Page 2 of The Earl's Disguised Governess
Graham groaned as Archibald got louder.
“I am loathe to think I did not have the chance to marry her before we were called to service,” Archibald lamented. “But she will make a fine wife and mother to our future little viscount.”
He spoke so fondly of his betrothed, and Ernest could not help smiling.
“Her smile speaks of mystery as if she is always holding a secret to her chest that she cannot wait to confess. And her skin … My, every doll maker in the world must be envious, for she is porcelain. A beautiful lady I should not be worthy of, but she makes me feel as though I might just be.”
“Archibald, are you drunk or love drunk?” Graham teased, laughing boisterously. “You fool.”
As the captain poured more rum into their glasses, some splashed on Graham, who merely wiped at the stain with little care.
“I must say, I would have a thousand glasses of wine spilled on me at one of the marriage-minded mama’s balls back in London than see one more smear of blood on my apron,” Graham muttered as they all lifted their glasses.
“Hear, hear,” Ernest answered.
“A toast, men,” Archibald said. “To winning this battle and returning home so Graham shall be drowned in wine.”
“Hear, hear!” Graham toasted, and they all drank.
After Ernest swallowed, he winced, recalling all those social events. “Although, I must admit, aside from the circumstances in which we are here, I am glad for the reprieve from those mamas.” He shuddered. “They are insufferable, are they not?”
“They parade their daughters around like peacocks!” Graham exclaimed. He had already taken some of the vodka they gave to injured soldiers to ease their pain and was quite boisterous in his volume. “And yes, they are beautiful, but some are just dull. I am sorry that I do not care to hear the fifth woman tell me her skills include three languages and an instrument. That bores me. In the end, they all blend into one unpleasant stretch of a future.”
“Be glad you are not a viscount, then,” Archibald said, laughing. “I promise it would be far worse. They flock and swoon.”
“But you are betrothed,” Ernest pointed out.
“Indeed I am.” Archibald smiled. “And the first thing I shall do upon my return is marry the beautiful Lady Samantha.”
“Another toast?” Ernest suggested.
“Another toast.” Archibald refilled their glasses, and as they prepared to toast and have the tang of rum chase away the day’s fatigue, Ernest couldn’t help thinking of his own future.
“Perhaps we should toast to you finding your own wife, Ernest,” Graham suggested.
“And perhaps I shall toast to you doing most of the cleaning tomorrow, then,” he joked in return, gesturing with his glass.
“I am with Graham on this,” the viscount countered. “This battle cannot deprive you of the chance to find a wife. You are not content alone, nor should you suffer the Ton’s judgement any longer simply because your mother made a decision they did not agree with.”
Ernest nodded distantly.
“What sort of woman would you wish to meet?” Graham’s question came after he had drunk their toast portion before pouring another glass.
Ernest paused, thinking. “Oh,” he said, squinting. “Well. I must admit … I do not know for sure, but there are some traits I would seek over others. A clever woman. For me, intelligence is key. Now, I would love her to know a couple of languages, something that would really catch me off-guard.”
Archibald nodded, stroking his moustache as if in thought of someone he might know who would match Ernest’s very short list.
“I would like her to be independent,” Ernest admitted and received two laughs in response from his friends. “It is a fine thing to want!”
“Of course, but … Well, you said yourself, the mamas are rather insufferable. They practically make their girls lack independence and then expect them to run a household. It is rather barbaric! So, we shall have to put that down as a lesser priority.”
Ernest shrugged. “Okay, well … Perhaps I would like some brave, no-nonsense sort of woman. Someone who would not agree with everything I say with a doe-eyed look in her eyes but would debate with me good and proper. She could possibly have a very unladylike interest. Say, law, for example.”
“Law?” Graham exclaimed. “Ernest, I fear I hope you shall not meet this girl, for I might fall asleep when you host dinner parties.”
“Oh, do not listen to Graham. I do hope you find such a woman. You shall be hard-pressed, but I hope you do find her. A toast: to the Earl of Bannerdown finding his countess.” The two other men cheered as they drank their rum, but Ernest’s thoughts lingered on Archibald using his title.
Earl of Bannerdown.
