Page 57 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke
He nodded and took his leave.
Theo weighed the report in his mind over again. He had found the man suspicious when he had been approached after his fight but the encounter had faded from his memory in the weeks that passed but seeing the man again with Cecilia, worry picked at him.
The man was hiding something but he didn't know whether it was something dangerous enough to spark concern.
Still, he couldn't very well leave well alone.
He had a duty to report his suspicions to Magnus and allow the man do what he decided with the information. At least, his conscience would be clear then.
Summoning a footman, he asked that his carriage be readied and dressed appropriately for a meeting with his friend who was a stickler for propriety, not knowing why he suddenly cared how the man perceived him.
All through the short ride to the man's estate, he battled his thoughts advising him against his course of action.
It wasn't as though he didn't know one of his justifications for his decision was because Cecilia was involved. Were she any other maiden, he wouldn't care enough to warn her family but the thought of Cecilia being saddled with someone whose mask was so well placed, set a pool of worry boiling in his stomach.
"Good evening, Your Grace," George, the Blackmore estate's butler, greeted with his familiar stony expression.
"George," he returned the greeting, submitting his cloak. "Where is Blackmore? I must see him at once."
"His Grace is entertaining now." The man answered.
Entertaining?
Could Hector be in their home already?
He took a steadying breath to remind himself to be calm even if he saw the man's smiling face. He had behaved unusually before when he had seen them in the park and could not afford to let the man see how much him being around Cecilia affected him.
No doubt the man would use it to his advantage and flaunt his courting Cecilia in his face.
"That's perfect then," he answered with a smile. "Take me to him."
The butler obliged and led him to the drawing room where he found that indeed, his friend was entertaining Hickling as he had feared. Magnus who usually had a severe look was even smiling and had permitted the man to sit beside Cecilia who appeared to be smiling as well.
The sight of her smile irked him but he remembered he was supposed to act unaffected by the sight of the two of them together.
"I certainly hope I haven't interrupted such a happy occasion with my presence," he said before the butler could announce him.
"Your Grace," Cecilia said in surprise rising from her seat with wide eyes, forgetting she was not supposed to be so familiar or bothered by his arrival.
He raised a brow at her and sent her a playful wink which didn't betray the emotions of how lovely he thought her in her evening wear or how his body heated up at the sight of her lovely cleavage. A cleavage that Hector had no doubt been admiring before he arrived.
He gritted his teeth and turned to the other men in the room with a smile. Hector had risen as well knowing his place.
"Good evening, Your Grace," Hector greeted with a charming smile that set an oily feeling in Theo's stomach. "It is such a pleasant surprise you are here."
"Emerton," Magnus said with an easy smile which was unfamiliar on his face. "I don't recall inviting you today. Were we supposed to have a meeting?"
He cocked his head and lowered himself into the armchair beside his friend.
"Not at all," he answered. "I was in the area and thought I should pay you a visit. It has been sometime since you've had the pleasure of my company."
"I wouldn't exactly call it pleasurable," Magnus joked, which surprised Theo more.
What marvelous change Hector had brought about in his friend.
The Magnus that was always too serious and didn't find humor in anything even if it was markedly funny was now making jokes?
Damn.
