Chapter 25

They arrived at the Sunderland ball early. Vander scanned the ballroom for David but didn't see him.

He accompanied Letty to a deserted parlor as she met with her first two suitors, explaining that she had made her choice, and she would be marrying Vander. Lord Throckmorton took the news stoically, offering his congratulations before excusing himself.

Bertie Strickleton… not so much.

"But… but…" Bertie shot to his feet, a flailing arm knocking into a porcelain urn that began to wobble precariously. "You have to marry me! The fellows have already started planning my stag party. How am I going to explain to Figgy and Cheggers and Batty and Ditherington that the whole thing's off?"

Vander saw his chance to get rid of him. "You should still have your night out. It will be just the thing to cheer you. Here." He reached into his pocket and withdrew a twenty-pound banknote. "Take this. Use it to fund your bacchanalia."

Strickleton eyed the banknote. You could have a cracking good night out for twenty pounds, and although Strickleton was widely expected to come into a fortune, he didn't have it yet. Vander could tell he was tempted.

"Take it," Vander urged. "Go tonight. You'll feel better in the morning."

"All right," Strickleton said grudgingly. He cast one last mournful look at Letty. "But if you change your mind—"

"I won't," Letty said firmly. "But do enjoy yourself with your friends."

Bertie sulked out of the room, and at last, they were rid of him.

Lady Sunderland had requested that they make their announcement at the very start of the ball, so Letty could dance the opening set with her future husband. Vander went to stand next to his parents in the crowd rather than escort her to the dais, as he knew Lady Sunderland wanted to maximize the anticipation. He saw necks craning to see the ring now gracing Letty's fourth finger. Whispered speculation broke out about what man could have afforded such a spectacular piece of jewelry.

Vander glanced at his mother, who was smiling smugly. She really did have the best taste.

Vander scanned the ballroom yet again. There was still no sign of David. He knew something as simple as a muddy road or a broken wheel could have delayed his travel plans by several hours. Part of him dreaded his friend finding out that he would be the one marrying his beloved sister. But part of him just wanted to get it over with. The fallout would probably be dreadful, but at least the prospect would no longer be hanging over him like an axe.

Lady Sunderland joined Letty on the dais. She clapped her hands and the crowd fell silent. "Lady Leticia, I believe you have an announcement for us?"

"I do," Letty said, curtsying to her hostess. "I am pleased to announce that I have accepted the proposal of a fine gentleman this very afternoon."

Murmurs swept the crowd. Once they quieted, Lady Sunderland asked, "And who is the lucky gentleman who will be your bridegroom?"

Letty's eyes found his. She smiled, and for just a moment, it felt as if they were the only two people in the room. "Mr. Evander Beauclerk."

Everyone in the room started talking at once. As he threaded his way through the crowd, Beatrice Haddington Barnet, who had helped him get Letty on her own at Vauxhall, caught his eye, smiling broadly. Vander smiled back, inclining his head.

He caught snatches of conversation as he made his way to the dais—that it made sense, given the size of the ring. That they couldn't believe he, of all people, was settling down.

He also heard Lady Bedford whisper to her daughter that Vander was a much better choice than either of Letty's previous suitors. Which was nice to hear.

He joined Letty upon the dais and bowed over her hand to a smattering of applause from those assembled. When he looked up, he knew that he would never forget the way Letty was looking at him, as if she were so happy she might cry.

He rather fancied he was looking at her the same way.

He cleared his throat, offering Letty his arm. "Shall we take our places at the top of the set?"

"Let's," she said, her voice a trifle unsteady.

As Vander led her toward the three steps at the end of the dais, he spotted a familiar face toward the back of the crowd.

David had arrived.

Shit. Had David been there when Letty made her announcement? Even if he hadn't, surely he had figured it out, given that Vander was the one leading her out for the first dance.

He squinted at his friend's face as he and Letty took up their places, trying to glean a hint of his reaction. But he couldn't make out David's expression from across the ballroom.

It was a good thing the country dance was both simple and familiar because Vander's concentration was shot to hell. He tried to focus on Letty, to smile at her at every opportunity. He wanted this to be a happy memory for her.

But, if he was being honest, he was so anxious about David's reaction, he had trouble enjoying the dance.

The dance ended, and Vander bowed to Letty.

When he straightened, David was standing right there.

"So," David said.

"So," Vander replied.

They lapsed into silence. After a moment, Vander asked, "Were you here when Letty made her announcement?"

"I was," David confirmed. Another pregnant pause. Vander's neckcloth suddenly felt overly tight with his pulse pounding against it.

"Come," David finally said, "let's go someplace where we can talk. Just the two of us," he added when Vander offered his arm to Letty.

They threaded their way through the crowd and made their way to the same parlor where he and Letty had spoken to Throckmorton and Strickleton. Vander shut the door, then turned to face his fate.

