"I'm quite certain," Griff answered.
"But you said there was a huge crush." Colin began to pace back and forth in Jarrod's customary pattern.
"There was." Griff looked at Colin and frowned. "Which is why I didn't catch a glimpse of you and Gillian all evening."
"You didn't catch a glimpse of us all evening because Gillian and I weren't invited," Colin replied.
"What do you mean you weren't invited?" Courtland and Barclay demanded in unison.
"I'm only a viscount."
"There were a dozen viscounts and viscountesses there," Barclay protested.
"And you have one of the oldest and most revered titles in Scotland," Griffin added. "Granthams and McElreaths have held titles from the time of Macbeth."
"Aye," Colin agreed, in a thick burr. "But they were Scottish titles and, present company excluded, when have the English ever been impressed by Scottish titles?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Besides, everyone knows there's no money behind the title."
"That may have been true once," Griff reminded him, "but your hard work and your marriage to Gillian put money behind the title. Tons of money." Griff ran his fingers through his hair. Colin had married Gillian Davies, the daughter of Baron Carter Davies, a silk and linen merchant who owned a fleet of ships and dozens of lucrative trade routes all over the world. Gillian's father had become one of the richest men in England and been rewarded with the title of baron for services to the Crown, but he and his wife and daughter had yet to be fully accepted by some members of the ton. "Of course tons of money doesn't mean a thing to the Dowager Duchess of Sussex, who is, and has always been, a terrible snob. But don't let it bother you. You're in excellent company, you know. She only invited Alyssa and me because I'm the hero of Fuentes de Onoro and because His Highness elevated me to the rank of duke." He stared at his friend, trying to read between the lines. "And you know that if Daniel had realized his mother had omitted your name from the guest list, he would have invited you himself."
"I know that." Colin laughed. "And I don't need consoling, Griff. Believe me, I'd rather spend a quiet evening at home with Gillian than fight my way through the crush of the ton at Sussex House. And you can be sure Gillian feels likewise." Once upon a time, Colin would have felt slighted by the duchess's snub, but now, he truly didn't feel the slight. His only regret was that he knew Daniel would be embarrassed to learn that his mother had slighted one of his friends. But he and Gillian were about to celebrate their first wedding anniversary and they enjoyed each other's company far too much to worry about missing the social event of the year. "If there's anything she despises, it's the snobbery of the duchess's set."
Griff raised his hands in a sign of surrender. "Daniel and I are the ones who need consoling. Count yourself fortunate that your mother-in-law isn't a part of the Duchess of Sussex's set like mine is." He smiled. "Alyssa and I would rather have stayed home like you and Gillian, and you know Daniel would rather avoid all the fuss, but… It's worse for him. The duchess is his mother. There was no escape for him."
Colin nodded. "I can't imagine returning from a mission and having to face that."
"It's the same for me," Jonathan said gloomily. "Because my aunt would never forgive me for missing her party either. And if my aunt is unhappy, my mother is unhappy. Unfortunately, those two sisters are as alike as peas in a pod and they're both capable of making my life miserable."
The Free Fellows had all become as close as brothers, but only Sussex and Manners were related. Their mothers were sisters. Daniel's mother had married a duke. Jonathan's mother had married the younger son of an earl. Until he'd unexpectedly inherited his paternal uncle's title, Jonathan had always been the poor cousin whose aunt limited his contact with her son. The duchess had made certain that Jonathan and Daniel had gone to different schools. Jonathan had been sent to Knightsguild with Griffin, Colin, and Jarrod, and Daniel had followed in his father's footsteps and had gone to Eton. Fortunately for Jonathan, Daniel had sought his companionship whenever possible and had generously rewarded Jonathan for information about the Free Fellows League. Jonathan had slept in the cot next to Jarrod's and had often overheard bits of information about the mysterious League and the three boys who had formed it and patterned it after King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. He eagerly shared his information with Daniel and Daniel had supplied him with coins and trinkets in return. The cousins had thrilled to the exploits of the Free Fellows League and both boys had aspired to join it.
It had taken years, but Sussex and Barclay had finally been granted membership and earned their secret code names. Shepherdston was Merlin. Avon was Lancelot. Grantham was Galahad. Sussex was Arthur. Barclay had become Bedivere and Courtland had become Tristram.
"I shudder to think about it," Alex added.
"I know. I've been there," Colin said. "More times than I can count and I know that even if everything went smoothly, a trip to the coast of France and back in two days is a hardship."
"Daniel had to ride like the hounds of hell were on his heels in order to make it to his mother's party on time. And it's not as if he could beg off. He's the duke. It's his house and, what's more, he actually lives there." Griff's smile grew into a broad grin. "Think about it. He probably had to fight his way through the crowd of coaches to get down the drive to the house. No doubt he overslept."
"I did no such thing."
Four Free Fellows turned at the sound of the protest to find Jarrod standing in the doorway. "Shepherdston!" they greeted him.
"My tardiness had nothing to do with oversleeping," Jarrod continued in a sharp tone. "I am only a quarter of an hour late despite the fact that I've been up all night."
"We were talking about Sussex oversleeping," Colin said. He walked over to the silver coffeepot, poured a steaming cup of the brew, and carried it over to Jarrod. "Not your going without." He thrust the cup in Jarrod's hand. "Drink this. You look like hell."
It was true. Jarrod's brown eyes were bloodshot and there were dark circles beneath them. "Thanks," he said, gratefully accepting the coffee.
"What did you do, Shepherdston? Put in an appearance at the Duchess of Sussex's ball last night then go home and work on dispatches?" Barclay inquired.
Jarrod shook his head. "You know better than that. Unlike the rest of you, I declined my invitation." He met Colin's gaze and smiled. "How was Her Grace's party? Did you and your lovely viscountess have a good time?"
"We had a very nice ti
me," Colin told him. "But not at Sussex House."
Jarrod frowned. "You didn't go?"
The Duchess of Sussex's annual gala was the invitation of the season. No one declined except confirmed bachelors like Jarrod who need not count on winning the duchess's approval to retain their secure social standing in the ton. If anything, Jarrod's consistent refusal to grace the Duchess of Sussex's party with his presence increased his desirability among the ton's other hostesses.