The combined parentage of a black parent and a white one dueled for dominance on his face.
“Welcome to Rowland-Drake, my lord. Might I help you find something? A gift for a lady perhaps … or fabric for a new waistcoat? I can see you’re a man of extraordinary taste.”
He dipped his head to indicate Alex’s waistcoat—a pale lavender silk printed with tiny silver fleur de lis. Alex smiled at the young man, obviously an assistant to the owner who was an old school friend of Alex’s. Apparently, Aubrey Drake had trained his protégé well.
“Perhaps in a moment,” Alex replied, eying a jade green fabric spilling from the massive rolls mounted to the wall. “But first, I wondered if Mr. Drake might be in this afternoon?”
“He is, my lord, but he’s very busy today preparing for a new shipment. I can inquire if he will see you.”
“He will. Simply tell him the Earl of Vautrey requires his attention.”
Instead of bustling off to deliver the message, the young man goggled at Alex in clear shock. “Lord Osborne, is that you? I mean … you said ‘earl’ so you must be Lord Vautrey now. My God, I thought you looked familiar.”
Alex furrowed his brow and took a close look at the assistant. No one called him Lord Osborne anymore, as his viscountcy had simply been a courtesy title until he’d inherited the earldom. His eyes widened as he realized what a dolt he’d been. The man’s features were too distinct to be forgotten, though the last time Alex had seen him, he’d been skinnier than he was tall and still carrying the softness of youth in his face. But the eyes didn’t lie. Before he was the shop assistant, Christopher Sanders had been a young apprentice in this very shop.
“Kit?” Alex blurted. “By Jove, look at you! The last time I saw you, you appeared as if a strong wind could carry you away!”
Kit rounded the counter and offered Alex a hand with an exuberant smile and a deep chuckle. Alex marveled at the depth of the voice he heard, unable to believe his eyes or his ears.
“Well, there have been quite a few changes around here,” Kit said while giving his hand a hearty shake.
“So I see,” he replied, glancing about the renovated shop. “Aubrey has done well for himself.”
“Not better than you, I see,” boomed a third voice from across the room.
Alex turned to find the man he’d come to see, coming from within a small back office. Aubrey Drake’s wide, white smile contrasted starkly against his dark-as-night skin. He hadn’t aged a day, though a few strands of gray salted the wool of his short, close-cropped hair. Standing as tall as Alex and as broad as Ben, Aubrey Drake was a sight for sore eyes. Alex hadn’t seen Aubrey since the day of his wedding, and had missed the company of one of his closest friends.
“Aubrey,” he murmured, emotion straining his voice as a handshake was transformed into a tight embrace. “I am so happy to see you.”
Aubrey pounded his back, then leaned back to stare Alex in the face. “The feeling is entirely mutual. I didn’t know you were in Town.”
Kit moved back to his place behind the counter, but looked on with a curious gaze as Aubrey drew Alex out of earshot.
“I only arrived two nights ago,” Alex said. “I didn’t want to impose on you while you are working, but I hoped you might have time for a word. I will not take up too much of your time.”
“Nonsense,” Aubrey insisted, already guiding him toward the open door of the office. “I have all the time in the world for you, my friend. Come, we’ll have a drink and—”
“Aubrey! Haven’t you heard me calling? I had hoped you could tell me what you think.”
The interrupting voice had been feminine, and Alex looked up in time to find a woman appearing from behind a curtain, the skirts of an unfinished gown swishing around her heels. She halted at the sight of Alex, cheeks flushing pink as her cerulean eyes darted from him to Aubrey.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she murmured, dipping into an elegant curtsy—one that could not be ruined by the pins and hanging bits of lace marking her gown as a work in progress. “I didn’t realize you had left your office, my love. Forgive me.”
Aubrey offered a soft smile, and Alex noted the clear affection in his eyes as he looked upon the woman. “There is nothing