Page 24 of Oddity of the Ton
Then the dowager turned her attention to Monty. His stomach fluttered with anticipation as she lowered her gaze to his feet, then lifted it, slowly, taking in every detail of his form—his attire, his countenance, and, most likely, his worth in the world.
Devil’s toes!Mother possessed a stare that could wither a houseplant at fifty paces. But Westbury’s grandmother had mastered the art with a glare that could fell an army from the opposite end of a battlefield.
“Is thisyourboy, Matilda?” she asked.
“Permit me to introduce myself,” Monty said. “I’m—”
“Yes, yes—I know who you are!” she exclaimed. “You must be thirty at least, and still unmarried. Not even courting, I hear. Do youeverintend to take a wife?”
“Grandmama!” Westbury’s wife exclaimed. “You cannot ask so frank a question.”
“I’ll ask what I like, Jeanette. He’s a grown man, capable of defending himself.”
Westbury’s wife turned to Monty, laughter in her eyes. “I’m afraid you’re in for a salvo of questions tonight regarding your marital status, Your Grace.”
“Nothing I’m not used to on a daily basis at home, Duchess,” Monty replied, “though I confess I’d hoped, for the sake of my poor ears, for a little respite tonight.”
He offered his arm, and his mother took it as he steered her into the drawing room.
“Mustyou be so tiresome, Montague?” she said. “Not only did you insult me, you insulted our hosts. Augusta was within her rights to ask you anything she wished.”
“I’m in no mood to discuss marriage tonight, Mother.”
“Noranynight. Why can’t you be more like Westbury? He takes his duties seriously,andhe respects his grandmother.”
“I do respect you, Mother,” Monty said. “I’m merely in no mood to take a wife.”
“Westbury may have married beneath him, but the girl has at least done her duty by giving him an heir. The more robust constitutions and wide hips found in the lower classes may be inelegant, but they do at least facilitate the production of healthy heirs.”
“Should I inspect her teeth as well?”
“Don’t be so insolent! Westbury’s heir is a fine-looking young man—the image of his father. It’s heartening to see the bloodline hasn’t been tainted by his wife’s stock.”
“Ye gods, Mother, you make the duchess sound like she’s a prize heifer!” Monty exclaimed. “And I’ll have you know that the young man standing beside her is Westbury’snaturalson. But the duchess is kind enough to treat him as her own, rather than banish him into obscurity. She, unlike you, understands that a child should not be forced to pay for the sins of his—or her—father. It is forthat, not the duchess’s ability to breed heirs, that we must applaud her.”
She paled, and then stumbled against him. Regretting his words, he steered her toward a footman holding a tray of champagne glasses. By the time she drained two glasses and washalfway down a third, she’d recovered her composure, if not her temper.
“I’ve told you before not to mention that brat,” she said, her voice a harsh whisper.
“You mean Olivia?”
“I carenotwhat the creature’s name is—I only care that Rosecombe Park is being tainted by her presence.”
“What rot!” Monty said. “She’s tucked away in a cottage on the far reaches of the estate, to satisfy your sensibilities. You’ve never set eyes on her.”
“Her veryexistenceis an insult.”
“There’s nothing I can do about that, Mother,” he replied. “I suggest you visit Father’s gravestone and take it up with him, given that he’s the one responsible. You can hardly punish his daughter merely for existing.”
“How dare you refer to her as his daughter! I’ve a good mind to…”
But Monty was spared the knowledge of what Mother had a good mind to do by the announcement of dinner. He rose, took her arm, and led her into the dining room.
When he stopped at his place on the dinner table and read the place card next to his, his heart sank.
Lady Arabella Ponsford.
Devil’s toes—that wasallhe needed.