David was silent, staring at the unlit fireplace. "I didn't realize you were going to propose to my sister," he finally said.

Vander rubbed the back of his head. "That makes two of us." At David's quizzical look, he added, "I only woke up and figured out I was in love with her yesterday."

David made a sound of surprise. "In love with her, are you?"

"I am," Vander said firmly. "Look, David—I know you don't want someone like me to marry your sister—"

David arched an eyebrow. "Do I not?"

"—but I'm going to be a good husband to Letty. I know I've done more than my fair share of carousing, but all of that's behind me now." His friend said nothing in reply, so after a moment, Vander added, "You probably find that hard to believe."

"Hmpf." After another awkward pause, David said, "I have only one word to say on the matter."

Vander felt as if he might be ill. This was it, the moment his friendship with David came to an end. "What's that?"

David stared at him, stony-faced, for six agonizing seconds.

Then his face split into a grin. "Finally!"

"F-finally?" Vander sputtered. He rubbed his ear, wondering if he had heard that right.

David laughed. "Yes! I've been waiting an age for you to notice that she's perfect for you. Now she's happy, you're happy, and we"—he clasped Vander by the shoulders—"are going to be brothers!"

"Thank fuck." Vander ran a hand over his face. "I can't believe you're happy about it. I was certain you'd call me out for even looking at your sister."

"So my parents were telling me." David slapped him on the shoulder, then strolled over to the sideboard in the corner and started pouring two glasses of port. "For the smartest man I know, you really are an idiot sometimes. Where on earth did you get that idea?"

David handed him his drink, and they clinked their glasses together. "It's just that you've seen me engage in some behavior that's a bit, um…"

"Degenerate?" David suggested taking a sip from his drink.

"Precisely."

"You seem to have forgotten that the reason I have observed you participating in said depraved acts is that I was right there, performing them alongside you."

"Well… yes. But I thought you would want someone a little more upright for your sister."

David shook his head. "You've grown up since then. I'm not going to judge you for some act of stupidity you committed when you were twenty-three. Especially when I engaged in the exact same act of stupidity."

Vander's shoulders slumped. "I'm so relieved. Here I was convinced I'd just ruined our friendship."

"No, mate." David slung an arm around his shoulders and started toward the door. "Now, if you run around behind my sister's back—"

"I won't." Vander made a slashing motion with his hand. "I know it's hard to believe, but I'm going to be a good husband to Letty."

"Course you are." David tossed back the rest of his drink and set his glass on a side table. "Besides, we both know that if you were to hurt her, I would beat you into next Tuesday."

"Fortunately for you, the point is moot, as your sister is the only one I want. Because we both know you're not capable of beating me, into next Tuesday or otherwise."

"Am so."

"Are not."

David gave him a cocky smirk. "Care to go down to Gentleman Jackson's tomorrow and settle it?"

"It happens that I would. Although we won't be boxing at Gentleman Jackson's for much longer."

David turned the knob and ushered Vander into the hallway. "Speak for yourself, old man. I've got at least another decade before they have to put me out to pasture."

Vander laughed. "That's not what I meant. There's going to be a new boxing venue opening in the parish of St. George in the East, which I think you're going to find you prefer."

They had reached Letty, who was chatting with a handful of well-wishers including Emily. David squeezed Vander's shoulder, then released him. "St. George in the East, you say? Color me intrigued."

David wandered over to talk to his own future bride. Vander came to stand beside Letty.

After a few minutes, the musicians started tuning up again. "Dance with me," he murmured in her ear.

She gave him a sideways look. "I'm not sure that it's proper for us to dance twice in a row. And if you claim this dance, it will be our last one for the night, as it's not permissible for us to dance more than two times."

Vander was already leading her toward the ballroom floor. "Ah, yes. If we dance more than twice, we'll have to marry. Say… how many times do I have to dance with you for your parents to insist that we marry tomorrow?"

"Van-der. Are you trying to cause a scandal?"

"Don't be absurd. Were I trying to cause a scandal, I would do this," he said, snagging two glasses of champagne off of a passing waiter's tray, then steering Letty straight past the dancers forming into a set and toward the French doors that led to the balcony.

She tutted, but she was smiling as she let him lead her out onto the balcony. She accepted a glass. "Come, Vander. You can cause a bigger scandal than that."

"I could," he agreed, clinking his glass against hers. "I'm tempering myself, as I'll soon be a respectable married man."

There was a gleam in Letty's eye as she set her glass on the stone balustrade. A gleam that looked… promising. "What's the fun in that? There's a reason I'm marrying a notorious rake."

Much to Vander's delight, she looped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down for a kiss, right there in full view of the ballroom.

Indeed, a number of Lady Sunderland's guests spotted them and were duly scandalized.

But only in the best possible way.