Page 19 of A Duke for Hire

“Either way, I am not going back to the country. Not yet anyway. I want to visit my friends and do some shopping. So I am here whether you like it or not.”

Despite his annoyance, Hugo felt a swell of pride for his little sister’s stalwart attitude. She had been spared so much by living in the country. Away from their father. Away from him. Her ability to stand up for herself was, in his mind, a great asset. But it did nothing to change his mind.

She paused, then added in a softer tone, “And, even if you will not talk to me of this woman, I would still like to learn about you. It has been too long since you have shared with me how life has been.”

That was Leah. Always trying to get close. No matter how much danger it put her in.

“You may stay here,” he conceded, “But I am too busy to entertain such conversations. I am here. I am conducting business. I am obtaining a wife. That’s it. I assure you the beast of Merrivale has not claimed any new victims.”

Her annoyance seemingly renewed, Leah slammed her hands on the desk.

“Donotsay that!” She demanded. “Stop acting like I don’t know you. You have looked after me like a guardian angel, not the demon people make you out to be. Do not forget, brother. I know the truth of what you have done. My knowledge is not that of secondhand gossip.”

“I am not talking about this anymore,” Hugo stated, rising from his chair.

“Maybe we should,” Leah argued, following him. “Maybe if you finally spoke about it, you could-”

“Leah, enough!” He growled, whirling around on her.

His sister’s eyes grew wide as she took a step back. There it was. That fear. She needed to be afraid, to be wary. For her own safety. Even he did not know when he would lose control again.

He pulled in a deep breath from his nose as he took a step back, forcing his temper back into check.

“You should be more careful around me, Leah,” he warned, walking away. “You do not know everything. Especially of me.”

“You can try to intimidate me all you want, Hugo,” Leah called after him, “But I know the real you. You are better than this!”

Leah’s words rang in Hugo’s mind as he left the house and headed toward the club. He had been planning on leaving soon anyway to join Tristan and his two other friends, Dominic and Everett at White’s Gentleman’s Club. Like with Tristan, it had been years since he had seen them. They had both been out of town for Tristan’s dinner, though, so he had insisted the four of them meet up that night. He was surprised, and a little put off, when he walked in and discovered them already there.

“Ah, there he is!” Tristan greeted enthusiastically, waving him over to their table.

“The Recluse of Caldermere,” Dominic crowed, rising from his seat to shake Hugo’s hand. “My, it has been an age.”

“I see you have only gotten uglier,” Everett joked, clapping him on the back.

Despite his discomfort from their boisterous attention, Hugo smirked and replied, “Are you looking at me, old boy, or did you glance in the mirror over my shoulder?”

A round of raucous laughter went up among them, and though he was still getting used to not being secluded, Hugo felt a sense of camaraderie being with them.

“Have a drink, old man,” Dominic encouraged as they all sat down, “Tell us how you have been.”

Hugo began to tell them of the state of Merrivale, but Everett quickly cut him off.

“No, no, tell us the fascinating parts,” his friend insisted. “You’ve come to London for a wife, yes?”

“And why would you say that?” Hugo asked wryly.

“What else would lure you out of seclusion?” Everett scoffed.

Hugo gave him an unamused look, then rolled his eyes.

“Goodness how I have missed your company,” he said with wry sarcasm, “But yes, you are correct. And I believe I have found one.”

“Miss Seraphina Kinderson,” Tristan piped up, as if too excited to hold back.

Hugo raised a brow at his friend, which Tristan merely shrugged at, not remotely shaken by his annoyance.

“They were going to find out sooner or later,” Tristan insisted. “You two are becoming the talk of the town.”

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