Page 62 of Oddity of the Ton
“Lady Marlow, Miss Howard, please take our seats,” the younger said. The elder continued to stare, and Monty curled his hands into fists.
The elder stood and bowed. “Ladies, please,” he said, gesturing to the seats. Then he strode onto the dance floor, his brother trotting in his wake.
“I’ve always said Phillip Meredith has no manners,” Lady Marlow said. “Johnny is less troublesome, though he’s too often under his brother’s influence.”
“They both need a good thrashing,” Monty said as he steered Miss Howard to her seat. “My dear, would you like a glass of punch, or champagne?”
“I’d prefer water,” she replied. “If it’s not too much trouble.”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Nothing is too much trouble for you.”
And at that moment—the urge to flatten the Meredith boys for showing her disrespect still burning in his veins—he meant every word.
*
“What has effectedthis transformation, Whitcombe?” Marlow asked while he filled two glasses with punch.
“What do you mean?”
Marlow gestured to the door through which the footman had gone to fetch Miss Howard’s water. “Your gallantry.”
“It’s what any gentleman would do,” Monty said.
“But you’re notanygentleman. I’ve never known you to run an errand for a woman—usually, they’re running after you.”
“This one’s different.”
“She’s certainly eccentric,” Marlow said. “But my Lavinia adores her, therefore I’m obliged to like her.”
“How can you beobligedto like someone?” Monty asked. “Surely you either like them, or you don’t. The obligation is surely to give theappearanceof liking them to appease someone you love.”
“Are you saying that my wife is a harridan who must be appeased?” Marlow chuckled. “Perhaps you’re right. I am in love—somethingyou’llnever understand.”
“Because I’m incapable of love?”
“You once declared love to be an affliction that turned a levelheaded man into a numbskull”—Marlow leaned closer and lowered his voice—“which begs me to question your motives in offering for Miss Howard.”
“I shall keep my motives to myself.”
“As you wish, but it’s obvious why you offered for her—at least, it is to me.”
Monty glanced across the ballroom to the dark little corner where Miss Howard was engaged in conversation with Lady Marlow. They seemed to be having some sort of altercation.
“Your kindness is to be commended, Whitcombe,” Marlow continued.
“Kindness?”
“Isn’t that why you offered for Miss Howard? You’re not in need of a fortune, and you never struck me as the sort of man who’d want anattractivewife. A pretty wife is more likely to stray, particularly once you lose interest in her, which a man of your appetites is bound to do. Therefore, I must conclude that you’ve chosen a woman who’ll be grateful enough to turn a blind eye to your infidelity.”
Monty stared at his friend in disbelief.
“I’m not saying you’ve acted purely out of self-interest,” Marlow continued, “and for that I commend you—such charity is rare.”
“Charity?”
“The dowry will compensate—her father’s wealthy enough. Yes, on balance, I believe you’ll not be sorry.”
Monty could no longer contain his anger.
