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every single woman who lives in the area. In truth, I suspect she imported a few from another village. After the first five minutes, I could scarcely have told you my name, let alone any of theirs.”
    Ian let out a crack of laughter. “I warned you! I knew every marriage-minded mama in the county would be there to introduce you to their eligible—and stultifyingly boring—daughters.”
    “Since you are already married, Ian, that would have presented no problem for you,” Myles pointed out.
    “True. Wouldn’t have kept me from perishing from ennui, however.”
    “Well, I think you are all too harsh on the fair village of Chesley,” Myles said lightly. “I, for one, enjoyed the evening of dancing. And while the Cliffe sisters were trying on the ears, it was more than made up for by the treat to the eyes that is Mrs. Howard.”
    “She is a beauty,” Gabriel agreed.
    “D’ you mean the black-haired lovely?” Alan asked. “She was a peacock among pigeons, wasn’t she?”
    “Who?” Ian asked as he stood up and went to the sideboard to set down his glass. “A beauty here in Chesley? Sounds like a Banbury story to me. I would have remembered a raven-haired temptress.”
    “She moved here only a few months ago, I believe,” Gabriel said.
    “Good heavens. Why?”
    Gabriel laughed. “Perhaps she was looking for peace and solitude, too.”
    “She’ll get an ample amount of that,” Ian retorted sardonically, turning and leaning back against the sideboard. “Now, gentlemen … are we going to proceed to any actual entertainment this evening?”
    “What did you have in mind?” Gabriel asked.
    “Loo, whist, vingt-et-un—whatever suits your fancy. Your butler told me he found several bottles and casks in the cellars. Lord only knows when they date from. I thought I’d go down and see if there was anything we might want.”
    Gabriel shrugged. “Be my guest.”
    “I’ll go with you.” Alan took a candlestick from the sideboard and the two men left the room.
    Gabriel poured another drink for himself and Myles, and they settled down in the chairs in front of the fire, stretching their legs out toward the warmth.
    “Hope the evening wasn’t too much of a bore,” Gabriel offered. “I thought it would be good to meet the locals.”
    Myles chuckled. “I didn’t mind. Clearly I do not require the level of sophistication Ian does. When one grows up with five sisters, one becomes accustomed to attending such affairs. It helps make it more bearable, I suppose, that a sir is not as coveted a marriage prospect as a lord .”
    “Do you ever think about marrying?” Gabriel asked thoughtfully.
    “As little as possible.” Myles grinned. “Why? Don’t tell me some girl’s caught your fancy?”
    “No. Not at all. I suppose I shall one day, but …” Gabriel shrugged. “It doesn’t seem a very alluring prospect.”
    “Not if you look at Ian’s marriage.”
    Gabriel glanced over at his friend. “Do you think Ian is terribly unhappy? He doesn’t say anything, but …”
    “But it’s almost Christmas, and he is here with us instead of at the Park with his wife,” Myles finished. “That must mean something. I’ve never asked him. I don’t suppose he seems particularly un happy.”
    “But neither does he seem particularly happy.”
    “Everyone knows they weren’t a love match.”
    “I’m not sure that makes any difference.” Gabriel’s voice had a bitter tone, and his friend shot him a quick sideways glance. But before Myles could speak, Gabriel went on, “I doubt Ian ever expected a love match … or cared to have one, really.”
    “He’s not a romantic.”
    “But there could have been a better match, someone more suited to him, if his father had not been so intent on gambling away Ian’s future.”
    “Fenstone thinks of no one but himself.” Myles sighed and drained his drink. “Always has. But it’s done now. At least marrying Emily took care of his father’s debt.”
    Gabriel snorted.