CHAPTER FIVE
“Hurrah! You have found me at last.” Cedric’s arms swept open wide in greeting.
Theodore turned coolly to look at his friend as Cedric hastened down the stairs toward him with Gabriel standing in the doorway.
“You have to tell him,” Gabriel hissed, practically in Theodore’s ear.
“I’m telling as few people as possible.”
“And Cedric is one of our oldest friends in the world. Better to hear it from you than read it in a scandal sheet.” With these final words, Gabriel turned and fixed his attention and Cedric. “Ah, the wanderer returns. How was your grand tour?”
“It was something special. Come, come, I shall tell you all about.” Cedric swept a hand rather flamboyantly toward an opendoorway leading to his sitting room. “It’s been so long since I’ve been on this estate, I feel as if I’m learning my way around again. What’s this…”
He halted and picked up Gabriel’s wrist. “Wed? Ha! And I thought you were joking in your letter.”
“No joke. I am wed.” Gabriel chuckled. “Have you been starting on the wine already?”
“I have the finest red wines I have brought from Italy for you both. Come, you shall drink it.” Cedric clapped Gabriel on the shoulder and steered him into the sitting room.
Theodore followed, though at a distance.
It couldn’t be denied that he and Cedric were very different people indeed, but meeting as children had formed a bond between them, despite those differences, not to mention fierce loyalty. More than once had Theodore pulled Cedric out of a gutter when he was drunk, just as he had masked any number of scandals Cedric would have had with the ladies that kept him company at night.
“Ah, Theodore.” Cedric turned to greet him next, already passing him the rather full glass of red wine. “Still as silent as ever, I see. No one managed to make you smile in my absence? I’m disappointed. I keep hoping one day the icy marble will crack.”
He pointed at Theodore’s face and laughed. “You know I jest.” Cedric clapped him good-naturedly. “In truth, I find your constancy somewhat reassuring. You’re a pillar of strength, my friend, when the rest of us flounder.”
“Flounder, eh?” Gabriel called from where he sat down next to the decanter of wine. He took a sip and was evidently so enamored by the taste that his second sip followed swiftly. “Some of us manage to change our behavior.”
“Clearly, you do.” Cedric pointed at Gabriel. “What’s this I hear of you being a family-oriented man now? Quite the devoted husband now. I know you’ve always been a good father, but it’s a while since you’ve been such a loyal husband.”
“That’s because I am one. My wife and my children are the most important things in my life.”
“He is a devoted family man.” Theodore agreed, taking the seat beside Gabriel. He too sipped the wine and finding it so good, practically took a gulp.
Yes, this is what I need. Distraction.
Since he had made the decision to marry Lady Margaret, much had changed. He now had a bride, which was what he wanted in order to improve his business prospects, by marrying a lady from a titled background.
He was doing his best not to entertain any other thoughts about what being married meant. When he glanced Gabriel’s way, he found himself very determined never to turn into Gabriel.
“Well, a leopard can change his spots after all.” Cedric laughed and sat down opposite him. “I, myself, don’t think my spots will ever change.”
“Is this when you tell us you seduced half the ladies in Italy whilst you were there?” Gabriel asked with a chuckle.
“Not half, but some.” He winked as even Theodore managed a smile.
“Some things must change though, Cedric. Speaking of which, Theodore has some news for you.” He elbowed Theodore into speaking.
“Yes, I do.” Theodore nodded, speaking just as Cedric took a sip of wine. “I am to be married.”
Cedric choked. The sound was so sudden that he looked in danger of spitting out the wine across the room.
“You…? Married?” Cedric pointed at him with the glass.
“I told you he’d be surprised,” Gabriel muttered with a snigger. “So leopards can change their spots after all.”
“I need to marry.” Theodore sighed. “Thanks to my father’s dodgy business deals, there is still suspicion about my own business practice. If I am to ever improve things, then I need to shift people’s perception of me and my business’ reputation. By marrying a woman from a titled family, it helps.”
