Chapter 11

The house was far too quiet with Jeremy gone. Though Andrew had lived alone for much of his adult life, he’d become so used to having Jeremy with him that his absence was nearly palpable. He wandered through the rooms, eventually ending up in the front hall, where he spotted a letter on the table. Picking it up, he recognised Phoebe’s flowing script. Could she not just leave well enough alone? Andrew returned to his study, closing the door behind him as he broke the seal on the letter. He knew before reading what it would say.

My dear Andrew,

It is my hope that this letter finds you well and settled. Matters here are much less so, though your assistance in sorting Papa’s affairs proved most helpful. I understand that our parting was strained by my insistence on your marriage, however, I stand behind my belief that it is in everyone’s best interest that you do so. While my primary concern is, of course, for Mama and Thea, do not doubt that I wish the best for you as well. If you will forgive my frankness, I do not believe that it is good for one to be alone. Such a union would secure your future and those of Mama and Thea, and I do believe it would provide you with some measure of happiness.

As to the lady in question, I do not see the reasoning in your objection. Lady Dersingham is one of my dearest friends - a well-bred, accomplished woman who would manage your affairs well. The insults you raised against her are both unfair and unfounded. If you were to become acquainted with her, you would agree with my sentiment. On that matter, I implore you to call upon her at your convenience. You would bring happiness to a most beloved cousin, and perhaps yourself.

Mama sends her love, as does the rest of the family, and they ask that you write frequently.

Your loving cousin,

Phoebe Ashford

Andrew wanted nothing more than to ignore the letter; to rip it into pieces and throw it in the fire. He couldn’t deny, however, that Phoebe made several valid points. Much as he did not want to believe he would die soon, he had already come close once, and men in their family had a tendency to die at inconvenient times. The duty to his family was one he could not ignore. Reluctantly, he folded the letter and shoved it in the top drawer of his desk, then headed to his bedroom to dress. It seemed it was time to pay Lady Dersingham a visit after all.

Three hours later, Andrew stood in the drawing room of Lady Dersingham’s townhouse. The room, while well-decorated, was nowhere near Andrew’s tastes. Rather than dark wood and rich hues, the room was decorated in pastels and light floors. He shuddered at the thought of Lady Dersingham attempting to redecorate his home. Were they to marry, that would never happen. Realising he had already given validity to the possibility of a marriage between the two of them, Andrew silently chided himself.

The door opened and Andrew looked up to see Lady Amelia Dersingham walk into the room. To any other man, she would have been the epitome of beauty, with her high cheekbones, full lips, and peaches-and-cream skin. Her rich red curls were arranged in a stylish coiffure with a few strands framing her face, and her dress was a most flattering shade of pale green. However, her most distinguishing feature was the way she carried herself, as though she were the most important person in the room.

“I must admit, when Edwards informed me Lord Cardwell was in my sitting room, I was surprised. I was sure I would be the last person in London you would prevail to call upon,” she said. “Please, sit.”

Andrew did, taking a seat on the spindly chair across from the sofa that Lady Dersingham had just occupied.

“You are no more surprised than I. My cousin encouraged me to pay a visit, as she could not.”

Lady Dersingham nodded. “I did not want to believe Aunt Mary when she told me about your uncle. I am so sorry to hear about his passing.”

“Thank you.” Andrew’s words were clipped. “How is your aunt, then? I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing her in some time.”

“She’s quite well, thank you. She’s gone to pay a visit to one of her friends this morning.”

“I see.”

The silence stretched uncomfortably between them, and Andrew realised how very little they had in common. Much like Phoebe, she was a woman with a high set of expectations. There was little doubt in Andrew’s mind that the more Lady Dersingham became acquainted with him, the less she would want anything to do with him. And yet, there was still one very important trait they had in common—both knew their duty and were prepared to do it, regardless of what it cost them.

“I did also want to tell you in person that I will be attending your assembly this Season,” Andrew said finally. “I understand it is several weeks away, but I thought you would like to hear it from me.”

