“For everyone,” Wexford agreed as they entered the library. There weren’t many places to sit, and Bennet wondered if the club was always this crowded or if this was due to it being Tuesday night with both gentleman and ladies crammed into the men’s side. The men weren’t ever invited to the ladies’ half of the club—only into their side of the ballroom on Friday nights.
The assembly! Would Prudence be there with her new charge on Friday? Bennet hoped so. Now he had something wonderful to look forward to. Just to see her across the room would be enough.
“Irish whiskey?” Wexford asked him.
“That’s available?”
“There’s also the inferior Scottish variety if you’re an imbecile.” Wexford twisted his mouth in disgust.
Lady Wexford laughed. “Forgive Ruark. He’s awfully snobbish when it comes to whiskey.” She lowered her voice and leaned toward Bennet. “He does spend a great deal of time defending his homeland’s whiskey.”
“Because the lot of them have no taste,” Wexford grumbled.
“I’d love some Irish whiskey, thank you,” Bennet said.
“Always knew I liked you. Even when you beat me at the boxing club.” Wexford grinned before taking himself off, presumably to pour drinks.
Lady Wexford led him to stand near one of the front windows. “Did you just arrive back in town? Your absence was noted.”
“Last night, yes. I imagine I’ve attained quite a bit of notoriety over the past few weeks.”
“Thanks in large part to my father.” She gave him sympathetic look. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s not your fault. I confess I’m surprised at how welcoming you and Wexford are being.”
“What would be the point of holding a grudge for how you behaved at the fight? As you said, everything worked out as it should. Well, except for your reputation taking a fall.”
He lifted a shoulder. What else could he do? Wail and complain about the injustice of his father’s stupidity? No, not stupidity. That was not what had plagued him. What plagued nearly his entire family. “I do appreciate your generosity,” Bennet said as Wexford returned with whiskey for him and a glass of wine for his wife. Then he went back for his own drink.
“Glastonbury?”
Lord Lucien Westbrook strode toward them, his eyes slightly narrowed. He arrived just as Wexford did.
“Sorry, Lu, didn’t see you or I would have brought you a drink,” Wexford said.
“I have a brandy in my office I’m going to fetch.” Lord Lucien looked to Bennet. “Why don’t you join me, Glastonbury?”
There was an icy expectation in the man’s dark gaze that didn’t seem as though he would accept refusal.
“Just allow me to make a toast to the newlyweds.” Bennet lifted his glass. “May you live together in happiness and love for all the rest of your days, and on into eternity.”
Lady Westbrook’s face bloomed into a charmed expression. “That was lovely. Thank you, Glastonbury.” She tapped her glass to his and then her husband’s before taking a drink.
Bennet sipped his whiskey, appreciating the smooth, bold flavor. He glanced toward Wexford. “Why do you try to persuade anyone to drink this?” Wexford’s features immediately darkened, and he looked as if he wanted to challenge Bennet to a third bout, which Bennet supposed would settle things once and for all since they’d each won one. Before Wexford could say anything, Bennet added. “Because I would hoard it for myself.”
Wexford relaxed and grinned. “You make an excellent point. I’ll stop that immediately.”
“It’s too late for me, I’m afraid,” Bennet said. “This is what I plan on drinking whenever I visit.”
Clapping him on the shoulder, Wexford chuckled. “Then we shall share many a toast.”
“Shall we?” Lord Lucien prompted.
Bennet inclined his head to the Wexfords, then left the library with Lord Lucien. They walked past the stairs, and Lucien led him to a closed door. Opening it, he gestured for Bennet to precede him.
The office wasn’t large, but it was imposing, with a large desk and a wall of bookshelves. The fireplace was encased in marble, and a fantastic Reynolds was displayed on the wall above the mantel. A pair of dark green chairs sat before the hearth.
“Shall we sit for a moment?” Lord Lucien asked.
A moment seemed to indicate he intended them to have a short conversation. “Certainly.” Bennet sat in one of the chairs and Lucien took the other.
“You didn’t come here for brandy,” Bennet said, noting that his host had closed the door behind them when they’d come inside.
“No. I wanted to talk to you about your membership. I wonder if you might not be comfortable here after all.”
Bennet’s mind worked through that rather quickly. “You want me to resign?”
“It might be best.”
Anger pricked at Bennet, but he tamped it down. “You were quite eager to have me join.”
Lord Lucien rested his elbows on the arms of the chair and steepled his fingers. “Yes, and I wonder if we weren’t premature.”
“I believe you were desperate to have me attend an assembly so I could court your sister,” Bennet said blandly, again trying to keep a rein on his ire.
“That’s true. To be frank, we worked very hard to get you approved because Cassandra asked me to.”
“And now you regret it.” He tried not to sound irritated, but it was very difficult. “I thought the Phoenix Club welcomed those who were often excluded elsewhere.” That certainly fit Bennet.
Lord Lucien frowned, deep furrows lining his brow. “We do.”
“I won’t resign,” Bennet said. “Will you expel me?”
“We haven’t ever expelled anyone.” Lord Lucien grimaced before adding, “Not permanently.”
“I’d like to stay. As it happens, I find I’m rather unpopular at the moment since the news of my financial situation became known.”
Again, Lord Lucien grimaced. “That’s somewhat my fault. I’m the one who told my father, and he decided to share it with all of White’s.”
“I suppose I should expect expulsion from there too.”
Lord Lucien shook his head. “I’m not expelling you.”
Bennet finally relaxed. “Thank you.”
“Though I do wonder how you can afford the membership fees.”
Thankfully, they were less than other clubs, but Lord Lucien made a good point. Perhaps Bennet should resign from everything, even if it did cast him deeper into the pit of public disdain.
“You’re right,” Lord Lucien continued. “We do invite those who aren’t always welcome everywhere else. It’s just that, and let me be perfectly honest, we don’t know you very well. It’s rather embarrassing to me that we extended you an invitation without realizing your financial state.”
“If I decide I can afford the fee, does it matter?” Perhaps Bennet didn’t want to be a member.
Lord Lucien’s eyes hardened. “It does when you misrepresent yourself and try to trick my sister into marriage.”
“This is a purely personal issue, then.” Bennet understood. He didn’t have siblings, but he would do anything to protect his family. “I have apologized to Lady Wexford. My behavior was quite poor.”