When he stayed continuously at her side, two nights later at the Duchess of Monmouth’s musicale, and cheerfully discouraged other suitors by escorting her down to supper, the wags were certain.
By the next morning the on-dit of the ton was that he had run mad. The betting book at White’s carried a wager he would be wed within a fortnight. So it came as no surprise when his brother, the Marquess of Longford, strolled idly in while Jeffries, his batman, was still shaving him.
“Be careful with that razor. Best to keep sharp instruments away from my young brother. He’s run mad, you know,” Longford drawled, sprawling in a chair, his legs stretched out before him.
“Aye, Master Matt has run mad,” Jeffries growled, carefully cleansing the shaved cheeks with a hot towel, successfully muffling Matt’s attempt to reply. “Never been in the petticoat line, now fair makin’ a fool of himself over a lass.” Shaking his head, Jeffries hastily gathered the bowl of sudsy water, and departed with a loud bang of the door.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” His brother pinned him with eyes as dark as his own. “You’d best explain what is really going on in that idealistic head of yours before I come to my own cynical conclusion.”
“Long, it’s quite simple. I’m in love.” Matt smiled, leaping up to pace the oriental carpet of the room. Being fired with excitement similar to what he felt in battle meant he couldn’t contain his energy. “I know you will wish me happy.”
“I wish you to come to your senses.” The lines of dissipation deepened around Long’s firm mouth as his lips twisted in a frown. “You can’t love the chit! I’ve been informed you first laid eyes on her less than a fortnight ago. By George, she’s a parson’s brat! You, above all people, know you should be looking for someone worthy to be the next Duchess of Avalon. Several bets on at White’s I’ll come to an untimely end either at the hands of a jealous husband or break my neck riding one of my horses before you receive even a scratch in battle.”
Long’s voice was so full of bored indifference, a shiver ran down Matt’s spine.
“You know I hate it when you talk like this.” Matt forced a laugh, determined to let nothing mar his happiness. “You have a strong code of honor, uniquely your own. And you’re the finest horseman in all of England. I shall go on the books at White’s as betting against such a turn of events. I know you as no one else does. You find amusement at shocking our smug little world, that’s all.”
“I worry about you, Matt, I really do,” Long drawled, swinging one booted leg over the arm of the chair. “You see all of us as you wish us to be, not as we really are. No doubt you’re doing the same thing with the bra—lady. I shudder to think what will happen when the scales finally fall from your eyes and you see us frail mortals as we truly are.”
“I only see what’s in your heart, Long,” Matt answered quietly, recognizing a thread in his brother’s bored tone that told him how worried he truly was. “Our world is full of wondrous possibilities. Because I embrace those possibilities instead of sneering at them should cause you no concern.”
“Zounds, Matt! I suppose in the midst of bloody battle you see only the glory!” Long barked with uncharacteristic anger, unfolding from the chair.
“In the midst of battle your brother thinks of nothing but victory.” Kendall laughed, striding in unannounced. “Sorry to interrupt, but Jeffries sent me up. Said perhaps Longford and I, together, can talk some sense into you.”
“You’re his best friend, Kendall. Even you must see how outrageously naive he is behaving.”
“Longford, if you can’t talk him out of this campaign, no one can.” With a rueful grin, Kendall shrugged his wide shoulders. “If Matt says he loves Miss Fitzwater and has put her on a pedestal, then we can do naught to tumble her.”
“Stop it, both of you.” Matt kept his voice light, although he was irritated that his two closest friends wouldn’t understand how important this was to him. “You’re talking like I’m some green youth with my head in the clouds, making a fool of myself over my first calf love.”
The speaking look Long turned on Kendall sparked anger in Matt’s chest. “Cut line, Long! I’m not your bookish younger brother anymore!”
“No, you are a leader of men, with the courage of martyrs and the ideals of saints. God help us all when you finally join the human race!” With his customary lazy stroll, he reached the door. “Keep an eye on our idealist, Kendall. I’m off for a race to Richmond on my new stallion. If the gamesters are correct, I’ll more than likely break my fool neck. Perhaps Matt will have time to come to his senses before it’s too late.”