“Miranda’s wasn’t the only name the duchess omitted from the guest list,” Jarrod reminded them. “Why didn’t she include Colin and Gillian? And why didn’t Sussex send separate invitations to everyone his mother had failed to invite?” Jarrod demanded, pacing harder and faster, equally annoyed that Daniel had managed to include the Marchioness of St. Germaine on his mother’s guest list, yet neglected to add Colin and Gillian to the list. “When did Sussex add the marchioness’s name to the list?”
“I’m sorry,” Jonathan apologized for his aunt and his cousin. “I don’t have an answer for that. Aunt Lavinia didn’t mention Grantham or his viscountess. But she was quite upset at having the Marchioness of St. Germaine appear at the front door with the invitation Daniel had sent her.”
Griff drummed his fingers on the arm of the sofa in a show of agitation. “I’m afraid that doesn’t bode well for the future,” he muttered. Lady Miranda St. Germaine was his wife’s closest friend and had served as Alyssa’s maid of honor at their wedding. Miranda was a frequent guest at Griff and Alyssa’s Park Lane house, and at Abernathy Manor, their country house in Northamptonshire. Griff was privy to a good many of Miranda’s aspirations regarding the Duke of Sussex, whether he wanted to be or not, because Alyssa thought Sussex and Miranda were a perfect match and was determined to see Miranda become the next duchess.
“Maybe not.” Jonathan grinned. “Because this battle of wills over Miranda has been going on for quite some time. Daniel sends the marchioness an invitation every year and adds her name to the final guest list. The dispute has become so heated of late that my aunt refuses to tell Daniel when the invitations go out or allow him to see the final guest list. Last night she gave the staff strict orders that Miranda was not to be allowed entrance to Sussex House unless she was accompanied by the Prince Regent. Aunt Lavinia was furious because Miranda got past both footmen and Weldon, the butler, by waving the invitation Daniel sent her.”
“That’s outrageous!” Courtland exclaimed. “Lady St. Germaine has never done anything to warrant having the duchess bar her from the house.”
“Except threaten her,” Griff said softly.
“Miranda threatened Aunt Lavinia?” Jonathan couldn’t contain a small satisfied smile. “I would have paid money to see that.”
“Then open your eyes, Barclay,” Colin said. “Because as long as Miranda St. Germaine remains unattached, she’s a threat to the duchess.”
Jonathan widened his eyes, and his smile as understanding dawned. “I assumed Daniel’s infatuation with Miranda was over and done with years ago.”
“So does everyone else,” Jarrod said. “Except Her Grace, the Duchess of Sussex …”
“Who is afraid of losing her influence over society and over her son if she’s consigned to the lesser role of dowager duchess,” Colin added.
“Her Grace is already the dowager duchess,” Courtland reminded them.
“That’s true,” Griff agreed. “But her position as mistress of Sussex House and everything else Sussex owns is secure because Daniel is not married.”
“But Aunt Lavinia’s been pushing young ladies in Daniel’s direction for years,” Jonathan pointed out.
“She pushes a new crop of young ladies in Sussex’s direction every season, knowing he isn’t going to pay them an iota of attention. She knows he isn’t interested in girls fresh from the schoolroom,” Colin explained. “Sussex likes a challenge, and there’s no challenge in having young ladies and their mamas clamoring for him to court them. He’s bored to tears by the whole thing and hasn’t noticed anyone in years …”
“Except Alyssa,” Griff added, reminding them all that he had almost lost his wife to Sussex when Sussex’s mother and Alyssa’s mother, who were fast friends, had planned to unite their families with a marriage between their offspring. But Griff and Alyssa had ruined the plan when they had chosen each other. “Not that I can fault the man’s taste in the least.”
“Alyssa was the exception,” Jarrod reminded him. “And you know it. You must admit, in all fairness, that there were several extenuating circumstances to Sussex’s pursuit of Alyssa.”
“I know that now,” Griff agreed. “But I didn’t know it or appreciate it at the time.”
It had taken him a while to get over his jealousy of Sussex and to forgive the man for seeing Alyssa’s potential as a duchess, but he’d finally managed. He genuinely liked Sussex as a man, and as a friend and fellow Free Fellow, and Griff truly admired the way he carried the burden of his position in society—a position to which Daniel had been born but had been thrust upon Griff, and to which he was still learning to adjust.
“Barclay, you’re his cousin,” Jarrod said. “You’ve known Daniel longer than any of us. So tell us, how many ladies, other than Griff’s duchess, have captured and held Sussex’s attention for longer than a night or two?”
“I can only recall one since he left university,” Jonathan answered.
“And the lady’s name is …” Colin prompted.
“Miranda, Marchioness St. Germaine.”
Jarrod turned to Griffin. “Have you seen Miranda since the party last night?”
Griff frowned. “No. She and her mother were supposed to accompany us to Sussex House, but Miranda suggested we meet there so Lord and Lady Tressingham and my parents could ride with us.”
“It sounds as if Lady Miranda knew she might be turned away at the front door and wanted to spare you and herself a bit of embarrassment,” Alex observed.
Colin nodded in agreement. “Did you see Miranda or her mother there?”
Griff shook his head. “No.”
“I didn’t see her either,” Jonathan added, “but I know Miranda was there because Aunt Lavinia was furious with Daniel for inviting her and furious with Miranda for not being more like her mother and having the good manners to stay away from where she wasn’t invited.”
“Lady St. Germaine didn’