A coy smile appeared on Lady Dersingham’s lips, and Andrew couldn’t help but feel he’d just walked into a trap. He forced himself to think of his aunt and younger cousin.

“I’m pleased that you made that decision,” she said. “Now if I could get your name on my dance card.”

“How could I slight the hostess by saying no? I must ask for a favour, if you’d be willing to grant it.”

Lady Dersingham’s eyebrows furrowed. “And just what sort of favour are you asking?”

“I have a young man I’ve taken on as a patron for the time being, and he’s looking to make connections within London. He’s an artist, and I can vouch for him. I’ve never met a man more deserving. If you could extend to him an invitation to your assembly I would be indebted to you.”

After a moment, Lady Dersingham nodded once. “I believe I could be prevailed upon to give him an invitation. If only to see you in my debt,” she added with a smirk.

Exactly the scenario that Andrew had been hoping to avoid. “Your kindness is appreciated.”

“Do I get to know the name of the man I just invited to my assembly?”

“Mr. Jeremy Leighton. His father is the vicar in Chippenham, and was one of Uncle Richard’s closest friends. He recently came home from university and I offered to bring him with me to London.”

“A noble gesture. And in return?”

In return, Andrew got to keep Jeremy in his bed just a little while longer. But Lady Dersingham didn’t need to know that.

“I’ve commissioned him to paint my portrait.”

“Quite a leap of faith, one might say.”

“Not quite,” Andrew said. “I’ve seen his work, and I am confident that I will be satisfied.”

“Well as long as you find satisfaction.”

Lady Dersingham looked up at him through thick lashes, and Andrew knew then she was flirting with him. Had it been any other lady, he would have felt much more at ease, but this was one of his cousin’s closest friends and a woman who already set her sights on him. That should have set his mind at ease, but the thought of actually going through with his plan of courting her made him slightly nauseated. Fortunately, she didn’t seem to notice.

“I believe Lady Hastings is hosting a dinner party soon. Her eldest daughter just presented. Will you be in attendance?”

“I have every intention of attending as many events this Season as I possibly can,” he said.

Andrew had always enjoyed the London Season. Before, there had never been any pressure on him. He wasn’t the heir, so the number of mothers thrusting their daughters in his direction were few, but the Season still afforded him the opportunity to be social. Now, however, Andrew knew that he would be in hot demand. He was a peer, and a relatively young one. Even if he were penniless and senseless, there would still be a line of eligible young women paraded in front of him in the hopes he would choose one of them. Now that he thought about it, Lady Dersingham might not be a horrible option, if marriage was to be his fate.

“In that case, I hope to see you there,” she said. “You know, I have often wondered why we weren’t better acquainted when we were younger.”

“More than likely, that had to do with the fact that your closest companion is my cousin, who took great pleasure in thwarting every plan Nathaniel and I made when we were younger.”

“Perhaps. Although you should show a modicum of sympathy. She’s the oldest female. She had more responsibility than you would imagine, and still does.”

There was some measure of truth to that, Andrew knew, but it was difficult to look past their upbringing.

“I don’t doubt that. She’s done well in establishing herself as a lady of the ton, and she has much to be proud of. I am fond of her. That being said, I would be fonder of her were our temperaments more alike.”

“I see. And if our temperaments were more alike?” A coy smile played along her lips.

“That, I could not say.”

“Then I suppose we’ll just have to see. It is good to see you again, Lord Cardwell.”

Where was the uptight woman he had known from his youth? The woman he had called a miserable cow on more than one occasion. It seemed she’d been replaced by this mild-mannered, charming woman. If only she had behaved that way when they were younger, there was a chance Andrew would have courted her then. And then he realised—she had something to gain from him, just as much as he had from her. As a widow, her jointure was sizeable enough to be comfortable, but not large enough to allow Lady Dersingham the lifestyle she was accustomed to. A second marriage would not only secure her place in society, but it would also ward off any unsuitable potential suitors.

“Likewise, Lady Dersingham. I look forward to seeing more of you throughout the course of the Season.”

