Two days after the dinnerat Devon House, Easton was getting ready to leave his rooms at the Albany when a note with the Fletcher seal was delivered. He tore it open.
Come meet me at Gentlemen Jack’s. I could use a good workout. F.
He was surprised that Fletcher had taken him up on his offer so quickly, but it was probably for the best. He wanted to dispel some of his own nervous energy. That dinner had been a test of patience. He’d tried to engage Miss Parker in a more serious conversation about her hopes and dreams for her future, but the young woman answered almost every question with,“I want to have the most fun ever.”
That had unexpectedly gutted him.
Although he knew she could be quite frivolous at times, he was hoping she also had a serious side—one that would enjoy sharing ideas with him. Did she envision herself with a family? Did she prefer London or the country? Of course, he knew the answer to that last question. She adored London and all its activities. He doubted she would ever crave the quiet of the countryside.
Alas, he hadn’t learned anything new about her at that dinner. However, Easton couldn’t really fault Miss Parker. Shewas young and experiencing her first taste of London with the ton. He understood that her childhood hadn’t been the most pleasant after her mother died. London had not been a fun place back then, as the three Parker sisters tried to survive. They’d barely scraped up enough food to eat because of their now-departed father’s gambling habits.
He’d noticed that the two older Parker sisters seemed to have weathered their unhappy childhoods in different ways.
Lady Fletcher had thrown herself into supporting charities that helped children, especially girls. She spent time at the foundling house, organizing training sessions for the older girls so they could have better options for their future. She worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for as many children as possible, and he admired her a great deal.
The middle sister, Grace, had married his dear friend, Mr. Peter Wallings. Peter had been installed as the new vicar to the parish in Reading, near the Fletcher country seat, Dandridge Manor, and the two of them had fallen madly in love. Both were now thriving in their new roles, and Easton wished them all the happiness in the world. He was saddened when they’d declined to come to London for a visit, but he understood that Peter had responsibilities to his parishioners.
That left the youngest sister, Miss Mia Parker. She had a decidedly different personality from either of her sisters, and at the moment, she didn’t seem concerned with the plight of those less fortunate, even though she’d experienced that life for a time. He surmised that her older sisters had sheltered Miss Parker as much as possible from the harshness of their plight. He couldn’t really blame her, for he hadn’t given much thought to the harsh circumstances of children and orphans either.
Easton’s eyes were now opened to the plight of so many others less fortunate than he. It began when he read his father’s bill against slavery in the Caribbean, and was advanced furtherwhen he heard about Lady Fletcher’s work with orphans. He wanted to do more than eat, drink, and enjoy a merry bachelor life. He wanted his life to have meaning beyond being a viscount and heir to an earldom, so he’d begun researching how he could help the most people. The last thing he needed was a new jacket or waistcoat. That money could be better spent buying warm coats and mittens for orphaned children or supporting the training Lady Fletcher had instituted at the foundling home she supported. Perhaps he could even convince Miss Parker to accompany him when he visited.
While he wasn’t willing to shrug off his bachelor life completely, it was time for some major changes in how he viewed the world.
He shrugged on his coat, looking forward to meeting Fletcher at the club. Today was usually the day Chandler and Ludlow boxed, so he should be able to get a workout in with them too if he felt up to it. He left his rooms and decided to walk to Gentlemen Jack’s to enjoy the balmy April day, perfect for being outside. It was a far cry from the blustery winds of the other evening.
It didn’t take long for Easton to reach the boxing club, and when he walked inside, he was surprised to see Fletcher already in the ring with Ludlow. Chandler was watching ringside, and Easton strolled over to his friend.
“Morning, Chandler. I see you’ve met Fletcher.”
“Yes, earlier. I’m surprised we never crossed paths before. I like him. He’s not pretentious in the least.”
“Fletcher is a good man, even though he’s American,” Easton said with a chuckle. “He’s been at his country estate for most of the last year after the birth of his son, but he’s here in London for his sister-in-law’s Season.”
“Oh? And who is that? Have I met her?”
“It’s Miss Parker. Have you been introduced yet?”
“No, I don’t believe so. I’ll have my mother extend an invitation to him so I’ll be able to meet her at the ball.”
Easton inwardly groaned. “Excuse me while I go change.”
The last thing he wanted was for his dashing friend to be introduced to Miss Parker. He’d seen the way young ladies looked at Chandler, with his broad shoulders and soulful brown eyes, and he wouldn’t like to see Miss Parker fall under his spell. Of course, he couldn’t say any of that, or it would mean he was acknowledging his own feelings for her. He wasn’t ready for that yet.
In the dressing room off the main boxing area, Easton stripped off his jacket, waistcoat, and shirt before pulling on a set of mufflers—soft leather covers padded with lamb’s wool that would protect him from black eyes and a swollen face. If this were an actual bout, it would have been bare-knuckled, but that was not Easton’s preference. He enjoyed the workout boxing gave him without all the physical injuries. That wasn’t to say there weren’t many times his jaw or ribs were sore after a bout, but his discomfort usually only lasted a day or two.
Fletcher and Ludlow were finishing their bout when he made his way back to the ringside.
“Thanks for sparring with me,” Fletcher said. “Haven’t had that good a workout in a long time.”
“My pleasure,” Ludlow said. “Chandler and I are usually here on Tuesdays; feel free to join us anytime.”
“Easton, you’re here,” Fletcher said, looking over his shoulder. “I’ve met your friends. Thanks for the suggestion to join you.”
“Good day, Fletcher,” Easton said. “Ready for another bout?”
Fletcher shook his head. “I’m afraid not. Ludlow has worn me out.”
Easton nodded. “Next time then.”