Lady Beatrice Nairn was a widow, and her husband, a Scotsman, had left her large but unproductive estates in Scotland. She therefore felt it impossible to leave them to sponsor her son’s debut into London Society.
Lady Beatrice was convinced that in London Roderic would frequent dens of vice and experience all the temptations of St. Anthony once he became a member of the Beau Ton.
The Marquis, however, had taken his responsibilities very lightly.
“The boy has to find his feet, Beatrice,” he said to his sister when she beseeched him to prevent Roderic from coming to any harm.
“But he is so very young, Lenox, and so good looking!”
“So are a great number of other young men,” the Marquis replied, “and he cannot remain tied to your apron strings forever!”
“I am so worried about him, and h
