"And we shall all stay at my father's London house," the viscount decided. "The old man don't come up for the season anymore. He scarcely goes to Parliament, but he keeps the house open for family and friends from September through June."
"Damned generous," Lord Walworth said.
"Yes, thank you, Ocky," the earl agreed. "We ain't never had a house in town. I hope the lady I find to marry has a family with one."
"I shall be glad to accept your invitation, Ocky," the duke said.
"We have two months to prepare," the viscount said. "Tomorrow we part, and we shall meet again on March fifteenth to travel up to London together, gentlemen."
"Agreed," the earl and Lord Walworth replied simultaneously.
"Agreed," the duke said.
PART I
A VERY SUCCESSFUL SEASON
Chapter 1
“At best we can bag an earl, or perhaps an earl's heir for Allegra," Lady Olympia Abbott, Dowager Marchioness of Rowley, told her brother-in-law, Lord Septimius Morgan. "Pandora's behavior ain't helped her daughter, but there it is. My sister was always selfish, and do not glower at me, Septimius; it is the truth even if you have never faced it." She sipped her tea from a Wedgwood saucer thoughtfully. "We won't know what opportunities we have until the season begins, and we see what unmarried young men have come; but I can guarantee that Allegra's extraordinary beauty and wealth will attract only the best. The bluest of bloods, of course, will ignore her, but we'll do very well nonetheless. This tea is delicious, Septimius. Who is your importer? I must have some for myself."
"The tea comes from my own plantations, Olympia. I will see you are supplied with it from now on," Lord Morgan said.
"Your own plantations in India? I never knew," his sister-in-law replied, surprised. She slurped from her saucer appreciatively.