A Tea-Drinker’s Novel: Chilverton Park
Chapter 1 At the Adelphi Club, Victorian London
“Wald, old fellow! Where’ve you been keeping yourself?”
“Wherever I can be assured of not meeting you.”
Hastings Bickerstaff threw his head back and laughed heartily. “Wald, you keep me humble, my man.”
“I can but try.”
“Have a brandy.”
“Such was my intent.”
The bar at the Adelphi Club was nearly full due to an influx of gentlemen to town for the early part of the Season. The club’s membership was mostly younger gentlemen, devotees of the game of Whist and sometimes Loo, though not, as a rule, of the fairer sex. Mr. Erskine Wald, who had wintered in Cannes, had just returned from his recent travels on the continent. Erskine was the only nephew and heir of Sir John Wald of Wald Abbey in Hertfordshire. As such, he was a man of family and some expectations. But, though he was not an intemperate man, he was considered a confirmed bachelor and definitely not a marrying man. He lounged his tall, thin figure elegantly against the club bar and observed the conduction of a game of Pitch with detachment. His heavy-lidded eyes under thick brows expressed his bemusement while his wide mouth wore its accustomed smile of irony.
Eustace Owerly interrupted his reverie. “Erskine Wald, as I live and breathe!”
“You here?”
“Constantly, my dear. I hear you’ve been gadding about the continent, scattering largesse at the faro table.”
“So I’m told.” Erskine shrugged, remembering his mother’s lecture of the previous evening.
“It’s a shame you missed Lady Fallowell’s rout.”
“Yes, I’m inconsolable.”
“Wasn’t the same without you, dear boy.”
“I should imagine not.”
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