Chapter 20

Chapter 20

"Good evening, Ladies and gentlemen. You all look wonderful tonight." Joseph stood at the entrance at the ballroom with strict instructions from his mother to greet the guests until she and Lydia made their grand entrance together.

Though he was still dealing with discomfort from his latest fall, he didn't have any serious injuries and was in good spirits. Lydia was finally speaking with him again and that helped him feel better already.

With any luck, she'd also be kissing him again. And stroking him again. And finally becoming his lover by joining with him as only lovers could do.

Until then, he was sincerely happy to welcome their guests into the ballroom for another event meant to help them all forget that they'd been stuck together in this house for far too long.

Next to approach the ballroom were Lydia's sisters, Lady Charlotte and Lady Eleanor, accompanied by Lord Charles Arlington and his twin, Lord George Arlington. Joseph and the Arlington boys, both barons, had grown up together and were still good friends.

Charles had a prominent cowlick that made it easy to tell which identical twin was which, and he was probably the best chess player in the Cotswolds. George was a spectacular cellist who hated nature and had never met an insect that didn't make him retreat with disgust.

"Good evening, Winstone! Care to finish our game later? I believe your rook is still in grave danger of capture." Charles winked at Joseph as Eleanor tugged at his arm.

"Lord Arlington, you added your name to nearly every line of my dance card. How dare you plan to strand me for a chess board!" Eleanor's scolding was playful and flirtatious, but Charles got the message.

"Ah, you are right, my lady! Winstone, perhaps we will meet in the game room tomorrow instead." Charles patted Eleanor's hand on his arm, then leaned closer to whisper something he wanted only Joseph to hear. "Though you might want to visit the game room this evening to check on your brothers. We passed there moments ago and Henry and Oliver were having a bit of a row."

Joseph frowned. "Thank you, Charles. I'll look into it."

Despite his mother's earlier instructions, he knew his top priorities. She would agree that making sure Oliver didn't cause another scene at one of her parties had to come first.

After greeting a few more guests, Joseph walked quickly to the men's game room where he found Henry but not Oliver. His youngest brother was doubled over in pain and cursing Oliver's name.

"The bloody bastard hit me and ran." Henry stood upright, pressed a hand against his left cheek bone, and groaned. "He's as drunk as I've ever seen him, brother. There will be no keeping him quiet tonight unless he passes out soon."

"What happened? He's been doing much better since he and Sophia moved into separate rooms." Joseph held his breath, worried that Henry would say that Oliver had found out about Sophia's involvement with William Carter.

Though Joseph hadn't told a soul about it himself, he was certain Oliver wouldn't be able to keep it to himself if he'd discovered the affair.

"He came running through here with all manner of spirts on his breath, asking me the way to Parliament so he could obtain a divorce tonight. A divorce! Can you imagine? I told him to quit talking nonsense and go sleep it off, but he's quite mad from the drink. So mad that he swung at my face when I suggested that he set up separate homes for himself and Sophia then take a lover instead." Henry straightened his cravat and winced with pain.

Joseph clenched his jaw and shook his head. "Are you mad? What a terrible idea, Henry. No wonder he punched you! For all of Oliver's faults, I think he's right that getting out of his marriage might be the best course for all involved. But I'm certainly not going to tell him that moments before our mother's bloody ball! Where did he go?"

"Where he always goes when he's impossibly drunk and craves a captive audience—out to the stables." Henry pointed toward that side of the estate and pressed his hand over his cheekbone again.

"Put something cold on that cheek to keep the swelling down. And when you see our mother, tell her I'm off to save her ball from her middle son. Again."