"Oh dear. Can you not stay a few more days? There is another ball on Saturday if your father would allow." Margery was practically begging the two Henry siblings at breakfast. Trent laughed easily and shook his head.

"I am so sorry, Duchess. My father cannot be persuaded. He is a stubborn old man and has insisted we join him. I am afraid we must go and be sold off at the market now." He joked. There was a rather sad look in his eye though and a defeated cast to his face that made Lord Low feel rather sorry for him. The girl, Miss Aggs, just sighed into her porridge.

"Well, perhaps we can have you to stay again in a while. I most enjoyed this visit. I daresay we have become grand friends for the future, yes?" The Duchess proclaimed, leaving no room for argument. The siblings returned the sentiment as wholeheartedly as the situation would allow, mollifying her greatly.

"I've never been to London. Will you write to me and tell me all about it?" Low asked Trent with a curious gleam in his eyes. Trent smiled at the boy and agreed.

"Of course. I do love a good gossip and rant. I shall tell you everything whether you like it or no." He threatened playfully.

"I can't say as I envy you, Trent. Do try to behave for your father. Either that, or behave so badly that you send him to an early grave and he no longer must suffer." Lord Hart commented with a wicked glint. Trent laughed and nearly spilt his tea.

"Indeed. You are being a bad influence, Der. I will miss you terribly. Are you sure you will not come with me?" He tried to ask semi-seriously. Derry was shaking his head though.

"No, dear me. You won't catch me live or dead at the market. I am not looking for a wife any time soon. I am far too young for that." He winked at Margery and she chuckled.

"As if you even have to worry about that. My father is determined to have me wed to a title and Lord Low here will need to marry his fortune, I bet. You already have both." He lamented. Lord Hart shrugged and tipped back the last of his juice.

"Perhaps." Was all he replied. The group lingered as long as they could over the empty plates and cups. No one was really looking forward to the two Henry siblings leaving. Finally it was time, though they tried to stretch it out, and the two got up into the loaded carriage to take them away to London. If Trent's gaze lingered a little longer at his friend than was proper, nobody would say anything about it.

A watching shadow saw it however, and was more determined than ever in his course of action. The Duke was glad to see Trenton Henry leaving. The two of them flaunting their relations in his house was a bad influence on his one decent son. He hoped that there hadn't been too much damage done to the poor boy's mind with the two of them here.

He blamed Margery partly for inviting them here. Mostly it just gave him another reason to despise his eldest offspring. Just a little bit longer and he would be done with the child entirely. He just needed the paperwork from his solicitor. He could send the boy away for good this time and never lay his eyes on Darian again.

"It really is too bad they had to leave." The Duchess said to the two boys as they walked back up the front steps and into the manor. Lord Low sighed and nodded, watching as the carriage went down the front lane.

"Yes. I liked them. It was nice to have more company my own age here." Low replied companionably. Lord Hart smiled at the two of them. He was relieved to have more people on his side in the house than against. Their open acceptance of Trent had given him hope of keeping a sense of family in the future, despite the Duke.

"I am glad you enjoyed their company. I admit I was a little worried about inviting them here, since they aren't... oh I don't know, très gentille c'est ... élégants?" He looked a bit embarrassed admitting it, but it was sort of true. Not that it ever bothered him, just he admitted to himself that others probably looked down on his friends.

"Perhaps, but they make up for it by being absolutely charming. I can assure you of that. It was a pleasure to have them stay." Margery told him generously.

"Yes, lilac suit or no, I still enjoyed their company." Lord Low teased with a grin. Derry laughed at that memory of them coming in the door. Today Trent had only been wearing the colour powder blue, probably to show his mood. It was far less shocking than the purple outfit he had worn to arrive, but equally gaudy.

"It will be a bit quieter I suppose, now they are gone." Derry remarked as they walked back into the parlour. Margery laughed at that and shook her head.

"Oh dear me no. The neighbours all want to be sure that you are entertained enough to stay yourself, Lord Hart. There is no less than seven invitations on my writing desk waiting for replies if we will attend or no. Come and we will choose our entertainment." She had a decided skip in her step as she turned them back around to take to her personal parlour.

"This is nice. Did you decorate it yourself?" Derry asked as he came in the door and saw the warm interior. It was done in fall colours with some lovely autumn tree paintings on the walls. She smiled and hummed as she unlocked her desk and pulled out a sheaf of letters.

"I did. Let's see now. I already agreed to the ball on Saturday, which you two may choose to come if you like. There is a garden party, two afternoon teas, a small dinner party close by, a large dinner party with an overnight stay, and two musical offerings." She read out as she shuffled through them.

"The musicals are out. Especially if the musician is not mentioned. It is probably someone local or their daughter trying to show her talents. I haven't the patience." Derry smirked. Low shook his head at him.

"That's not very nice, Derry. Maybe they are good. You shouldn't presume." He defended. Lord Hart sniffed.

"No, it is the matchmaking that I can't stand. If it is the daughter, and they are any good, I shan't be able to listen for the parents talking about how good they are through the performance." He argued. Margery laughed at that.

"He does have a point. I will refuse those." She put them onto her desk in a separate pile. "I should refuse the garden party too, since I have the sniffles."

"Yes, we do not want you falling ill, stepmother." Lord Low agreed. He looked thoughtful and held out a hand to look at the other invitations. Lord Hart came and stood behind him to read over his shoulder, standing rather close and making Low blush.

"It conflicts with that dinner party anyways, and I think it is that girl's family who chased me last time. Am I right?" He looked down at Low, who nodded self-consciously at the close proximity.

"So shall we agree to the afternoon teas, the dinners and the ball then? It gives us an event every couple of days with the finishing touch the large dinner with stay over Monday next." Margery sat at the desk and pulled forth a sheaf of stationary to compose a reply.

"I think that would be nice. The afternoon tea this week, followed by the ball." Derry mused to himself.

"Then the small dinner, another tea, and the large dinner that weeks end." Low agreed with a nod.

"Not too busy." Derry clapped him on the shoulder.

"But not too dull." Margery added with a grin and a flourish of her quill. Low took the invitations to her desk and laid them down next to the parchment.

1384

trés gentilles = very gently/he's trying to say it kindly
c'est élégants = it's elegant/or he's saying they are inelegant, gauche, not stylish (but he doesn't care)