Second Season Read Online Free PDF

was clearly of Continental design despite its excellent fit. An immense ruby nestled in the jabot; another, set in gold and carved into his personal seal, adored the duke’s right index finger. Otherwise, he wore no dangling fobs, no tassels to his knee garters, nor bows to his evening slippers, yet the austerity of his clothing served only to emphasize the air of command that was subtly combined with a reckless cynicism.
    In short, the duke looked what he was: the Most Noble Julian Giles Herestone Voss, seventh Duke of Imbrie, Marquis of Herestone, Earl of Imbrie, Baron Voss of Bascombe, and of Keighly, and of Rickaby, all of which consequence had been his from the age of seven.
    Lord Arthur grinned at his cousin’s morose expression. “Aunt Laura been hectoring you again?”
    “When does she not? If ever a woman enjoyed ill-health with that damned long-faced parson hovering over her—and tough as an ox for whatever she wants to do! Not content with filling Calydon Towers with my relatives, most of whom I don’t remember and all of whom I would prefer to forget,” said the duke wrathfully, “she’d arranged a series of visits to introduce suitable females to my notice! And with this devilish weather, nothing but storms and black frosts since October, I’ve had no more than five days of hunting—I’m trapped, Arthur. I can’t even escape to my neighbors. I find there’s at least five girls who used to be in the schoolroom, and all of a sudden they’re being hustled forth in sprig muslin, playing the harp !”
    “It’s your own fault for being such a desirable parti shrouded in all the mystery of foreign travel. If you’d stay home for a few seasons, the ton would soon tire of you, Julian,” his cousin chuckled.
    “But not of my bank account,” the duke retorted. “Have you any idea what it’s like? If I dance twice with the same young lady, or linger in conversation for ten minutes ... escort a girl to the supper room on two successive evenings ... it is instantly seen as a distinguishing mark of attention giving rise to expectations. The alternative is to spread my favors evenly between a number of young ladies, but i’faith, there’s not enough to make one tolerable brain among ’em. They seem more insipid every time I go into company. Is it the fashion of today, or do I grow old, Arthur?”
    “Neither! Had you stayed in England after Isabella’s death, I fancy you’d have remarried in a year. Then you could have found a wife near your age and grown up together. Now, after ten years of wandering, you are more critical. The marriage mart presents schoolgirls. You’d do better to inquire for the spinsters, Julian. The girls left on the shelf often flower handsomely in five or six years,” Lord Arthur observed wisely. “That’s if you were wanting a wife?”
    “I don’t! Why should I? I have my heir, I’ve reliable stewards with you to oversee them, and Uncle Biddulph to supervise my Funds. I don’t say I wouldn’t like to spend rather more time in England now. Between Boney and this new kick-up in America, travel grows hazardous. I’d as soon stay here until all’s settled. I had it in mind to remain a year, but not if I’m to be chivvied,” Julian said, restlessly, “and so I told my mother. I don’t know what bee she’s got that causes this sudden determination to see me leg-shackled again. She will have it that the care of my twins is too great for her advanced age, and she’s not long for this world Did you ever hear the like?”
    Arthur suppressed a smile. “What did you say?”
    “That Giles will go to Eton in winter term. Your mother has found a suitable governess for Lucinda. They’ll either stay at Calydon, or remove to Bascombe if mother wishes to occupy her own house in Bath.”
    “And yourself?”
    “Damned if I know,” Julian scowled. “I flung out of the place in a temper, meaning to take the first ship leaving to anywhere, but it won’t do. I came home to