Page 46 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

“If I did that, you wouldn’t be here.”

Victor laughed and took another sip of his brandy. “Careful now. If I had feelings, I would say that you are starting to hurt them.”

Gerald laughed dryly but did not respond. If he had his way, he would not be speaking with Victor at all – in truth, he was regretting inviting the man, having only done so because it would have seemed odd not to. After all, tonight was supposed to be a gathering of friends, and most knew he and Victor to be close.They don’t know why we are, which is how I plan on keeping it.

It was all a charade, this entire night, its true purpose, and why Gerald’s home was inundated with a dozen guests, none of whom he particularly wished to see or speak with. Of the dozen people here, there was but one whom he wanted to talk with, she who he had spent the entire evening avoiding for that same reason.

He was standing by the fireplace, appearing casual as he spoke with Victor. Taking a sip of his own glass of brandy, Gerald glanced quickly across the room, spying Lady Hawkins in deep conversation with the viscount Lord Mildenhall. They had been at it all evening, since the two sat across from each other for supper, a pairing which Gerald had endeavored to promulgate but was now regretting.

“That reminds me,” Victor started. “Will I be seeing you this week?”

“Hhmm?” Gerald pulled his attention back on Victor. “This week? What are you speaking of?”

Victor raised an eyebrow. “Do you wish for me to say it out loud?” He gestured to the room, in which there were a dozen others. “I was trying for subtlety.”

“Oh...” Gerald’s face dropped. “Right. Yes. I... I am not sure. What for?”

“No real reason,” Victor said. “Simply that I have not seen you there for over a week. And do not get me wrong, Gerald, I do not miss your presence. But you are technically in charge, as you are always at pains to remind me. It behooves you to at least show your face every now and again.”

Gerald clicked his tongue with irritation, annoyed that Victor would choose this moment to bring up the gaming house which they operated together. An operation which nobody save themselves, and Lady Hawkins, was aware of. And for good reason.

The truth was, Gerald had not given much thought to that part of his life of late. He was far too preoccupied for such things. His sister, for one, and his never-ending quest to find her a suitor. And, of course, his current affixation with Lady Hawkins, which had started merely as a means for him to acquire payment owed but had since transformed into a new sort of beast which was playing havoc with his conscience.

That’s what tonight was all about – a night that if it was successful would finally free him of distraction.Which is exactly what I want! Even if my intolerable lust filled thoughts suggest otherwise.

This dinner party was called for the precise reason of finding Lady Hawkins a suitor. He had not told her as such. Nor had he told the five men whom he had invited that he thought might be worthy of her hand. Nor had he told his sister, Lady Hawkins’ mother and brother and sister, Lord and Lady Eggleton, or the few others who he had invited to make tonight appear like a casual affair without sinister intent.

It had seemed like a rather good idea at the time too. The men whom he had invited were those who he had introduced to his sister at one time or another, none of them making the cut, but each perfectly adequate in his eyes. And each with more than enough money to pay the debt that he was owed.

What was more, it was going even better than planned!Which is precisely the problem. Another glance across the room at Lady Hawkins, his stomach twisting to see her laughing at something that Lord Mildenhall said, and Gerald was forced to question for the hundredth timewhyLady Hawkins was able to undo him like this.

He knew the answer, of course, he just wasn’t ready to admit it...

“Your Grace...” Rosalind came in suddenly, a smile on her face as she greeted Victor. “It is lovely to see you again.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Victor said as he took Rosalind’s hand and gave it a very wet kiss. Gerald narrowed his eyes at his friend, for he hated Victor speaking with his sister. “Lady Emerton, you grow more beautiful by the day.”

“Why thank you.”

“Clearly, you do not get your looks from your brother.”

She giggled. “As I have always said.”

“Victor...” Gerald warned him.

Victor rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes, I was just about to fetch myself a drink. I would ask if Lady Emerton wants one...” He winked at her. “But I would not waste my breath, for I know I’d be better off asking you.”

Rosalind giggled again. “And you know what the answer to that would be.”

Gerald looked at his friend flatly, a warning in his eyes. Victor flashed his eyes back, grinning wickedly before walking away and toward the drinking cabinet.

“He is rather amusing, isn’t he,” Rosalind said.

“I would prefer it if you did not speak with him at all.”

She sighed. “He is your friend.”

“That is one word I would use, but not the preferred terminology.”

---