Apollo

Chapter Three

A/N Hey everyone! Here's this week's update – TGIF, am I right? :DD

THE COCKEREL SIGNALLED THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DAY, AND DUKE William Mayfair found himself awakening in a good mood. Today was the day the family would dine with Victoria Arden, the lass who, to him, bore promises of his son's marriage and heirs for the Lockhart clan. His daughter had succeeded – and it was just as he had expected. Her perceptiveness and her wit were her finest qualities, and he knew that she would never fail him.

Lord Daniel Arden, his wife Lady Georgeanne and their daughter were due to arrive in Wellington House at noon for luncheon with the their Mayfair counterparts. Emmeline had promised to leave the palace and travel to the manor for the meal. After an afternoon of activities, the princess would proceed with the Lady Victoria to St James' Palace, where she would dine alone with her at dinnertime to assess the prospective bride's character in further detail. William, however, was not worried at all that Emmeline would find any fault with her, for he held high hopes for this match. Daniel Arden was a dear friend, and his daughter would be an excellent choice for Emmett. From what he had heard, the young lady was poised, confident, and graceful – the perfect woman by societal standards. His son would do well to choose her as his bride.

William washed and dressed before proceeding to the dining room to break his fast. He was pleased to find a plate of eggs and meats already waiting before his seat and no one else in the room; he quite liked to have some quiet in the mornings. Unfortunately, his peace was short-lived, for not long after his sixth bite there came a rap on the door followed by the entrance of one of his footmen.

"My apologies for disturbing your meal, Your Grace, but His Lordship Earl Portsmouth has arrived. He is in the drawing room."

A glance at the grandfather clock by the furnace showed that the boy was an hour early. William nodded anyway and gave instructions for Emmett to be directed into the dining room instead, and when the footman left he took his seventh bite of food and thought about what he would have to say to his son in preparation for luncheon.

A few things had come to mind and he was taking his tenth bite when he heard the earl clear his throat by the door. "Good morning, Father. May I come in?"

"Pray do," William replied, "and please sit."

Emmett obliged before speaking again. "I apologise for disturbing your breakfast, Father, I know you do love the quiet."

"It is no matter, Emmett. It is good to see you again." William offered a ghost of a smile. "Have some tea, son, it is your favourite kind."

He looked about the room, but seeing as there were no servants in the room to pour it, Emmett picked up the teapot and helped himself to a cup. Raising the china to his lips, he took a sip almost hesitantly, as if he were afraid to drink. However he found himself his eyes closing involuntarily to heighten his sense of taste as he, reflexively, hummed his appreciation with a slight nod. It seemed to be the best thing his tongue had tasted in far too long. He put the cup back down and offered William a faint smile.

"You are right, Father. It is indeed." He had not drunk this in weeks – with his sister no less than incarcerated in her fancy lodgings he had not had the heart to enjoy even the simplest of life's pleasures, and had nearly forgotten how much he had loved life itself before he had destroyed his sister's.

His sister—"When did Linnie say she would arrive?"

William himself drew a long sip of earl grey, his eyebrows knitted together in thought. He swallowed thickly before answering. "Well, son, I'm afraid she did not specify a time. She did, however, mention arriving ahead of luncheon to ensure that all arrangements are satisfactory – perhaps, then, around eleven?"