Page 19 of A Gentleman's Reckoning
John looked around but did not recognize any of the other gentlemen. He chose a seat that was near enough to two of them that he could be included in their conversation if they invited him, but not so close as to be intrusive. One was a young man who had only one leg—the other was a nicely carved wooden stump. A pair of crutches sat at his side. The other was an older, distinguished gentleman who seemed to be someone John might have met at White’s.
“Afternoon, Aubin,” the younger one said. “My name is Harold Smart. I should probably commiserate if you are in this club, except that we have too glorious a time to regret having joined it.”
“Aye, that’s the truth,” the older gentleman said in the nearby chair. “I am Sir Humphrey Baskerton. I’m one of the original members from when Blackstone first had the idea to start the club.”
He followed John’s gaze to the wall where a thick python was nailed to it, a brass candleholder perched in its mouth. “Ah, you’ll get used to it. It’s Blackstone’s doing. He has a penchant for not letting any deceased being wither away into nothingness. He’s a natural-born collector—even of misfits.” Sir Humphrey laughed, and Mr. Smart joined him.
“Most of us know of each other’s reasons for being blackballed, although there are some who will not tell. Me, for instance, I was accused and cleared of mutiny, but society did not appreciate the lingering stain.” Mr. Smart smiled at John in such a natural way, it set him at his ease. “Feel free to unburden yourself if you wish. And call me Harry—everyone does.”
John hesitated. He did wish to unburden himself. He had not even done so with his brother—not fully—although he would have to do that at some point. He just didn’t want Gregory to talk him out of his plans for revenge. As a result, he had no one he could talk to about his expulsion from society. At least the men here would be able to relate to him. In that moment he decided.
“I overheard Lord Goodwin attempting to rid himself of some worthless shares in a private equity deal after he had learned of inside information. It would not have concerned me were it not for the fact that he had been encouraging other members of thetonto invest, and he had no intention of making them aware of their upcoming loss.”
“Goodwin.” Sir Humphrey gave a sound of derision between a bark and a huff. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
“Does it not?” John asked. “Everyone else thinks him the portrait of benevolence.”
“Is that what happened?” Harry asked. “You made his perfidy public and it did not go well?”
“Exactly so,” John replied, his tone dry. “I only spoke to Lord Perkins, who I knew was one of the investors. But he did not believe me.”
“And let everyone else know you were the voice of doubt impugning the character of a peer,” Harry surmised. “Except Goodwin did not call you out because he is known to be a poor shot.”
“Was that the reason?” John asked. “I was told it was because he would not meet someone whose character as a gentleman was in doubt.” Remembering those words still stung.
“The steam duty tax was not levied by Parliament, and open trading has brought more orders in, making the venture lucrative. Therefore, Goodwin’s reputation is still pristine,” Sir Humphrey announced.
John turned to stare at him. “You seem to know quite a bit about the situation.”
“I keep my eye on Goodwin’s comings and goings and report them to Blackstone. I have my own reason for doing so. He and I do not have an amicable past.” He met John’s gaze. “No, he was not the one who had me blackballed, but he would surely have found a reason to do so if someone else had not done it first. We are not friends.”
“What happened between you and Goodwin?” John asked. Perhaps in Sir Humphrey he might have an ally.
Sir Humphrey’s expression grew dark. “He ruined a young woman on my estate and left her to fend for herself.”
John paused in surprise. He found that Lord Goodwin could indeed sink lower in his esteem.
“I see. And so you confronted him on the matter.”
“I made him aware of my discontent, yes. And he did not appreciate having his sins exposed.”
“So what got you blackballed then, Sir Humphrey?” Harry asked him. “You’re such a fixture here, I’ve never thought to ask.”
Sir Humphrey shrugged. “Oh, that was years before. I challenged Lord Aberdeen to a duel because he attempted to elope with my betrothed, who was the daughter of a duke. Word got out, andIwas accused of dragging the lady’s name through the mud. Needless to say, we never married, she and I.”
John stared at him, waiting for more. “And Lord Aberdeen for convincing a duke’s daughter to elope? Was he blackballed, too?”
“Why, no.” Sir Humphrey sent him a droll look. “Society liked him better than they did me, and society is a fickle beast.”
“Too bad Blackstone can’t stuff it and mount it on the wall,” Harry said with a snort.
Chapter Seven
When Geny returned to Margery’s side, she fully expected to be pressed with questions she would have trouble answering. And although her friend raised her eyebrows with a speaking look and left her mother to step over to her, Geny thought she detected something else in her gaze that she could not fully discern—a warning. Had Margery been watching them?
Perhaps Geny had only imagined that Mr. Rowles had been about to kiss her. His face was close to hers, and there was a focus in his gaze, enough that her breath left her chest. But the idea was pure folly on her part, for surely he would not do such a thing. How could he when they had no understanding and were in such a public place? At least, she did not think he would do it. If only it did not trouble her how much she had secretly hoped he would. That longing would be for her to privately mull over while she lay her head on her pillow that night.
Alas, there had been no time for private confidences because Mrs. Buxton was fully engaged in performing the duties of watchful mama, while remembering to introduce Geny to the people she thought she would most like to meet. Since Margerywas unable to pepper her with the questions she clearly wished to, it was unsurprising to hear the sounds of her arrival the next day.
