Page 19 of The Baron Takes a Wife

“Antigone,” Michael muttered, though Lord Gaius did not seem to hear him.

“She has told me about your wonderful work at the hospital. And to tend to wounded soldiers in the Crimea, how gallant, my lady.”

Elena gave Lord Gaius her first real smile of the night, and all the golden radiance beamed off her. Not for the first time, David was reminded of icons or paintings he had seen of the Byzantine Empire, whose dark and tan figures were often surrounded by wide golden halos that gave them a luminescent aura. Even Michael blinked rapidly for a moment.

“I am not as brave as my husband, but I have my moments. Please, Lord Gaius, tell me more about your Round Table. My husband could not adequately explain.” She took his arm and began to stroll away with the man, leaving Michael and David.

“Well, you see, it really is a misnomer. I began to meet with a small group of young men to discuss the ethics and philosophy of the Ancient Greeks, and somehow, one of them, your husband I think, wanted to talk about knights. My lady, you have no idea the challenges of being a student of the Classics in a Romantic era.”

As they walked away, Elena cast a questioning look back at him. David shrugged and quirked his lips, delighted in the fast friendship between his wife and mentor.

“You shouldn’t look quite so besotted. It is not fashionable.”

David turned back to his old friend. He was all sharp edges, tall and lean, with sandy blond hair and brown eyes that were so dark they were impossible to tell what he was thinking or feeling. He often wore spectacles, which only further obscured his expression, though he had left them off tonight.

“I meant to call on you when I returned, but—” David began before Michael cut him off.

“I understand. You have a life to ease back into.” Michael looked him over, then gave him a small, rare smile. “It is good to see you do so well, old chap. You had me worried there that I would have to be your nursemaid in your dotage.”

David shrugged, then remembered. “I meant to thank you. For looking out for Elena and Irene, and for writing me. It was much appreciated.”

Michael gave a clipped nod. “I knew you had some idea in your head of saving her from a bad circumstance. But she does seem to be very much worth saving.” Rare praise from Michael, especially for a woman. He wondered what Elena had done to earn his good opinion. Just then, David heard a change in the music and decided he should probably look again for Irene.

“I was surprised to see you at one of these events,” he muttered, his gaze on the crowd. “You are not looking for a wife?”

“Not exactly.” David noticed Michael scanning the crowd as well. His expression, as ever, was impossible to read.

“It is good that you got out of there in one piece.” Michael went on, “You don’t know how close we came to a drawn-out world war.” That was about the closest Michael would probably come to saying he was glad David wasn’t dead.

“I only got out of there, if you mean the Crimea, because my spine was so bruised, the doctors weren’t sure I would walk again.”

“Even so.” Michael tilted his head, seemingly preoccupied with the crowd, and they lapsed into a few moments of silence. David caught eyes identical to his own, eyes that looked blank and empty. He knew he had to talk to Irene. He felt horrid that he might have forced her to have a Season if she did not want one. But he had asked, hadn’t he? He thought back to their correspondence for a moment and couldn’t remember. He resolved to consult with Elena on all decisions involving Irene in the future. And Irene, of course. Next to him, Michael gave a start as if he had found whomever he was looking for. His unreadable eyes widened slightly when they landed on Lord Gaius’s daughter, Annie, who seemed to be enjoying herself dancing with a young man that David did not recognize. He did not know what to make of Michael’s reaction, but he doubted Michael would tell him if he asked.

“Your sister is enjoying herself?” Michael asked distractedly.

David frowned and squinted at Irene. “I can’t say. I ought to remedy that if you’ll excuse me. Will you call on us later this week?”

“Of course. I always make room in my schedule for war heroes. Aren’t they composing poetry for you these days?” Was Michael always this prickly? David didn’t think so but saved his worry about that topic for later.

“I wasn’t in the Light Brigade, Michael. I wasn’t even there at the time.” Michael always liked to talk about a topic ad nauseam, which David usually didn’t mind, but he was growing tired of discussing the war.

“It was quite a miracle we won in the end.” Michael went on. “The Russian Army vastly outnumbered us, but then again, the Russian Army, there’s not any bigger, is there? Two million strong, at least.”

David thought for a moment. “Possibly the Chinese army?”

He knew he had gotten Michael in that moment, as he knew his friend well enough to know his mind was whirring behind his unreadable eyes. David was pretty sure that the Russian army was larger, as far as he knew, but it would bother Michael to distraction if he did not have the exact numbers in front of him.

“I would have to look at the precise numbers. I’m sure the Foreign Office has them.” David held back a grin. This was his opportunity to change the subject.

“But certainly, they are the largest army in Europe. You must grant me that.”

David sighed. Michael really hadn’t changed much. Before Michael could go on, David asked the question that had been at the forefront of his mind.

“That reminds me, could you introduce me to the ambassador to Constantinople?”

Michael had extensive connections in the Foreign Office. Having a rather hedonistic father, Michael and his older brother seemed committed to being useful to society. In Michael’s case, perhaps too committed.

“I’d like to make inquiries about Elena’s family. I should have tried more before I left, but I was rather preoccupied at the time.”