Page 38 of Everything But the Earl
“The society papers are saying things about you.”
“I’m sure they do. It’s probably all true.”
Mother looked positively steamed at that point. “Anthony. Sowing a few oats when you are young is one thing, but you are four and thirty and you have an important title. Perhaps Lady Eustace is not what you want—”
“Lady Eugenia. You don’t even know your prospective daughter-in-law’s name.”
“Perhaps she is not to your taste, but you must choose someone, and soon.”
“Why the rush?”
“The things I hear about you, Anthony. They are too horrific to repeat.”
“Then don’t repeat them. I am finished with this conversation.” He walked into the lounge to get a cigar.
Uncle George and the earl were friendly enough company that Anthony lingered at the house after the Rainsfords departed to have another snifter of whiskey. He regretted it as soon as Mother brought up the subject of prospective wives again. As soon as her mouth opened, Uncle George made himself scarce.
“I agree, Eugenia is a bit of an empty vessel,” Mother conceded. “Perhaps we can find someone with more than clouds between her ears.”
“Mother…”
“I know you do not wish to marry, but I wish you would, because you could very well tarnish the family name otherwise.”
“And so what if I do? What if, for example, I do not wish to marry because I am, in fact, in love with someone completely inappropriate.”
“Surely she cannot be so inappropriate as to not be your marchioness. You do not socialize with the other classes.”
“It was a hypothetical. I was curious about how you would react. Swynford’s mother did not approve of his bride, you know. The daughter of an earl! But because she’d been on the shelf so long and there had been rumors about her father, the dowager did not approve.And yet Swynford married her anyway.”
“Are you telling me you are having anaffairewith a woman of ill repute.”
“No… I’m not having anaffaire.There’s no woman. I’m trying to make a point.”
“If she comes from a good family, I don’t care if she comes from a lower rank.”
“Of course.” Anthony sighed and spared a thought for Lark. “I wish you would not meddle.”
“I wishyouwould recognize that you have duties, Anthony. You inherited your father’s title, God rest his soul. That comes with certain obligations.”
“Obligations I did not want and never asked for!”
“And yet you live on the money you inherited from the title.”
Hard to argue with that. “Still, the title is mine, should I not be the one who decides what to do with it?”
“Your one job as Marquess of Beresford is to produce a future Marquess of Beresford.”
And that was when Anthony ran out of patience. “Well, thank you for that, Mother. I believe I shall be heading home now.”
“I know you are disinterested in acting like an adult, but you are a fully grown man, and you have responsibilities. You need to select a bride. The Season is nearly over, so I will give you a year. Find a bride by the end of next Season.”
“Mother.”
“I’m serious, Anthony. You cannot squander your prime. Do you know what they say about you? There is too much speculation about why you have not yet married.”
“And if I don’t choose a bride by the end of next Season?”
“That’s not an option.” Mother stared at him for a long moment. “If you do not choose a bride, I will choose one for you.”
