spar and was impressed with such strength and skill in a man of his age. To Paul.”
David went next, rising to his feet and swaying a bit, clearly already soused. “And let us not forget his reputation with women, and the exploits of his youth that served as inspiration to rakes everywhere. To Paul!”
This toast took a little longer than the others to finish as the men chuckled and traded knowing glances at the memory of Paul’s outlandish stories. Once they had calmed, every eye turned to Nick, and he grew solemn again.
His voice came out gruff when he spoke, but he forced out the words as he lifted his glass one last time. “He was the best man I’ve ever known, and none can match him. His spirit was indomitable, and his determination to make his own way in the world was admirable. I may never live up to his example, but I will try to until my dying day. To Uncle Paul.”
“Well said,” Benedict murmured.
Nick slouched in his armchair and glanced around at each of them in turn. “After Aubrey and Lucinda’s wedding, I intend to leave London for a while. I’ve spent the week with my uncle’s solicitor and have everything I need to go to Newburn and take it all in hand. There is still much for me to learn, but he assured me that the steward would be ready to assist me. From there, I suppose I ought to travel to Cornwall. Apparently, I now own property there, as well.”
“How long will you be gone?” David asked.
“I can’t say,” Nick replied with a shrug. “Probably a good while. Being in London right now is … difficult.”
Benedict and Aubrey exchanged loaded glances, communicating without words. They were the only ones who knew about his other crushing loss, while David and Hugh likely thought he referred to only his uncle.
“We’ll certainly miss you, but I think that’s for the best,” Benedict replied. “After my next match, I’ll need someplace quiet to recuperate. Perhaps I’ll come impose upon your hospitality.”
Nick chuckled. “Of course you’re welcome at Newburn.”
They all fell silent again after that, passing the brandy bottle from hand to hand.
David was the first to depart, citing a potential client who was awaiting his visit. Hugh was next, not needing to tell them he was eager to return to his wife. Benedict left for a night at the theater with his keeper. He squeezed Dominick’s shoulder on his way out, with a murmured, “Send for me if you need me.”
Aubrey lingered for a while, watching Dominick with dark eyes that seemed to notice everything. He and Benedict were alike that way—perceptive and quick to concern themselves with the trials of those they cared about.
“Before I leave, I want to ask you something, though I don’t wish to compound your grief.”
Dominick leaned forward, elbows braced on his knees, his empty tumbler dangling from one hand. “There is nothing you could say that would make me feel more wretched than I do right now.”
“I only wondered if you’ve decided it is too late to stop this wedding from taking place.”
Nick flashed a grin to hide the sudden descent of his heart into his gut. “Dash it, Aubrey, if you don’t want to marry Lady Bowery, simply say so. No need to enlist my interference.”
He’d expected a laugh, but Aubrey merely stared at him, lips pursed. Nick sighed and shook his head, dropping the facade.
“It’s too late. She wants a respectable husband, and I am anything but.”
“From where I sit, you look pretty respectable to me, having just inherited a sizable estate and putting aside your former profession.”
“It’s that very profession that has damned me. I want to hate her for spurning me, but can hardly blame her for not wanting a man half of London’s ladies have had in their beds. She fears exposure and scorn. All her life she’s been made to feel as if she’s somehow lesser than the other ladies because of who her mother was. That is a problem I cannot fix for her, no matter how much I might want to.”
Aubrey raised an eyebrow. “I know a little something about that, and you are right. You can empathize with her hardships, but not fully understand them yourself. It never goes away, but she can learn to form her own place in the world and be content to only allow in those who enrich it. I hate to think that she couldn’t do that with you