now at the clubs in Jermyn and St. James’s Streets. I took a seat in a private corner, and waited.
And waited. Travers missed his appointment of three, and he hadn’t arrived at half past, nor at the three-quarter hour. I was ready to leave and to hell with him, when he sauntered in at four.
I rose, waiting impatiently as he crossed the room, his dark gaze darting about in some distaste. The barman caught my eye and brought over another tankard to place in front of Gareth as he took a seat.
“I did not realize such places still existed,” Gareth said as he glance at the bowed beams, the scarred trestle table, and the thick pewter tankard filled with ale.
“They do,” I said, a trifle coldly, resuming my seat. “I will surmise that Leland told you about his conversation with me last night?”
“Yes, the silly young ass.” Travers laughed as though he had years on Leland, when, in fact, Leland was a few months older. “I am sorry he pulled you into our quarrel.”
“You both pulled me into it,” I said, annoyed. “Please cease to do so.”
Gareth laughed again. He sipped the warm ale from the tankard and made a face. “Foul stuff. I must beg your pardon, Captain. You are in the right—it was bad of me to use you so. I have been quite impatient with Leland of late. He is determined I should have no independence of him, which becomes rather galling. One has one’s pride.”
I was still angry with him for his presumption, but I did understand what he meant. How often had I grated when Grenville paid my way or gave me gifts I could never hope to repay? Even now, when I had a bit of blunt at my disposal, the idea that it was Donata’s and her son’s money did not make me happy.
“Be that as it may,” I said. “It was not well-done. Dangerous, even.”
Travers continued to smile. “I know I ought to have asked your leave and told you what it was all about. I simply grew so angry at him, and when you told me the story of your army chaps …”
“You thought I would at least be sympathetic.” I hardened my voice. “And I am. However, lying about another gentleman impinges upon his honor. What if Leland had spread the tale of your fictitious tryst with me? It might have ruined me and hurt my wife, her family, and my friends. Think on this.”
Gareth’s smile began to fade, worry entering his eyes. Likely such a thing hadn’t occurred to him—he hadn’t thought at all, in fact. He’d wanted to anger his lover, without weighing the consequences.
“I have begged your pardon,” he began.
I leaned forward, knowing that if I were to shut his mouth, I had to be harsh. “If I took your actions as deepest offense, instead of the imprudence of youth, I should call you out, Stubbins did me. Would you like to face me across a green, Mr. Travers?”
His face paled as he remembered Stubby, on his knees on the grass, screaming as he clutched his bleeding arm.
“No,” Travers said, more quietly. “I believe I would not.”
“Then we will say no more about it. Whether you make it up with Leland or continue to quarrel with him—that is your affair. But do not drag me into it. Understand?”
My sternness finally quelled him. Travers’s head bowed slightly, and he nodded. “I am sorry.”
“Good.” I returned the nod and lifted my tankard. “No more words about it, then.”
Travers remained where he was, fingers moodily twitching on the dull but smooth pewter.
I sipped my ale, liking the rich, bitter stuff. Much better than the thin wines and sherries served at some of the soirees I attended in Mayfair.
Travers heaved a long sigh and looked across at me again. “May I ask you one thing, Captain?” When I indicated with a flick of my hand he should go on, he said, “What am I to do about Leland? He does not understand that he puts me in a cage, and he is shocked when I suggest a means to leave it. I do not mean leave him . But I am four-and-twenty years old. The Derwents have cared for me
And waited. Travers missed his appointment of three, and he hadn’t arrived at half past, nor at the three-quarter hour. I was ready to leave and to hell with him, when he sauntered in at four.
I rose, waiting impatiently as he crossed the room, his dark gaze darting about in some distaste. The barman caught my eye and brought over another tankard to place in front of Gareth as he took a seat.
“I did not realize such places still existed,” Gareth said as he glance at the bowed beams, the scarred trestle table, and the thick pewter tankard filled with ale.
“They do,” I said, a trifle coldly, resuming my seat. “I will surmise that Leland told you about his conversation with me last night?”
“Yes, the silly young ass.” Travers laughed as though he had years on Leland, when, in fact, Leland was a few months older. “I am sorry he pulled you into our quarrel.”
“You both pulled me into it,” I said, annoyed. “Please cease to do so.”
Gareth laughed again. He sipped the warm ale from the tankard and made a face. “Foul stuff. I must beg your pardon, Captain. You are in the right—it was bad of me to use you so. I have been quite impatient with Leland of late. He is determined I should have no independence of him, which becomes rather galling. One has one’s pride.”
I was still angry with him for his presumption, but I did understand what he meant. How often had I grated when Grenville paid my way or gave me gifts I could never hope to repay? Even now, when I had a bit of blunt at my disposal, the idea that it was Donata’s and her son’s money did not make me happy.
“Be that as it may,” I said. “It was not well-done. Dangerous, even.”
Travers continued to smile. “I know I ought to have asked your leave and told you what it was all about. I simply grew so angry at him, and when you told me the story of your army chaps …”
“You thought I would at least be sympathetic.” I hardened my voice. “And I am. However, lying about another gentleman impinges upon his honor. What if Leland had spread the tale of your fictitious tryst with me? It might have ruined me and hurt my wife, her family, and my friends. Think on this.”
Gareth’s smile began to fade, worry entering his eyes. Likely such a thing hadn’t occurred to him—he hadn’t thought at all, in fact. He’d wanted to anger his lover, without weighing the consequences.
“I have begged your pardon,” he began.
I leaned forward, knowing that if I were to shut his mouth, I had to be harsh. “If I took your actions as deepest offense, instead of the imprudence of youth, I should call you out, Stubbins did me. Would you like to face me across a green, Mr. Travers?”
His face paled as he remembered Stubby, on his knees on the grass, screaming as he clutched his bleeding arm.
“No,” Travers said, more quietly. “I believe I would not.”
“Then we will say no more about it. Whether you make it up with Leland or continue to quarrel with him—that is your affair. But do not drag me into it. Understand?”
My sternness finally quelled him. Travers’s head bowed slightly, and he nodded. “I am sorry.”
“Good.” I returned the nod and lifted my tankard. “No more words about it, then.”
Travers remained where he was, fingers moodily twitching on the dull but smooth pewter.
I sipped my ale, liking the rich, bitter stuff. Much better than the thin wines and sherries served at some of the soirees I attended in Mayfair.
Travers heaved a long sigh and looked across at me again. “May I ask you one thing, Captain?” When I indicated with a flick of my hand he should go on, he said, “What am I to do about Leland? He does not understand that he puts me in a cage, and he is shocked when I suggest a means to leave it. I do not mean leave him . But I am four-and-twenty years old. The Derwents have cared for me
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