Clearing his throat, Patrick turned sharply away from the window.
“It was nothing of importance, merely a personal grumbling about my nephew.” He tried to smile but it did not fully reach his lips. “It is very difficult when one’s life is interrupted by a matter that simply cannot be resolved in any other way.”
His friend, Lord Hogarth, nodded sagely as though to suggest that he too had some experience of what Patrick was expressing.
“Indeed. Although at least with the boy, you can send him to Eton when he is seven years of age. That is not too long from now, is it?”
Patrick rolled his eyes.
“He has only just turned four and whilst that may not appear to be a great length of time, it seems to stretch out to an eternity before I can remove him from this house!”
“And are you required to keep him?”
Nodding, Patrick reached for his brandy.
“You know that I am. There is no other alternative.” He certainly had no intention of discussing the matter further at this juncture for, if he did, Patrick feared he would soon find himself in a state of melancholy and thus quickly changed the subject. “Now, you are to join me for the next house party, I hope?”
Lord Hogarth grinned.
“Of course! There is nothing that would prevent me from being here. I assume that you have invited the very best of thetonto join us?”
“I have.” Quickly, Patrick reeled off a list of those he had invited and smiled to himself at the way Lord Hogarth’s eyes widened. “There is also Lady Havisham and her companion, a Miss Fullerton –”
“Who, I presume, is not to be preyed upon given that she is the companion of Lady Havisham.”
Patrick smiled wryly.
“It is exactly as you have stated it. However, the last are Lady Foster and her two elegant daughters.”
“Both of whom are looking for a husband this Season, or so I have been told.”
Lord Hogarth lifted one eyebrow, but Patrick only laughed.
“They will have to continue to look, for I shall be very disappointing indeed,” he told his friend, firmly. “I am afraid that I could not be prevailed upon to take on a wife. It would alter my entire situation and it is not something that I have any wish to eventhinkof at present.”
Lord Hogarth chuckled.
“Nor I. Although I shall be glad of the company of two such fine young ladies, as well as the others you have mentioned.”
“Indeed, as shall I be.” Patrick grinned at his friend. “I have heard that Lady Winthrop is also a little… lonely at present, given that her husband has been on the continent for some seven months now!”
“I shall keep that in mind.” Lord Hogarth gestured to the paintings which were hung above the library fireplace. “And did you manage to have the Turner restored?”
Patrick grimaced.
“It will never hold the same value again.” His thoughts grew dark as he recalled just how Henry had humiliated him in front of Lord Newford, albeit unintentionally. “Lord Newford’s opinion of me must be significantly altered.”
“If I am to be truthful, then I should inform you that Lord Newford has told many people about what occurred.” Lord Hogarth’s eyes narrowed as he looked back at Patrick steadily. “He does seem to be enjoying your humiliation.”
Grimacing, Patrick rubbed at the spot between his eyebrows, trying to rid himself of some of the tension there.
“I suppose that is to be expected.”
“Oh?”
“I only purchased the Turner to make sure that he saw it,” Patrick stated, having no need to explain further given the friendship between the two men. “But given that he was also present during the incident with the coffee, I have never doubted that he would spread such news as best he could.”
“I believe it has even reached London.”