They both stood, Lady Dersingham’s eyebrows raised. There could be no misinterpretation of his words on her part, and Andrew couldn’t help but feel the slightest bit relieved. The whole visit had put him at ease. Marriage had certainly done wonders for her. Perhaps it would do the same for him.

***

The house was empty when Jeremy returned from Percy’s. Odd. Andrew hadn’t yet taken up his place at Westminster, and he hadn’t informed Jeremy of any social calls he would be making. Then again, he reminded himself, it wasn’t as though they were under any obligation to share their schedules with one another. If Andrew wanted to do something without him, then that was his prerogative.

To pass the time, he did what he always did and sketched. His mind wandered to a few mornings prior, when he had woken up before Andrew. Watching him sleep was the most amazing experience, so intimate and private. As he sketched out high cheekbones and a defined jawline, he wondered if any of Andrew’s other bedpartners had taken the time to appreciate just how beautiful he looked when he was so vulnerable. Instead of drawing Andrew in his shirt, Jeremy allowed himself to imagine what he looked like underneath. Soft linen became defined muscle in the sketch, showing no hint of imperfection.

Hearing the door, Jeremy closed his sketchbook and shoved it back in his bag. There was no reason for Andrew to see what he had been doing over the past hour. When Andrew entered the room, he walked over and stood on his toes to give him a quick peck on the lips.

“I had not expected to come home to an empty house. Did you get called away?” he asked.

“Not quite. I decided to pay a visit to Lady Dersingham.” Andrew’s expression was nearly apologetic as he continued. “I received a letter from Phoebe today encouraging me to call on her, so I thought while you were out, it would be the perfect opportunity.”

The news was hardly a surprise to Jeremy, and yet as prepared as he was, he couldn’t help the twinge of jealousy that threatened to flare inside of him. What right did he have to be jealous? It would solve nothing. As Percy had reminded him, Andrew was bound by duty to his family to find a wife. He had no place for a male lover on the side, especially one who had none of the breeding and manners that Lady Dersingham possessed.

He nodded once. “I see. You have a duty you must fulfil.”

Hurt flashed across Andrew’s features and he took a step forward, reaching out to take Jeremy’s hand.

“You know I would not be pursuing her were it not for my family.”

“Of course I know that. The fact remains you must pursue her for the good of your family. I understand, Andrew.” Understanding and acceptance were two incredibly different matters. “How did you find her, then? As unbearable as you remembered?”

“Oddly enough, no. Marriage seems to have had a positive effect on her. She was polite, attentive, even flirtatious. I managed to persuade her to add your name to the guest list for her assembly. It isn’t for another month and a half, but it should be a good way of securing a patron.”

Jeremy nodded. He couldn’t allow himself to lose sight of the real reason he had agreed to accept Andrew’s proposition.

“Speaking of securing a patron, I believe it would be best if we started work on your portrait soon. I would like to have something to show, other than my sketches,” he said.

“I hired you based on your sketches.”

“You hired me based on my sketches and the prospect of having me in your bed on a regular basis,” Jeremy teased.

Andrew’s face grew clouded. “Is that really why you believe I hired you? So I could have someone to fuck?”

“That was part of the reason, was it not? You teased me about it that first morning I woke up in your bed.”

“And I apologised for that remark. I didn’t hire you simply to fuck you. I hired you because I saw you have talent and passion and I wanted to help you find the widest audience for that.”

“You offered to be my teacher,” Jeremy pointed out.

“That offer had nothing to do with my commission. I would have offered that to you regardless.”

It was clear that Jeremy had struck a nerve with Andrew, though he didn’t understand just what that nerve was. He wrapped his arms around the man’s shoulders and rested his cheek against Andrew’s chest.

“Forgive me. I did not mean to upset you. It was meant as a joke. And for your information, I would have said yes regardless.”

Even knowing that their relationship would be short lived. There was something about Andrew that he couldn’t say no to.

“The fault is mine,” Andrew said after a moment. “I suppose I’m a bit on edge after that visit with Lady Dersingham.”

“A perfectly understandable feeling. Is there anything I could do to help?”

Andrew held him close, resting his chin on the top of Jeremy’s head. “Come tell me about your visit with Percy.”