In view of the fact that he and Georgie had reached their respective bedchambers only just after dawn had broken, the Viscount had left strict instructions that his page was not to be disturbed until he had had sufficient sleep. He himself was denied that pleasure by the arrival the following morning of an unexpected visitor. Ordinarily none of the servants would have entered his bedchamber until he rang for attendance. Brindle, however, was well aware that this particular caller was always welcome, no matter the time of day, and so had no hesitation in making the visitor’s arrival known.

      All the same, it was almost an hour later before his lordship made his way down to the breakfast parlour in order to greet his very welcome guest. He was almost sure what had prompted the visit, and so didn’t waste time on needless pleasantries. ‘Would it be presumptuous of me to offer my heartiest congratulations?’

      ‘Not at all!’ Charles Gingham assured him proudly, rising from the chair in order to clasp the Viscount warmly by the hand. ‘A boy! My wonderful darling girl has only gone and presented me with a fine son. Hale and hearty, the doctor assures me. We’ve named him after you. I hope you don’t object? And we very much desire you to be his godfather.’

      ‘I would have been most offended had you considered another,’ his lordship admitted suavely. ‘Don’t let me interrupt your breakfast, though, Charles. I see my servants have catered for your needs,’ he added, after considering the huge quantity piled high on his friend’s plate. ‘Your second today, no doubt. But, then, you’ve always boasted a healthy appetite.’

      ‘Let me tell you I was up at five, unlike you, you slug-a-bed!’ Charles defended, brandishing his fork like a sabre. ‘Why, it’s almost midday! Disgraceful!’

      His lordship cast a jaundiced eye in the general direction of the mantel-clock. ‘Dear God, so early!’ he groaned. ‘I shall take leave to remind you that one does not keep country hours whilst residing in town. Furthermore, I dare swear I didn’t reach the comfort of my bed much before you deserted yours this morning.’

      After instructing the footman to serve coffee and supply him with ham and eggs, his lordship gestured for the servant to leave. ‘So how long do you propose inflicting your company upon me?’

      Charles Gingham frankly laughed, not in the least offended. In fact, he had known the Viscount long enough to be sure that the disgruntled tone of one being imposed upon was a complete sham and that his lifelong friend was in a rare good humour. Which was surprising considering his lordship had had so little sleep.

      ‘Only until tomorrow, old friend. I intend to place an advertisement about our son’s birth in various journals, and I’ll let a few other friends know personally. But I don’t wish to be away from home for too long, though I expect Louise will be glad of the break. She’s complaining that I fuss about her and little Benedict like a mother hen.’

      When the Viscount made no comment, Charles’s thoughts turned from his own domestic bliss to his friend’s well-being. ‘I must say I was half-expecting to discover the knocker had been removed from the door and that you’d returned to the country. When we met up a couple of weeks ago you gave the impression of being heartily bored with town life.’

      ‘Did I …?’ His lordship was nonplussed for a moment, then shrugged. ‘No, I’m not bored, Charles. Quite the contrary, in fact! Life has suddenly acquired a new and rather fascinating dimension.’

      No sooner had he volunteered this information than the parlour door was thrown wide, and Charles turned to see a young servant come striding, quite unbidden, into the room. ‘Do you wish me to accompany you out for a ride later—? Oh, I do beg your pardon, my lord! Brindle quite failed to inform me we had a visitor!’

      ‘How very remiss of him!’ his lordship responded with gentle mockery, while smiling faintly at the look of bewilderment on his friend’s face. ‘No matter, child, come forwards. You remember Mr Gingham, I trust?’

      It surprised his lordship not at all when Georgie came forward to study his friend’s physiognomy quite brazenly, though it clearly wasn’t what Charles was accustomed to. His jaw dropped perceptively when those striking orbs scrutinised his features for a full half-minute.

      ‘Oh, yes, now I remember you, sir!’

      ‘Er—do you, my boy?’ Charles asked faintly, much to Lord Fincham’s further amusement ‘Why, yes! You were with us at Deerhampton that day.’

      ‘Was I …? Yes, I suppose I was,’ Charles returned, evidently still unable to recall precisely where he had encountered the singular young person before. ‘Er—you appear to have the makings of a black eye, young fellow,’ he added, having returned the compliment by scrutinising the delicately featured face and clearly feeling some further comment was expected of him.

      ‘I know I have!’ was the proud response. ‘His lordship gave it to me.’

      This was almost too much for the Viscount’s self control. ‘Go away, you abominable brat!’ he managed with only the faintest trace of a betraying tremor in his voice. ‘And, no, I do not require you to accompany me out today, most especially as you’re sporting that injury. I’m not having the polite world believing I’m some kind of tyrannical monster. What’s more, you are not to venture forth again yourself until the bruise has faded,’ he added above that infectious gurgle of mirth that never failed to win an answering smile from him nowadays.

      ‘I’m not ashamed of it,’ he was promptly assured. ‘I look upon it as a kind of trophy. I’ve never had one before, you see?’

      ‘Which only goes to prove that those most closely associated with you in the past must have shown praiseworthy forbearance!’ his lordship parried, which resulted in a further gurgle of that infectious laughter. ‘You may bear me company this evening. I shall not be going out. We shall repair to the library and finish that game of chess we began the other evening.’

      Still showing visible signs of complete bewilderment, Charles stared fixedly across the table. ‘Who the deuce was that?’ he demanded to know the instant he and the Viscount were once again enjoying privacy.

      His lordship raised his black brows in mock surprise. ‘Why, my page, Charles. Who did you suppose it was?’

      ‘Don’t try to