Page 72 of The Duke of Lies
“I should say not,” Diana said.
“Well, I didn’t know him, but I’ve heard some things, and let me tell you, they aren’t good.” Simon frowned. “Prepare yourself for any manner of reception now that you’re here. Most are eager to see you and hear your tale of disappearing. I do hope you’ve cooked up something good.”
“Something beyond conscription?” Kit asked. “That is the reason I’ve given, and the only one I think I can sell.”
“From the time we spent together, it did seem as though you’d been on a ship,” Simon said.
“Captain of a privateering vessel, actually,” Verity said with a distinct tone of pride.
Simon turned sharply toward Kit. “The devil you say! I want to hear all about that.”
Kit chuckled. “It’s probably not as spectacular as it sounds.” Oh, parts of it were—the sea, the command, the camaraderie aboard ship, the thrill of victory. Those were the parts he missed. The Thames wasn’t far. He longed to go to the docks and at least look at the ships.
“I’m sure it’s not as unspectacular as you would have me think.” Simon cast a sly smile toward his wife. “But we’ll discuss it later at the club.”
Diana rolled her eyes. “While you do that, Verity can tell me all about why Kit pretended to be Rufus.”
“It’s not a secret—from you anyway,” Kit said. “I needed a new ship after mine burned. I planned to ask my father—Augustus—for the funds. When I learned he was dead, I decided to just take what he’d once promised me.”
“It’s a rather long and involved story,” Verity said.
Simon looked between Verity and Kit, his gaze uncertain. “Do you know what really happened to Rufus?”
Kit exchanged a glance with Verity before giving Simon a rather grim frown. “No, and I suspect we never will.”
“I feel a bit awful for saying so, but I do hope he stays missing,” Diana said with a slight shiver. “I don’t wish him harm, but it would be better for everyone if he didn’t return.”
Kit suspected the man was dead, but didn’t say so. He did find himself wondering about the particulars. Had he run into trouble on his way home from London? Had he suffered an accident? It wouldn’t keep him up at night, but it would be nice to know, if only to resolve things for Verity and Beau.
Verity smiled brightly, and Kit wondered if it was entirely genuine. “Perhaps we should focus our energy right now on how to reintroduce Kit, er, Rufus, to Society.”
Simon reached for a cake. “Most everyone I’ve spoken to is keen to recognize you in the House of Lords, but they want a chance to meet you. To that end, we must parade about as much as possible. I know you’re tired, but since today was a shorter travel day, I wondered if you might be up for socializing this evening. We could start at a ball, and then I’ll take you off to Brooks’s.”
“Am I a member there?” Kit asked.
“Yes.” Simon frowned, then looked toward his wife. “I think Kit needs a speedy review of Debrett’s.”
Verity lifted her hand to her mouth as her eyes widened. “I should have thought to do that.”
“It’s quite all right,” Diana said reassuringly. “We’ll manage things.”
Kit looked to Diana. “If you just give me the book, I’ll read it.”
“He’s a fast reader,” Verity explained. “He’ll probably devour it in an hour. Or less.”
“But will you remember it?” Simon asked.
Kit was never more glad for his particular skill with reading and memorization. “As if it were a picture in my mind.”
Simon blew out a breath. “Bloody convenient.”
Diana stood. “I’ll get the book.”
Verity joined her. “And I should go check on Beau.”
Kit and Simon leapt to their feet as the women left arm in arm. Verity cast a smile over her shoulder at Kit. He was looking forward to finding her in their bedchamber later.
“It certainly looks as if marriage agrees with you,” Simon said. “But then I’m a huge proponent of the estate myself.”
