Page 62 of The Scandal of the Deceived Duchess
Jake and Jonathan exchanged glances. Jake shrugged. as if saying ‘I toldyeso.’ “It seems you made quite an impression on the man, Jake,” said Jonathan, shaking his head. “No wonder; especially if you kept the man entertained with all of the facts of how we met Amelia and Anna. What were you thinking?”
Jake shrugged. “Give a man a few drinks, and they all open up to good ol’ Jake and I to them. The prince is a rather nice bloke ifyeask me. We got on like a house on fire.” Jonathan arched his eyebrows and Jake shrugged. Before they knew it, they were following the large procession of people out of the Golden Room into the Gothic Dining Room next door.
“Here we are,” announced the prince with an exaggerated flourish. “I have arranged for a little table display in honor of our two brave men.” He swept his hand over the table dramatically. His beady eyes scanned the room for the inevitable reaction of awe he expected.
Running down the center of the table, slightly elevated above the surface, a canal of pure water continued flowing from a silver spring that was beautifully constructed at the other end of the table. Its indistinctly swaying, artificial banks were covered with green moss and marine flowers; little ships boasting both British and American flags were, by a mechanical invention, made to swim and sport through the bubbling current, which produced a pleasing susurration, wherever it fell. At a point before where the regent would sit, the water miraculously vanished into the table.
There was large applause that included much shouting of praise. After bowing to his guests’ acclaim, basking at the moment for far too long, he gave the command that everyone present sit down. “Come, let us sit.”
The prince regent lowered his bulk into a seat at the head of the table. Behind him towered an elaborate royal stand displaying his coat of arms in crimson silk drapery and silver plate. From this position, the regent was able to see, and be seen by, everyone in the dining room.
Next to him, in seats of honor, sat the two combatants. After that, the seating was arranged according to whom was mostly in the prince’s favor that day. To everyone’s great surprise, Jake had been seated right next to Jonathan so that the prince could converse with him directly. Sir Thomas’s wife sat next to her husband then came Amelia, next to her Lord Alavanely and so forth. Beau Brummell was somewhere, along with the other two members of the ‘Dandy Club.’ They had been strategically seated so as to provide witty entertainment to the guests.
“I arranged for but a small luncheon so that you don’t get too tired, but I wouldn’t want you two gentlemen to face the ordeal of death on an empty stomach,” said the regent. He inclined his head slightly. The gesture had not gone unnoticed.
Promptly, tureens, dishes, plates, even soup plates, all made of silver, emerged from the direction of the kitchen. The dishes were placed in front of the guests. Shortly afterward, hot soups followed that were ladled into the soup bowls. Soon, silence prevailed as everyone consumed their soup at breakneck speed.
Jonathan and Jake exchanged glances – why was everyone behaving as if they had not eaten for weeks? A loud slurp brought their gaze to the prince who had finished his soup with alacrity. On cue, the servants, who were clad in blue liveries trimmed with gold lace, removed the dishes. When the prince was done with his soup, so was everyone else – such was the etiquette of his court.
Moments later, roasts of all kinds, whether hot or cold but of excellent and fresh cookery, appeared. Peaches, grapes, pineapples, and every other minor fruit in and out of season were in profusion. There was iced champagne and all the other wines also of excellent quality. There was no hurry anymore; the prince announced that everything was to be done as if they were guests in a private house.
“So, are you excited, Commodore Mitchell? To be fighting for your love?” asked the regent of Jonathan.
“He is fighting to satisfy my honor and defend his if there ever was any,” interjected Sir Thomas from across the table.
“I don’t think I was talking to you, Sir Thomas. I was asking this gentleman here, who also happens to be a brave navy commodore, how he feels to be fighting for the woman he loves,” snapped the prince. The conversations closest to him gradually fell to a hush as the people waited for what might happen next.
“Well, I of course fight for love, Your Royal Highness. What better reason is there?” said Jonathan, not exactly sure what else to have said.
“Splendid, splendid, sir.” The prince laughed. “You see my friend Jake told me all about how you met the charming Amelia. He also mentioned that you are of Scottish heritage…noble heritage to be exact.” He squinted his piggy eyes. “Is this true, sir?”
Sir Thomas was about to burst with indignation. Beside him, his wife displayed the first real smile in days. She looked at the American navy man with a completely new set of eyes. She then studied her daughter who looked at Jonathan with her affection for the man in open display. Her feelings were obvious for the world to see.
“Well, Your Highness, that was a long time ago. But yes, I am originally from Scotland. My grandfather left after the Jacobite uprisings…”
“Traitor was he,” hissed Sir Thomas.
The regent slapped his hand on the table. “If you insist on being unpleasant, Sir Thomas, you shall enjoy the rest of the luncheon outside with my dogs until I decide when the duel is to commence. What on earth might the Americans think of us if you are an example of an English gentleman, eh?” He despised upstarts, especially the ones that thought of business as something of a holy grail. If it had been his choice, he would never have elevated Sir Thomas in the first place. It had been the Prime Minister who had insisted. On the other hand, he had respect for Jonathan because he was a navy man.
He turned his attention back to Jonathan. “Carry on, sir. You were speaking of your grandfather…”
Jonathan was surprised with all of the attention he was getting.What has Jake been telling the man?“My grandfather’s name was Laird Duncan Mackinnon of Mitchell, Your Royal Highness.”
“Oh, do call me Priney. That title is too garishly long to be used all of the time between friends. Anyhow, you are a laird. How lovely.” He returned his scrutiny to Sir Thomas. “Technically this gentleman outranks you.” He began to laugh hysterically, inducing the others to follow suit. Even Jonathan couldn’t hold back. Amelia’s eyes grew larger. She didn’t know what to think anymore.Was the whole world going crazy?
“I toldyethe man was a lot of fun. And he ain’t dim either,” whispered Jake.
Jonathan nodded. He threw a secretive glimpse at Amelia. She had been watching him the entire time. She smiled when their eyes met. It was moments like these that made living worthwhile. Jonathan could look at her forever. Amelia’s gaze held him in a vice and kept him there until their attention was dragged away.
Jonathan looked to the left when he felt someone touch his arm. It was the prince regent once again. “I shall look into the aspects of your family’s title. Please write it down, including your grandfather’s name.”
With his words, a servant held out quill, ink, and paper. Jonathan took them and wrote down what Priney requested. “You are most gracious, Priney.”
His face lit up. “Dear Commodore Mitchell says I am most gracious,” Priney proclaimed ecstatically.
“Here, here,” yelled the congregation in unison. Jake was the loudest. Unlike Jonathan, he had drunk a little too much wine. However, his antics did not go unnoticed by the regent. He basked in the acclaim.
Chapter 31
