Stephanie Laurens - A Gentleman's Honor

A Gentleman's Honor

STEPHANIE LAURENS

The Bastion Club

"a last bastion against the matchmakers of the ton"

MEMBERS

Christian Allardyce,

Marquess of Dearne

Anthony Blake,

Viscount Torrington

Jocelyn Deverell,

Viscount Paignton

Charles St. Austell,

Earl of Lostwithiel

Gervase Tregarth,

Earl of Crowhurst

Jack Warnefleet,

Baron Warnefleet of Minchinbury

#1 Leonora Carling

ONE

The Bastion Club

Montrose Place, London

March 15, 1816

WEVE A MONTH BEFORE THE SEASON BEGINS, AND ALREADY the harpies are hunting in packs. Charles St. Austell sank into one of the eight straight-backed chairs around the mahogany table in the Bastion Clubs meeting room.

As we predicted. Anthony Blake, sixth Viscount Torrington, took the chair opposite. The action in the marriage mart seems close to frenetic.

Have you seen much of it, then? Deverell sat beside Charles. I have to admit Im biding my time, lying low until the Season begins.

Tony grimaced. My mother might be resident in Devon, but she has a worthy lieutenant in my godmother, Lady Amery. If I dont appear at her entertainments at least, I can be assured of receiving a sharp note the next morning, inquiring why.

There were laughsresigned, cynical, and commiseratingfrom the others as they took their seats. Christian Allardyce, Gervase Tregarth, and Jack Warnefleet all sat, then, in concert, all eyes went to the empty chair beside Charles.

Trentham sends his regrets. At the head of the table, Christian didnt bother keeping a straight face. He didnt sound all that sincere. He wrote that he had more pressing engagements, but wished us joy in our endeavors. He expects to be back in town in a week, however, and looks forward to supporting the six of us through our upcoming travails.

Kind of him, Gervase quipped, but they were all grinning.

TrenthamTristan Wemysshad been the first of their number to successfully achieve his goal, the same goal they all were intent on attaining. They all needed to marry; that common aim had spawned this, their club, their last bastion against the matchmakers of the ton.

Of the six of them as yet unwed, gathered this evening to share the latest news, Tony felt sure he was the most desperate, although why he felt so restless, so frustrated, as if poised for action yet with no enemy in sight, he couldnt fathom. He hadnt felt so moody in years. Then again, he hadnt been a civilian, an ordinary gentleman, for years, either.

I vote we meet every fortnight, Jack Warnefleet said.

We need to keep abreast of events, so to speak.

I agree. Gervase nodded across the table. And if any of us has anything urgent to report, we call a meeting as needed. Given the pace at which matters move in the ton, two weeks is the limitby then, the ground has shifted.

Ive heard the patronesses of Almacks are thinking of opening their season early, such is the interest.

Is it true one still has to wear knee breeches?

On pain of being turned away. Christian raised his brows. Although Ive yet to ascertain just why that would be painful.

The others laughed. They continued trading informationon events, the latest fashions and tonnish distractionseventually moving on to comment and caution on individual matrons, matchmaking mamas, dragons, gorgons, and the likeall those who lay in wait for unsuspecting eligible gentlemen with a view to matrimonially ensnaring them.

Lady Entwhistles one to avoidonce she sinks her talons into you, its the devil of a job to break free.

It was their way of coping with the challenge before them.

Theyd all spent the last decade or more in the service of His Majestys government as agents acting in an unofficial capacity scattered throughout France and neighboring states, collecting information on enemy troops, ships, provisions, and strategies. Theyd all reported to Dalziel, a spymaster who lurked, a spider in the center of his web, buried in the depths of Whitehall; he oversaw all English military agents on foreign soil.

Theyd been exceedingly good at their jobs, witness the fact they were all still alive. But now the war was over, and civilian life had caught up with them. Each had inherited wealth, title, and properties; all were wellborn, yet their natural social circle, the haut tonthe gilded circle to which their births gave entre and in which their titles, properties, and the attendant responsibilities made participation obligatorywas an arena of operations largely unknown to them.

Yet in gathering information, evaluating it, exploiting itin that they were experts, so theyd established the Bastion Club to facilitate mutual support for their individual campaigns. As Charles had described it with typical dramatic flair, the club was their secured base from which each would infiltrate the ton, identify the lady he wanted as his wife, and then storm the enemys position and capture her.

Sipping his brandy, Tony recalled that hed been first to point out the need for a safe refuge. With a French mother and French godmother intent on encouraging any and all comers to bat their lashes at himboth ladies were aware such a tactic was guaranteed to make him take the matter of finding a wife into his own hands without delayit had been he who had sounded the warning. The ton was not safe for such as they.

Set on in the gentlemens clubs, hounded by fond papas as well as gimlet-eyed matrons, all but buried beneath the avalanche of invitations that daily arrived at their doors, life in the ton as an unmarried, wealthy, titled, eminently eligible gentleman was these days fraught with danger.

Too many had fallen on the battlefields of the Peninsula, and more recently at Waterloo.

They, the survivors, were marked men.

They were outnumbered, but theyd be damned if theyd be outgunned.

They were experts in battle, in tactics, and strategy; they werent about to be taken. If they had any say in it, they would do the taking.

That was, at the heart of it, the raison dtre of the Bastion Club.

Anything more? Christian glanced around the table.

All shook their heads; they drained their glasses.

I have to make an appearance at Lady Hollands soire. Charles pulled a face. I gather she feels she lent Trentham a helping hand, and now wants to try her luck with me.

Gervase raised his brows. And youre giving her the chance?

On his feet, Charles met his gaze. My mother, sisters, and sisters-in-law are in town.

Oh, ho! I see. Thinking of taking up residence here for the nonce?

Not at present, but I wont deny the thought has crossed my mind.

Ill come with you. Christian strolled around the table. I want to have a word with Leigh Hunt about that book hes writing. Hes sure to be at Holland House.

Tony stood.

Christian glanced his way. Are you still glorying in solitary state?

Yes, thank heaventhe maters fixed in Devon. Tony resettled his coat with a graceful shrug. I have, however, been summoned by my godmother to a soire at Amery House. Ill have to put in an appearance. He looked around the table. Anyone going that way?

Gervase, Jack, and Deverell shook their heads; theyd decided to retire to the clubs library and spend the rest of the evening in companionable silence.