Page 6 of Oddity of the Ton
“I’d like to see you settled,” she said. “I’d like you to take up your responsibilities and provide the dukedom with an heir.”
“I’ll not achieve that by dancing,” he replied, “and rutting in the middle of the dance floor is frowned upon.”
“Don’t be so tiresome!” she snapped. “You promised to accommodate me tonight.”
“And I did, Mother. I danced—as I said I would.”
“Onedance!” she scoffed. “Lady Arabella would have welcomed a second—and Countess Fairchild has made it plain that her Irma is open to offers.”
“I made no promise as to thenumberof dances, Mother. And I’ll not make a promise that I cannot keep.”
“Such as the marriage vows.”
“I intend to honor my marriage vows,” he replied. “But won’t even consider making those vows until I’m convinced Icanhonor them.”
“Heirs should be produced sooner rather than later to assure continuation of the direct line,” she said. “You cannot remain a bachelor forever, Montague. I’m not getting any younger.”
He let out a snort. “I know enough about the act of procreation to know thatyou’llhave no part in it, Mother. Unless you wish to stand by my bedside and watch me perform, as a horse owner does when a stallion ruts a mare.”
She closed her fan and slapped him across the hand. He winced at the sting and dropped his glass, which hit the floor with an explosion of shards and red liquid.
Almost at once, a nearby footman raised his hand, clicked his fingers, and pointed toward the floor. Another footman scuttled over and began clearing up the mess.
Devil’s toes—were they all under constant scrutiny such that if a man so much as scratched his ear, someone, somewhere was taking note?
“That wasyourfault, Montague,” his mother said, after the footman left, all remnants of his mishap obliterated.
“You hit me with your fan.”
“I was provoked.Icare about the dukedom, even if you don’t. Why must you be so cruel as to deny the title an heir, and me a grandchild?”
Her voice wavered, and Monty caught the sorrow in her tone. He reached for her hand. “I’ll give you a grandchild in my own time, Mother,” he said. “Have no fear.”
“But Idofear,” she replied. “I fear that your taste for…” She wrinkled her nose, as if the very thought of his bedroom activities—and activities undertaken in all manner of interesting and imaginative locations—brought about nausea. “…for the moreindulgenttrappings of bachelor life is diverting you from your duty.”
“I’ve years yet,” he replied. “A man is capable of fathering a child later in life. After all, Father—”
“Speak no more ofthat!” she cried. “Is that what you intend to do—litter the countryside with natural children, while the estate is entailed elsewhere?”
“I’ve no intention of littering the countryside with bastards,” Monty said.
“Such coarse language! I quite despair of you. Lady de Witt has remarked several times that I have the patience of Job when it comes to you. And Countess Ashford said—”
“I care not what those old crones have to say.”
“Youshouldcare! Our position in Society is revered—and rightly so. But the plague of modern sensibilities is encroaching on our world. You can fool round as much as you wish with those doxies of yours—I know more than most that wives must turn a blind eye. But I fail to see why you cannot find yourself a respectable, well-bred girl to marry and accomplish your duty with.”
Devil’s toes—Mother’s desperation for an heir must have reached new heights if she was signaling her approval of his indulging in extramarital affairs.
But that was something he’d never do. Once married, he’d keep faith with his wife. Having seen his mother turn increasingly bitter after Father sired a child with his mistress, Monty had no wish to cause such pain to any woman he married. Marriage—atruemarriage, not just one accepted by Society—required sacrifices and compromises on both sides.
And until the allure of his mistress—or rather,mistresses—had faded, he wasn’t ready to abandon the more pleasurable aspects of being a titled, wealthy man of theton.
“I’ll take a wife when I’m ready,” he said. “I cannot understand why you insist on plaguing me.”
“Because I’m in the right! Why must you torment your poor mother? Think of my heart?”
“I didn’t realize you had one.”
