Page 45 of The Scandal of the Deceived Duchess
To Amelia, it seemed that the duke was disappointed with his son. In that moment, she wanted to tell the duke of her plans. She wanted to open up to the sweet man and tell him all about Jonathan. Then, Anna came to mind. She had promised her that they would be patient.
“Come with me, my dear. There are some interesting people here at least,” said the duke. “Let me introduce you. When you are married to my son, the likes of them will be life-saviours during those lengthy and very boring banquets. They always have a mind to be entertaining.
Amelia inclined her head and interlinked her arm with his. She let him guide her in the direction of the group of men she had watched with her father before.
“Ah, Brandon, I see you haven’t forgotten your best friend.” said a haughty voice that bade no argument. It belonged to a man who invariably got what he wanted.
“I would never forget you, Your Royal Highness,” said the Duke of Brandon, bowing his head slightly.
“Quite…and who is this charming lady you have with you,” he raised his hand to forestall the duke, “no, do not say anything; we are acquainted are we not?”
Amelia had trouble hiding her surprise. The regent remembered her from the knighting ceremony. She curtseyed. “Yes, we are, Your Royal Highness. You rescued me from some rather tedious business talk during my father’s adoubement last year.”
“Yes, I recollect. How could I forget such a lovely young lady? Your beauty shines like a beacon in this otherwise drab environment…no man could overlook you,” said the regent, looking pleased with himself. “So, this is your future daughter-in-law, eh, Brandon?”
“Yes, this is the lovely Amelia Carlyle, Priney,” said the Duke of Brandon, using the regent’s sobriquet.
The pudgy man’s face lit up. His cheeks seemed to take on an even redder flush. “Your son is a lucky man, Brandon. Any one of these rogues would love to court such a fine lady. Fortunate for you, Amelia, that your mother kept you so well tucked away for they are notorious scallywags.” The Prince Regent swept his arm over the waiting ‘Dandy Club’ theatrically.
In the group was: William Arden, 2nd Baron Avanley, Sir Henry St. John-Mildmay and Henry Pierrepoint and of course the notorious Beau Brummel; together they formed the ‘Regency Bucks,’ which was another sobriquet for the grouping.
They were all men dressed in the finest style. The black or navy-blue tailcoat was of course de rigueur at one of these formal gatherings. Under them a white silk waistcoat descended below the tailcoat covering the top of the trouser. Each man wore a crisp linen shirt and black shoes with silver buckles or laces. The only way they really distinguished themselves was with the neckcloth. Avanlay had opted for black silk, Mildmay, yellow, Pierrepoint, green, and Brummel sported a daring cloth in pink.
A notoriously vane man, the Prince Regent wore a whalebone corset under his shirt and a bright-yellow waistcoat and a claret-colored tailcoat. An especially high cravat helped to disguise his double chins and fleshy jowls.
Amelia looked at Brummel closely. He was a handsome man, albeit not as good-looking as one might have thought. He came from a middle-class background but always strove to imitate an aristocratic lifestyle – in truth, he changed the way the upper-class gentleman dressed by revolutionizing their clothing and cultivating beauty in a man’s person. Also, he despised ostentatious jewelry on a gentleman. Wagging tongues claimed that this was because he did not have the funds to procure any.
“So, Brandon. When’s the big day, eh?” asked the prince, licking his lips and picking a pastry filled with smoked salmon, chives and sour cream that a servant handed to him on a silver salver. “I will of course receive an invitation?” added the regent.
The Duke of Brandon moved closer. “But of course, Priney. A wedding just wouldn’t be the same without you. You are almost as important as the bride.” This remark invited a certain degree of mirth from the other members of the ‘Dandy Club’.
The Prince squinted his piggy eyes that appeared to get lost in the flesh of his eyelids. “Good, that is what I like to hear. There can never be too many parties in one year, eh?”
“Here, here,” said Avanlay, concurring.
“I agree. Weddings are such lovely events. There’s so much champagne…and many beautiful ladies – I dare say, none of them will be as lovely as you,” said Pierrepoint, inclining his head slightly to Amelia.
Amelia blushed. They were all so charming. They stood in such direct contrast to the man she was to marry. Each of them represented the pinnacle in what was the man of leisure. Their days were spent at their tailors, clubs or in the country when it was the season.
“What say you, Mildmay?” asked the Prince. “Do you enjoy weddings?”
“I’d dare say Amelia is the loveliest lady in this room – so, I will most certainly enjoy her wedding. It’s just a shame that I will not be the groom. That would make the event all the more enjoyable.” He moved his head closer to Amelia. “And don’t tell my wife I said that;” he added with a twinkle in his eye.
The gathering of men chuckled. The Prince was the loudest of them all. Crumbs fell from his lips like snowflakes when he laughed. It was a known fact that he liked to overindulge.
“So, you see, my dear, you are not without admirers,” said the regent. “If young Templeton French ever bores you, you can always find a suitable gentleman among this lot.” Amelia smiled. At the same time, another flush crept up her neck to her face.
“I hear you recently got back from a rather arduous adventure in the Americas?” intoned Pierrepoint.
“Yes, Miss. Carlyle was the victim of an abduction. An American frigate attacked her ship and she was held by her captors for months,” said the Duke of Brandon, answering for Amelia.
“Oh my, that must have been frightening,” said Avanley.
“Is the Americans’ taste in clothing as bad as they say?” asked Brummell, diverting the conversation to his preferred topic. “I hear they are the most appalling dressers.”
“Maybe you should travel to the United States and show them how it is done,” said Mildmay.
“You might be able to improve your finances, Brummell. I dare say, you will eventually end up in debtors’ prison with your debts,” said Lord Templeton French, joining in the conversation.
