Chapter One
London, the third of May, 1819
Dear Aunt Euphenia,
I'm so sorry you weren't well enough to attend thebaptism yesterday, and I hope you're feeling bettertoday. My sweet boy acquitted himself in a mannerI don't expect will surprise you, given that I'mhis mother. He cried loudly throughout. I shallgive you a detailed description later in my letter,because first I must tell you that however distressingD'Arcy's crying was at the time, it was nothingcompared to what happened afterward ...
Lady Diana Westover Terrington
His green eyes twinkling, the HonorableBrixton Smythe-Medway spread his armsacross the back of a cabriole sofa in the library ofViscount Adderley's town house. A merry smileon his pleasant face, he surveyed the decidedlymasculine room furnished with the aforementionedsofa and comfortable oval-backed chairs,shelves of leather-bound volumes and walls paneled in age-darkened oak. He felt at peace withthe whole world and the equal of anybody, includingthe other gentlemen who were there withhim, for he had the special privilege of being thegodfather of the son and heir of his best friend,Edmond Terrington, Viscount Adderley.
At the moment, Edmond was upstairs with hiswife Diana and, judging from the wails waftingfrom above, he wasn't having much luck helpingher and the nursemaid getting little D'Arcy Douglasto nap.
Brix glanced at Lord Justinian Bromwell,Buggy to his friends, who was deaf to the baby'scrying and the conversation in general as he studiedthe various books on the shelves near the dooras if looking for the secret of El Dorado -- or perhapsan interesting spider, as arachnids were hisspecialty.
Lieutenant Charles Grendon of His Majesty'sRoyal Navy stood properly at ease in front of oneof the tall, narrow windows. He had the air andattitude of a commander and, Brix reflected, theuniforms of naval officers couldn't have beenbetter designed to highlight Charlie's impressivephysique.
While Charlie didn't lack for female admirers,it was no secret among the group of formerschoolmates that Sir Douglas Drury, baronet andbarrister, could claim to have conquered morehearts than any of them.
Brix watched the most famous attorney in Londonas he poured the brandies, finding himself once again slightly perplexed as to Drury's attraction.His sardonic friend wasn't particularlygood-looking, and he never dressed with any regardfor fashion, preferring plain black wool andwhite linen. On the other hand, Brix could see thatDrury's dark hair and angular features, hispropensity to brood since he'd returned from beinginterred in a French prison during the war,and the fact that Drury had never lost a casemight render him an object of some fascination tothe fairer sex.
Not that he was jealous. Far from it. He had hada few conquests of his own, despite his mop ofunruly straw-colored hair that was his valet'sbane, his average features and lean build. Indeed,he had some cause to wish he was even less attractive,at least in one case.
But this was not the day to have unpleasantthoughts about anybody.
Drury handed round the brandies, and once allthe men had their drinks, Brix held up his glass."To the Honorable D'Arcy Douglas BrixtonBromwell Grendon Terrington!"
The toast drunk, Brix set down his brandy onthe pedestal side table near him. He'd had a fairbit of wine at the breakfast and didn't want to befoxed.
"That name has quite a ring to it, doesn't it?"he mused aloud as he made himself comfortable."I did feel for the poor vicar, though, having toremember it all. I'd have had to write the nameson my cuff."
The other men exchanged rueful smiles, exceptfor Drury, who rarely smiled at anything.
"Edmond looked proud enough to burst thebuttons on his vest, didn't he?" Charlie said afterfinishing his drink. He set the glass on the consoletable beside him and returned to his habitual attitude,hands clasped behind his back. "Even whenlittle D'Arcy was screaming fit to wake the dead."
"That merely proves the infant has strong,healthy lungs," Buggy noted as he wanderedcloser, past the large globe.
Brix laughed. "Try telling that to the vicar,Buggy. I thought he was going to drop the littlefellow in the font."
"I appreciate being second on the list ofnames," Drury remarked in the deep voice thatmany of his legal enemies claimed was the solesecret of his success. He settled in the chair nearestthe marble hearth. "But how the devil did Edmondand Diana come up with that spelling ofD'Arcy? I don't recall any family names ofD'Arcy, and as far as I know, neither one of themhas a drop of French blood in their veins."
There was a moment of awkward silence beforeBrix stepped jovially into the breach. Although heappreciated that Drury had suffered at Frenchhands, this was no time for grim denunciations. "Idaresay it was Diana's idea. Sounds like the sortof name a romantic woman would pick, and shedoes write those novels, you know."
Drury's broad shoulders relaxed. "I supposethe boy should be grateful she didn't name him after that villain in her book. What was hecalled?"
"Korlovsky," Buggy supplied.
"Egad, yes!" Brix seconded. "Wouldn't thathave raised a few eyebrows among the ton? As itwas, I tried to warn Edmond that the boys at Harrowwould probably tease the lad no end. I canhear them now -- Arssy D'Arcy." He sighed melodramatically ...
Continues...
Excerpted from Kiss Me Again by Moore, Margaret Copyright © 2004 by Margaret Moore. Excerpted by permission.
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