A Wedding Wager by Jane Feather Page B

hurried from her room, using the back stairs to avoid coming across her stepfather. The long case clock in the hall struck four as she crossed to the front door. The house would not open for business for another four hours.
    Flanagan, the butler whom the general had inherited from Serena’s mother, appeared from the kitchen regions or, rather, materialized as he always did whenever Serena was in the vicinity. “Are you going out again, Lady Serena?” Disapproval was apparent in his voice.
    “Just to St. James’s Place, Flanagan. A mere step.”
    “Unescorted, my lady?”
    “Yes, Flanagan. I will barely be out of sight of the house.” She offered him a cajoling smile. “You’re a veritable mother hen, Flanagan. I love you for it, but believe me, ’tis not in the least necessary.”
    “If you say so, my lady.” He held the door for her. “And if the general should inquire…?”
    “Tell him I am resting in my chamber. I have theheadache.” She stepped out onto the top step. “I’ll be less than half an hour.” The door closed behind her, and she walked quickly in the direction of St. James’s Street.

    Sebastian arrived at the Blackwater mansion in Upper Brook Street just as his brother was coming down the street from the opposite direction. Sebastian paused at the foot of the steps to the front door, waiting for Jasper.
    “Seb, this is a surprise. Was I expecting you?” Jasper greeted his brother with a wave as he approached.
    “Not unless you have second sight,” Sebastian declared, grinning. “If ’tis a bad time, I’ll come back later.”
    Jasper’s quick scrutiny told him more about his brother’s frame of mind than Sebastian realized. Jasper had been looking out for his younger siblings since they were toddlers, and very little escaped his notice. They probably would have been surprised at how much of the ins and outs of their lives was known to their brother. Now he clapped his younger brother on the shoulder in companionable greeting, saying, “Not a bit of it. Come in. I’m always delighted to see you, as you well know.” He ushered him up the steps to the door. “Where’s Perry?”
    “We’re not joined at the hip, you know, Jasper.” Sebastian waited as his brother fitted his key in the lock.
    “You were as children,” Jasper responded, pushingthe door wide. “One only ever had to look for one of you, the other was sure to be close by.”
    “I suppose that’s true,” Sebastian conceded. It was certainly a fact that he and his twin had been inseparable as children. He glanced around the hall. “Is the fair Clarissa at home?”
    “No, she’s taken that scapegrace of a brother of hers shopping. He’s going to Harrow after Christmas, which will do young Francis a power of good.” Jasper shook his head, but Sebastian wasn’t fooled. Jasper was very fond of his wife’s little brother.
    “Ah, Crofton.” Jasper greeted his butler. “We’ll be in the library. Is there claret in there?”
    “On the sideboard, my lord.”
    “Claret? From the Blackwater cellars?” Sebastian followed his brother into the shabby but cozy library. The formal rooms in the house were rarely used despite the advent of Lady Blackwater. Jasper maintained that it was too expensive to open them up and heat them on a daily basis, and Clarissa had made no demur. The main salon was used for formal entertaining, on the rare occasions in which it was necessary, but for the most part, they were content with the library, a small dining parlor, Clarissa’s private sitting room, and their adjoining bedchambers. The household staff was also kept to a minimum. Of course, that would all change with Viscount Bradley’s inheritance, should the three brothers manage to fulfill the terms of the old man’s will.
    Jasper shook his head ruefully at his brother’s question.“The last person to replenish those cellars, dear boy, was our great-grandfather. But this is passable.” He lifted the decanter, holding it to