Ashford had never wanted to punch his friend before.
Lowenbrock settled back in his chair, arms across his chest.“When the season ends with no betrothal, Lady Fairbanks will have won.”
Cranston smirked.“I must say your plan was brilliant.And the rumors that woman is spreading will save you from having to enter into a similar ruse next year.No one will want their daughters to suffer a similar fate of being led astray all season.”
It was clear from the tic in Lowenbrock’s jaw that Ashford wasn’t the only one who wanted to hit Cranston.
Cranston scowled at Lowenbrock.“Not everyone is meant for fairy-tale endings.”
Ashford thought he detected a hint of bitterness in the man’s words, but Cranston’s expression betrayed nothing.For the first time, Ashford found himself wondering if his friend’s cavalier attitude toward the fairer sex had its roots in a past heartbreak.
He detected movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to see the Marquess of Overlea stopping next to them along with his good friend the Earl of Kerrick.It never ceased to amaze him that Lowenbrock was linked by marriage to two of the most respected members of the ton.When they’d been in the army together, John had never let on that his sister was married to a marquess.He’d simply told them his family was impoverished to the point that his commission had been purchased by a family friend.Ashford had known the man several years before he learned both his sisters were married, one to a marquess and one to an earl.
And then the letter had arrived to tell him he’d inherited the title of Marquess of Lowenbrock.John had been convinced it wasn’t real, actually going so far as to say that his eldest sister had likely invented the fiction to entice him to return to England.
But it became clear it was no joke when all the other officers began to treat John differently.
Overlea clapped Lowenbrock on the shoulder and dipped his head in greeting to him and Cranston before he and Kerrick moved past them to take a seat by the bow window that overlooked Saint James Street.
Lowenbrock rose from his seat.“I need to speak to them.I’ll be right back.”
Ashford and Cranston watched their friend join his brothers-in-law.
Cranston shook his head.“I still can’t believe the ne’er-do-well is so well connected.”
“Or that he now outranks us.”
Cranston let out a snort and drained the rest of his coffee.
The conversation quieted, and the whole room seemed to still.They turned to see the Earl of Brantford and the Duke of Clarington had entered the room.The duke went to join his good friends by the window, ruffling John’s hair before settling into a chair.John scowled at the man but greeted him warmly.
Ashford turned back to Cranston, about to say something about how their positions in society were firmly cemented thanks to their friendship with the new Marquess of Lowenbrock.His flippant remark died when he saw that the Earl of Brantford had joined them.
One look from the earl was all it took for Cranston to rise to his feet.With a nod, he turned and made his way to the group by the bow window.
Brantford took the seat Cranston had vacated.
Ashford knew the man only by reputation.Lowenbrock had said something about how Kerrick knew him and that he’d helped Overlea in the past, but that was the extent of his knowledge.
Everyone knew him as the Unaffected Earl.Ashford didn’t have to look around to know that every eye in the room was on them.This man held a unique position in society.Ashford didn’t know why, having been away from England for so long, but he did know that every man in that room would kill to be in Ashford’s seat.
He’d faced countless men across a battlefield, however.It would take more than this man’s icy stare to unnerve him.
“I assume introductions aren’t necessary?”
“Of course not,” Ashford said.“To what do I owe this honor?”
One blond brow lifted.While the man’s expression remained impassive, Ashford got the impression he was amused.
“You’re not easily intimidated.Good.”
Ashford shrugged.“I would have made a poor soldier if I allowed myself to be cowed by a steady gaze.”
Brantford smiled.
Ashford hadn’t been aware of the quiet that had fallen around them until conversation picked up again at this small display of emotion from the man opposite him.“Do you always have this effect?”
“It can be useful to cultivate a certain aloofness.”