Page 82 of Finding Lord Landry

“You look happy,” she observed. “Which is more than anyone will be able to say for my mother when she sees the photo of me shaking Jamie’s hand after besting him at archery. I can imagine the conversation now. ‘Cora, dear, how do you hope to attract a titled husband if they think you mightshootthem?’”

Landry snickered. “Well, from the dopey expression on Winthrop’s face, he wouldn’t mind being shot if you were the one holding the bow.”

Cora smacked Landry’s shoulder smartly. “Be nice,” she commanded. “Jamie’s sweet. And he didn’t for one moment try to pretend he’d only lost because he was going easy on me, either. It was a fair contest, and he congratulated me like a true sportsman.”

“Oh, it’sJamie, is it?” Landry teased, provoking Cora to smack his shoulder again, harder this time. “And do you wantJamiegoinghardon y—oiy! Leave off! Don’t bruise the viscount!”

I barely paid attention to their sibling-ish squabbles. I was too busy staring at the photo of myself. I hated to admit it, but whoever was writing the headlines had gotten it right.

I huffed out a breath. “I never expected to be anyone’s dutiful husband,” I muttered. “It’s embarrassing.”

Landry quirked his lips at me while his eyes danced. “They didn’t say dutiful. They said devoted.Devoted, Kenj. I’m sending the link to the Brotherhood. If anyone will laugh at the irony, it will be Bash and Silas.”

I didn’t mention that I’d already gotten a text from Zane with a row of hearts and swoony-face emojis and a long, drawn-outd’awwww.

“Iamdevoted to you,” I said. “Devoted to your punctuality, your organization, your schedule, your dry cleaning, your…” My snark trailed off as a memory inserted itself front and center.

“I am devoted to your pleasure,” Landry said with a teasing look on his face.

“Yeah, how about being devoted to getting me off as quickly as possible. I have a meeting in six minutes, and you’re going to be late for your shoot.”

We’d been in the executive restroom off my office, and Landry had been on his knees for me.

My eyes flicked to his and found deep aquamarine eyes staring back at me with knowing intensity.

The tailor was three seconds away from moving from my back to my front, so I shot Landry a death-ray glare and quickly imagined a quick plunge in an icy lake. It worked, but it left me feeling a little chilled.

I blamed Landry.

Just when I was poised to disappear upstairs and take some much-needed time to myself, Cora shot me a cheeky grin. “Etiquette lessons, remember? They were rescheduled when the sports day went long?”

I closed my eyes and bit back a curse.

Landry chuckled and moved past me. “Yeah, good luck with that, husband. It’s a lot about utensil placement and proper address. Riveting stuff.”

Cora caught his elbow. “You’re in it, too. He’s doing a dance lesson with it since the two of you will be watched like hawks at the Hearts of Hawling Dinner.”

I silently cackled with glee when Landry did his cursing out loud.

The etiquette part of the lesson was easy enough. I’d picked up details here and there over the years that seemed to have covered most of it. The biggest challenge was the rules around addressing people properly and rank-based protocol. I planned to review a few of the finer points before the dinner since Landry was expected to spend the majority of the event introducing me and Jamie to as many peers as possible.

But the dancing part of the lesson… that one was brutal.

“Too close!” the teacher snapped for the third time, causing me to jump away from Landry. “This is not a brothel.”

Landry’s jaw ticked, but he kept his mouth closed.

“Again,” she said, restarting the music on the Bluetooth speaker. “Forward, slide, close. Forward, slide, close. That’s it. Keep tension in your arms. Just like that. Alright.”

I lowered my voice to a nearly imperceptible whisper. “I notice the viscount is the man in this scenario. How unexpected.”

His nostrils flared. “I am holding on to my patience with her by a thread, Kenji. Say the word, and I will let it go.”

“Smile when you’re talking!” the teacher called out. “Everyone is watching. Do you want to look like you’re at the dentist, or do you want to look like you’re in a happy marriage?”

“Is this when I casually let slip we’re just fuck buddies?” I murmured. “If the ambulance comes, we might not have to do this for much long?—”

“No whispering!” she warned. “Whispering is considered rude. You may speak of the weather, of sporting events, of a hobby such as gardening or visiting the theater, music. You may inquire about your partner’s family, their recent travels, or their work. Stick to topics that can be overheard by others without causing harm.”

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