Page 63 of The Duke Meets His Match

Chapter 13

Despite his best efforts tofind Susan, George kept being pulled into conversations with others with whom he was acquainted. He hardly remembered with whom he had spoken or what had been said—just the usual drivel common at these types of gatherings.

That is, until he encountered the Earl of Iverson. George and Susan and Lady Walmsley had attended a musicale at Iverson’s home earlier in the week.

“Aylesham,” Iverson said when he encountered George. “Well met.”

“Good afternoon, Iverson,” George said. Iverson was a decent chap, and although they weren’t close friends, George respected him. He knew the man to be a friend of the Earl of Cantwell, and that went a long way, in George’s estimation, of approving of the man.

“You appear to be in rather a hurry,” Iverson said. “Care if I join you while you walk?”

“Not at all,” George said.

They walked in the direction George had last seen Susan. “Quite a finething, this business with Bonaparte on the verge of victory at last,” Iverson said. “It certainly has been a long time in coming.”

“Agreed,” George replied. “There is still much more to be done though.”

“Assuredly,” Iverson said. “Case in point—our royal friends from the Continentwho are the prince’s special guests,” he added, lowering his voice. “Would they be here if they didn’t think allying themselves with England would benefit them nowand in the future?”

George didn’t reply.

“I have it on good authority that you, specifically, are the alliance they are looking to broker with Prinny,” Iverson said.

“So I have been led to believe,” George said, fingering his quizzing glass.

“In addition, there is more to it than a mere alliance,” Iverson whispered. “I do not know what precisely that is, but in some way, it all hinges onyou, my good fellow. I would beware, if I were you.”

“Thank you for the warning, Iverson,” George replied softly. “Your words affirm my own suspicions.”

A liveried footman approached them at that moment. “The Prince Regent wishes to speak with you, Your Grace,” the footman said, directing his words to George. “He is expecting you under the canopy on the south side of the garden. If you will follow me, Your Grace.”

“Duty beckons,” George said with a slight shrug.

“My best regards,” Iverson said.

“Thank you, Iverson.” George then followed the footman to a luxuriously arrayed canopy. In the distance, he could faintly hear a string quartet providing the music for the afternoon, and it appeared that a few couples might be dancing in the direction from which the music was coming. He still couldn’t see Susan.

On the other hand, Prinny was more than visible. He was sprawled in a plush chair atop a low dais, legs splayed in a relaxed manner, fanning himself and tapping his foot along with the music. Apparently, he’d given up mingling with his guests for the moment.

The footman bowed and left.

George stepped under the canopy.

“Come, join us, Aylesham,” Prinny said, pointing to a chair next to thedais. “We see you’ve already abandoned your duties. Where is Princess Sophia?”

“She preferred the company of Lord Cosgrove to me, Sir,” George said.

“Cosgrove?” Prinny exclaimed. “We toldyouto escort Princess Sophia.Poorly done, Aylesham. We can’t have Cosgrove sniffing about the princess, now, can we, what? Another one of those apple tarts, girl,” he called to the serving girl who stood just outside the canopy. “In fact, make it two.”

The girl dashed off, and Prinny kept on fanning himself. With his free hand, he gestured toward the guests outside the canopy. “Everyone wants something, Aylesham. All of those people. You. Prince Ernst. Cosgrove. Evenwewant certain things—like an apple tart at present. Ah, thank you, girl,” he said as the serving girl returned with not only two apple tarts but a lemon tart and some shortbread biscuits as well and set the plate on the small table next to Prinny’s chair on the dais. “Well done. We will see you are rewarded.”

She blushed and curtsied and scampered out of the way.

“You see, Aylesham? Even that serving girl wants something, for if you think she was providing us with more than we asked for out of some sort of inwardgenerosity, you would be mistaken. Have a tart.” Prinny set his fan aside andpicked up one of the apple tarts, taking a large bite that left barely half the tart remaining.

George picked up the lemon tart and took a bite, though not as big as the one Prinny had taken.

“Mmm,” Prinny said. “Cook has truly outdone herself today. Excellent. Very tasty.”

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