“Yes, I know what you mean. Father was the same way with everyone, even with my mother and I. He always said that expressing emotion involved vulnerability and a man should never be vulnerable.”
“Do you still believe his advice?”
Anthony shrugged, “I believe there is some truth to it. It is a tedious job, however, to constantly guard oneself. Perhaps that is why I would rather stay home. At least I can let my guard down when I’m alone, and when I’m with you and Colin, of course.”
“I see. Well, Colin forgot to mention this, but he and I will be staying at his estate until the Season is over. We’ve temporarily let our town rooms so that we could be within reach just in case you needed anything.”
It took a second for Anthony to process this information. Colin’s estate was very close by, hence why their families were such good friends. But Colin despised life at the estate—he called itmonotonousandunbearableandunbearably monotonous.
And that is why after leaving university, he and Kenneth took up bachelor rooms right in the center of town, to be “closer to the action”. Whereas up until last year, Anthony had taken up rooms around the outskirts of town where he could devote most of his time to reading and living quietly.
But now, his friends were willing to give up an entire Season and subject themselves to anunbearably monotonouslife as a display of fraternal support for Anthony. As the weight of this gesture sunk in, Anthony felt a lump growing in his throat.
Endeavoring to distract himself from it, he asked Kenneth, “Do you think Colin’s headache has gone away by now?”
“Possibly.”
“Then we better give him a new one. Come on, Kenny.”
The two friends dashed out of the house, yelling a muddle of explanations, but leaving a trail of ever-confused servants in their wake.
“What on earth has gotten into them?” asked Mr. Fletcher as everyone watched the coach drive off.
“I believe,” answered Mrs. Oakley, “His Grace was trying to tell us that he is not going to be home for dinner.”
* * *
Several hours later, Fletcher kneeled at the foot of his bed sweating profusely. Never had he—in all his 30 years of serving the Ambrose family—lied so audaciously.
Shall I just confess? Or shall I leave it to chance?
Either way, Fletcher knew the repercussions were going to be life changing. The only difference was whose life it would change the most. And this was not a matter of negligence. No! He had entangled himself a web of falsehoods.
Would His Grace ever forgive me if he found me out? Oh, what have I done?
He buried his face in his hands. Anxious, afraid, and alone, he said two prayers—one for himself, and one for Lady Cecilia. He lay down and pulled the covers up to his chin. He already knew he wasn’t going to get a wink of sleep tonight.
Chapter 4
“I’m afraid that it has been drawn a bit thinly on this page, but you can just see the outline of the Nile River along here.”
“Yes, Miss Meyer.”
Stealing a quick glance at the clock, Cecilia could see it was about a quarter past three. Her first lesson with Miss Meyer was going well enough. Cecilia was not particularly impressed by her, but as a true lady, she needed to be polite to everyone no matter what she thought of them.
“Many historians believe that the Nile River was the beginning of civilization because it allowed the Ancient Egyptians to settle down and practice farming, whereas most people at the time lived nomadic lifestyles. Do you know what nomadic means, Cecilia?”
“No, Miss Meyer.”
Cecilia liked to think of herself as a diligent and well-behaved student, but she was struggling to concentrate today. She even got in trouble with Mrs. Ramsbury for nearly spilling her tea.
Cecilia suppressed a yawn, the third time she had to do so in the past half hour.
It wasn’t because Miss Meyer was particularly boring or anything of that nature. Not to mention, Cecilia believed herself to be gifted with an incredibly long attention span. It was just that she did not get any sleep last night. And it was all her brother’s fault.
Yesterday evening, she was taking her supper in the dining room when she heard a rowdy commotion that abated as suddenly as it had cropped up.
When she questioned the servants about it, they explained that her brother and the Earl of Farellshire had excitedly run out of the house while proclaiming that Mrs. Mullens needn’t worry about cooking dinner for them.
