Page 16 of A Virgin for the Duke of Thorns

“And they were lovely gifts, too. A pity you did not seem to have a taste for them.” His friend shook his head in sham disappointment. “But do tell me why you have finally decided to step out of that dreary den of yours. You cannot possibly have come all the way here to thank me for my gifts—as useless as they have been.”

Colin shook his head. “About that, I am here to tell you to stop sending me your gifts.”

The Duke of Sinclair sighed as he poured two glasses of brandy and handed one to Colin. “I simply thought you needed cheering up.”

“Not by sending half-naked women into my bedchamber.” Colin grimaced.

The last one had already started pleasuring herself on his bed when he discovered her. He had to rouse his servants to change the sheets right after throwing the wench out—politely, of course.

“You have been spending too much time on your own.” Ethan shrugged. “But since you find them so distasteful, then I shall desist.”

“Good, because Evelyn will be making her bow soon, and I cannot have your gifts showing up unannounced with my sister in the house.” The mere thought of his younger sister softened his normally stiff expression. “I intend to make sure that all goes well for her. That, and you know that my grandmother will also be in attendance.”

His friend shuddered visibly at the mention of the formidable Lady Wellington. “Fine. Consider me warned to steer clear of Blackthorn Estate for the rest of the Season. Now”—he wiggled his eyebrows—“what is the other purpose of this singular foray of yours into the outside world?”

Sinclair Park was hardly the outside world, as his friend liked to dramatically put it. Considering, however, that Colin had stubbornly stuck to his isolation in Blackthorn Estate, eschewing even the immaculately maintained townhouse he had kept for half a decade, then perhaps Ethan had a valid point.

“I would like to ask where Lady Alice Barkley lives,” Colin told him.

He held the brandy up to the light and regarded it with a slight smile, recalling the audacious young lady who found herself in his private rooms just last night.

Gods above, he could hardly sleep just thinking of her luscious figure. If he closed his eyes, he could still see that smoldering, brilliant green gaze and those slightly parted lips he longed to taste.

“Lady Alice Barkley?” Ethan repeated with a confused look. “The Marquess of Brandon’s daughter? What business do you have with the chit?”

Colin’s smile grew wider. “Why, I intend to ask for her hand in marriage, of course.”

At his words, his friend ungraciously spat out the brandy he had been sipping, his eyes wide with shock. “You intend to marry Lady Alice Barkley?”

“Louder, Ethan. I do not think those outside of London heard you.”

The Duke of Sinclair quickly regained his composure and shook his head. “I never thought you would want to marry—and Lady Alice Barkley, at that.”

“Why?” Colin frowned. “Is there something wrong with her?”

His friend shook his head. “Why, there certainly is nothing wrong with her. She looks beautiful enough?—”

What do you mean by “beautiful enough”?

Colin wanted to scream at him. The young lady who had sneaked into his bedchamber had all the audacity of a warrior goddess and the sensuality of a vixen. He had seen a great many debutantes in his time, flirted with an unaccountable number of young widows willing to climb into his bed, and yet none of them had ever had the effect that Lady Alice had on him.

“—she is just a little odd,” Ethan finished lamely.

“By ‘odd’, do you mean, perchance, that she does not feel the slightest compunction to flirt with you?” Colin muttered wryly.

“Not only me but most other gentlemen as well.”

“Then we should add ‘sensible’ to her list of laudable traits.”

Ethan gave him a look of mock injury. “Yes, but when you said you wanted to marry someone, I would have to admit that I expected someone else. Lady Alice Barkley never crossed my mind.”

“Perhaps you should be the one going out more, my friend.”

“Or perhaps you need to get out more,” the Duke of Sinclair shot back. “Fortunately for you, I know very well where Lady Alice Barkley resides, and I shall accompany you there myself.”

“The support is greatly appreciated.”

“Naturally.” Ethan grinned at him, ever the charming rogue. “I want to see for myself how the reclusive Duke of Thorns goes about asking for a lady’s hand in marriage.”

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