Lord Sebastian's Secret (The Duke's Sons #3)(55)

Georgina attempted to intervene at one point, saying, “Sebastian has not studied these topics for years as you have, Papa.”

Sebastian was grateful, but also embarrassed that she should have to excuse his ineptitude.

And it earned her only a scowl and an irritable reprimand. “He might have benefited from more study and less running around in the woods,” her father finished. “Like a savage.”

He’d managed to work that particular word into the most unrelated topics tonight, Sebastian noticed.

Randolph took exception to this characterization of his brother. But he was hampered by his good manners, and the fact that he had fled the room before the pertinent exchange last evening.

Thus, his brother was like a man facing a cannon with a revolver as he challenged the marquess, Sebastian thought. Their host would always venture closer to outright offensiveness than Randolph ever could. Sebastian had to smile as he watched his brother struggle to get off a shot without ammunition. Randolph was the most punctilious of the duke’s sons. He outdid even society’s darling Robert, who sometimes put wit over courtesy. Which was just as well. Whatever Georgina’s father might do, Sebastian didn’t want to make things worse from his side.

When the marchioness finally objected, saying that her husband was boring half the table silly, their host launched into a long speech about the dearth of intelligent conversation in polite society. The ladies did not stay in the dining room long after that.

The situation grew both worse and better when they were gone. There were fewer witnesses to Sebastian’s fumbling. He no longer had to endure Georgina’s sympathetic gaze and wonder whether she secretly despised his ignorance. But the discussion grew so abstruse that he couldn’t even pretend to follow. He was forced to confine his answer to “I couldn’t say, sir” when yet another inquiry was thrown at him. His host took to repeating the phrase in a mocking tone that tried Sebastian’s temper to its limits. Even Randolph sat tight-lipped and silent in the end.

When they rose to join the ladies in the drawing room, Sebastian’s relief was immense, and premature. They strolled in to find Georgina, Emma, and their mother seated around the hearth while Miss Byngham bent over a thick volume in the corner. The marquess immediately said, “You all look very dull. We must find you some amusement. I know. Sebastian shall read aloud from that tale you like so much, Emma. Waverly, is it?”

Sebastian froze in the doorway. How had he betrayed himself? He was always so careful. He searched his host’s mocking eyes. They were defiant and maliciously pleased. But he saw no evidence of deeper knowledge. No, Georgina’s father was simply continuing in the same vein, mocking Sebastian’s dislike of books. This was another subtle needle, not a bullet to the heart. “I’m not much good at it,” he replied as casually as he could manage. “Randolph, now, he’s a wonder. He can do different voices, like a play, bring you right to the edge of your seat.”

Randolph stepped forward eagerly. “I’d be delighted to—” he began.

“I’m sure he’s very competent,” the marquess interrupted. “But as you are the one hoping to join our family, I think you should be the one to entertain us.”

He made it sound like a forlorn hope.

“Reading is a pastime we enjoy very much,” the older man added. “Don’t we, girls?”

“I thought you despised Waverley,” said Emma. “You said it was trifling.”

“It would be much more pleasant if Emma would play and sing,” said Georgina, giving her sister a significant glance.

Emma missed it. Randolph did not. “Some music would be most welcome,” he said.

“Perhaps later,” said the marquess. “After Sebastian has done his bit.” He walked over to the shelves beside the fireplace and scanned them, picking a book from the center. “Here it is.”

Georgina couldn’t remember when she’d been so angry. Anyone could see that Sebastian didn’t wish to read. And that Papa, thwarted in his effort to send him away, was determined to force her betrothed to do something he disliked. It was insupportable. “I don’t believe anyone wishes to hear Waverley.”

“I wouldn’t mind,” said Emma. This time, she caught Georgina’s glare and blinked.

“Such a fuss over a simple request,” said her father.

“You are the one fussing,” put in her mother.

He was enjoying this, Georgina thought. It was like one of his learned disputes, only in the flesh. And Sebastian was too kind to squash him. Well, if Papa wanted a battle of wills, he could have one. “I’ll read,” she said, striding over to take the book.

Unfortunately, Randolph had had the same notion at the same instant. He approached her father from the other side and laid a hand on the volume just as she did, saying, “I take great pleasure in reading aloud.”

For a moment, it was as if they were engaged in a tug-of-war over the book.

Georgina’s mother, who had been distracted by Drustan’s fit of wheezing, looked up and said, “Whatever are you doing?”

Georgina and Randolph went still, like children caught fighting over a box of sweets. Then Randolph smiled and stepped back with a bow. “I beg your pardon,” he said.

“Let Randolph read,” said Georgina’s mother, ignoring her husband’s incipient protest. “He has quite a melodious voice.”