butler. “Yes of course, and at once! From now on, if Lord Banfield calls, he is to be shown in immediately.”
Jamison acquiesced and, in a few moments, Lord Banfield stepped into the room.
“Banfield!” Charles exclaimed, coming around from his desk to greet his old friend. “How very good to see you! I did not know that you had returned to London!”
Lord Banfield chuckled and nodded.
“For my sins, yes, I have,” he replied, his jolly face lighting up as he shook Charles’ hand. “Only two days ago, however. I thought I should write to inform you of my return, but then decided to call instead.”
“I am very glad you did so,” Charles replied, conducting his friend to a chair. “Brandy?”
“Of course!” Lord Banfield exclaimed, making Charles laugh. “You always seem to have the most excellent brandy, whereas my own dulls in comparison.”
Charles handed his friend a glass, then sat down in a chair opposite and let out a long sigh.
“You look a little weary, old friend,” Lord Banfield said, quietly, observing Charles for a moment. “Has something in London troubled you?”
Charles smiled ruefully.
“I have been in London for two Seasons, I think,” he said slowly, as his friend nodded. “Last Season, I was absent, as you know, due to the mourning period for my father.” He let out a long breath. “This Season, however, I have my sister with me in London and, with her, our mother.”
Lord Banfield’s eyes flared for a moment only, then he began to chuckle as he took in Charles’ depressed expression.
“Forgive me,” he said, one hand pressed against his heart. “I should not laugh when you are clearly in distress!” With an effort, he quelled his mirth. “Is it a great trial?”
Charles closed his eyes and let out a groan.
“It is good you have returned to London,” he said, honestly. “For you will be able to advise me.”
“Advise you?” Lord Banfield spluttered, his eyes widening. “I have no advice to give, Barrington!”
“You have sisters!” Charles argued, but Lord Banfield shook his head.
“They are all older than I, if you recall,” he said, firmly. “I was not required to lead them through society, to find them suitable matches.” He shrugged. “My father passed away many years ago, as you well know, but by then, my eldest two sisters were already wed, leaving me with the younger two. My mother swiftly found matches for them and the situation was brought to a most satisfactory conclusion without any requirement for my involvement.”
Rolling his eyes, Charles picked up his brandy and took a sip.
“Then you can be no help whatsoever,” he said, with a heavy sigh. “Already, my sister – who has only just made her debut, I might add – has become demanding, thoughtless and, I confess, a little arrogant.” Quickly, he related what had occurred with the bills that had been given to him by the various shopkeepers whom his sister had visited, seeing the way Lord Banfield’s eyes widened. “She has been given many new gowns and all manner of things,” he finished, “but yet believes that she still requires more.”
Lord Banfield ran one hand over his eyes and sat back in his chair.
“I can offer you nothing save to say that what you have done thus far, I believe, is a wise course of action. She will not thank you for it at present, of course, but you must continue to be firm.”
“Thank you,” Charles replied, raising his glass in a mock toast before taking a sip. “My mother, unfortunately, appears to be very much on the side of my sister and will, of course, make her feelings on the matter known to me very soon. I fully intend to be quite clear with her also, of course, knowing full well that she also will not appreciate my attempts to steer Amelia in the right direction.” He let out a long breath and shook his head. “The sooner I find her a match, the better.”
Lifting his brows, Lord Banfield looked back at him.
“You mean to say that you shall not allow her any choice in the matter?”
“I fully intend to allow her to enjoy the Season, if that is what you mean,” Charles replied. “But I do not think that she will be able to make any sort of wise decision when it comes to the gentlemen of the ton. Most likely, she will be drawn to a most unsuitable sort and I shall have to insist that he is not appropriate for her and then