“Yes, my dear, of course,” Lord Pollock said. He raised his wife’s hand to kiss her gloved knuckles. The two of them smiled at each other adoringly. “As you wish.”

Another, surprise pang gripped Waldorf’s insides. He and Kat could have had such a relationship. Theyhadhad affection for each other just like Lord and Lady Pollock had.

And he’d gone and ruined it all due to youth and pride and stupidity.

“Shall we, Lord Waldorf?” Lord Pollock asked, turning as if inviting Waldorf to take a turn around the room with him.

Waldorf said goodbye to the ladies and followed Pollock. They engaged in light conversation as they walked through the growing crowd in the ballroom at a reasonable pace, but as soon as Pollock turned a corner into one of the smaller corridors that led to refreshment and gaming rooms at the far side of the ballroom, their conversation and demeanor changed.

“It is imperative that we draw those ministers who are against the Mercian Plan to the third gaming room tonight,” Pollock said, gesturing down the corridor to one of the open doorways.

“I take it the Badgers have set the stage for minds to be changed?” Waldorf asked, nodding toward the doorway.

“Oh, no,” Pollock said. “Tonight’s mission extends far beyond the ordinary activities of our brothers. This particular mission has been set from the very top.”

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