“What is it? You look suddenly vexed.”
“I am not vexed, old chum. Merely somewhat perturbed. The Duke of Twilightfare is arriving today with his daughters.”
His friend frowned. “The Duke of Twilightfare?”
“Yes, did I not tell you? They were due to visit us last month, but the Duke’s younger daughter took ill with a severe cold and thus it was postponed.”
Suddenly remembering, Jack nodded. “Ah yes, I seem to recall. For what reason?”
Kenneth did not answer but only looked at his friend with his eyes narrowed. Their friendship was such that often words were not needed. They understood one another quite well without speaking.
“By Jove, your parents are trying to make a match of you with the Duke’s daughters?”
He nodded then. “That is the intention. My mother has declared that at eight-and-twenty I am old enough to marry and produce an heir to secure the line. An heir and a spare if it can be helped.”
“A tall order, given you are the only son.”
Kenneth nodded. His status as an only son had been a constant source of frustration growing up. Not only because it meant his parents’ attention was constantly on him, but because the sisters he did have were all much older and this meant he had nobody to share his childhood with other than the friends he made in the area. Above all, the lack of a brother meant his mother had nobody else to focus her attention on when it came to the future. She’d been quite obsessed with his future wife for some years, never understanding that he was in no rush to marry.
“I envy you, Jack.”
His friend chuckled at this. “You? Envy me? What in the world could you envy me for? For as I see it, between the two of us, you are in a much more advantageous position. You are the Marquess of Rotham, one day destined to be Duke of Goldclaw, the largest, wealthiest estate not just in Hampshire but in all of southern England. Your father is one of the most well-respected men in the realm and even the Prinny listens to his advice. I, on the other hand, am heir to a small estate with modest income.”
“It is not all about wealth, status, and influence, my friend,” Kenneth said. They were nearing the house now and time to bid his friend goodbye. Something he was not looking forward to. His parents had been in another quarrel that morning and the atmosphere in the manor was accordingly tense.
“Spoken like a true aristocrat,” Jack chuckled.
“I meant when it comes to marriage. You have freedom. Your parents have not pressured you to marry against your will.”
His friend shrugged then. “It is true, they have not. However, they know that I am not opposed to marrying for duty. I am sure I eventually will. They understand me well enough to know I wish to live my life and enjoy it as long as I can before duty calls. When it does, I will not fight them nor be picky. If I meet a woman I like, I will wed her if she’s considered suitable. If not, I will wed someone the matchmaker finds.” He shrugged as if it were no serious matter at all. On the subject of marriage, the two never did see eye to eye.
“You may regret this attitude one day. What if you are married to a woman and she turns out to be unsuitable, such as if her character and yours clash?”
His friend sighed. They’d arrived at the stables and both dismounted.
“Just because your parents had such misfortune does not mean the same would befall you, or me. My parents’ marriage was arranged, and they are perfectly contented.”
Kenneth shook his head. He could not explain to his friend just how risky a venture it was, to marry for convenience and fortune rather than love. He could never make him understand just how unhappy and miserable his parents were, with one another. For whenever anyone stopped to visit, they were the picture of bliss and perfection.
Seeing the dejection in his friend’s eyes, Jack placed a hand on his back.
“Do not worry. Perhaps one of the young ladies that are coming to visit will be both suitable and the Lady of your heart. And if not, if they are both insufferable, you can always climb out of your chambers window and join me at The Grove for an ale and a game of darts. It might shock your poor mother so much she might give up all attempts at matchmaking, realizing her son is too much of a lost cause.”
Kenneth laughed out loud at this. “She already thinks of me as a lost cause, I’m afraid. But in any case. I had best prepare for the visit. I will take you up on the offer of darts, however.”
“And I shall remind you!” His friend mounted his horse once more and rode off into the distance, leaving Kenneth behind with nothing but the dreaded feeling in his stomach at the thought of the visit.
* * *
“Kenneth?” His mother’s voice sounded out from the drawing room. With a groan, he made his way there. To his surprise, both of his parents were seated in the room, albeit at opposite ends. His mother was at the pianoforte while his father was near the fireplace with a newspaper in hand. He glanced up when his son entered and smiled at him.
“Where have you been?” His mother demanded. He shrugged.
“I went on a ride with Lord Bronwyn.” He was always sure to use his friend’s proper titles when talking about them to his mother. The details were important to her and he knew if he did not, she’d only call him out. It was simply easier to avoid such irritations. His father, however, was no friend of such formalities.
“How is Jack?” He asked. Kenneth was almost sure his distinct informality was to vex his mother, but to his surprise, she remained quiet.
“He is well. I won a bottle of his father’s brandy as I won our race.”
