Page 9 of Vanquished By A Viscount
Gray recognized when he was being called to rescue a friend and only stepped to the side to greet Pettigrew instead of rushing off. “Pettigrew,” he said, shaking the man’s hand. “It is a pleasure to welcome you to Hawthorne House.”
“I am very happy to be here,” Pettigrew said.
Gray hesitated for a moment, then went on with, “I am sorry I did not come to greet you earlier.” He glanced to the door in search of Charlie.
“I believe I understand,” Pettigrew said, a spark in his eyes.
Gray tensed for a moment. Did everyone know his business?
Since the answer to that question seemed to be yes, he let his shoulders drop a bit and said, “I did not wish to have anythingto do with Lord Broxbourne.” Honesty was better by far than leaving half the house party to speculate about matters that should not concern them.
“Yes, I understand the two of you had a past acquaintance,” Pettigrew said, perfectly discreet as he looked around to see who might be observing them.
Robert and Barbara had moved a few feet to the side to engage with Lady Eudora and her mother, both of whom Gray had met the day before, though he wished he hadn’t. Lady Eudora continuously looked their way, though thank all that was good and holy, her attentions seemed to be focused on Pettigrew rather than him. Not that that would get the silly woman far. Pettigrew was a member of The Brotherhood, after all, and had no need to marry to get an heir to any title.
“Pastacquaintance is correct,” Gray said, standing stiffly and clasping his hands behind his back. “That acquaintance ended with the other party determining that I was no longer worthy of his attentions.”
Pettigrew frowned as if Gray’s words did not match what he believed. “I see. That is unfortunate.”
It was a great deal more than unfortunate, but before Gray could embarrass or implicate himself further, two of Hawthorne House’s footmen carried a large trunk through the doorway, Charlie following behind it.
Gray’s opinion of the positive changes to Charlie’s appearance were confirmed once more as the light of morning outlined his form in the doorway. God, but the two of them had been so wonderful together!
Fury at himself for thinking as much had Gray as stiff as stone as Charlie walked across the front hall, following the footmen. He wasn’t the only one resembling stone, though. Charlie could have been an animated statue for all the unyielding callousness in his expression and form. He appearedto be deliberately avoiding meeting Gray’s eyes as he crossed to the stairs.
Something within Gray, something like pride, would not allow the man with whom he’d once shared so much to ignore him so thoroughly. Before he could exercise his better judgement, he moved to block Charlie’s path, forcing a confrontation.
“How dare you take the coward’s way out by refusing to acknowledge me in my own home?” he demanded in a tight whisper.
A moment too late, Gray realized the other conversation had stopped and all eyes were on him and Charlie.
Charlie was no longer an emotionless automaton. Color flared to his face and neck and his eyes lit with fire as he bored into Gray with his gaze. “Is this how a nobleman should behave in company?” he hissed with as much venom as Gray. “And in the presence of the kind and good woman who has agreed to have you here for her party?”
Logic told Gray Charlie was merely defending his beloved sister. Something far more visceral took over as the bastard implied he did not have the right to exist in his own home.
“If you wish to see an example of poor behavior, you need look no farther than your own nose, sir,” he snapped. “It is rude to pass through a room of people that includes ladies without so much as pausing to ask if they are well.”
“As you yourself did not more than a quarter of an hour before?” Charlie challenged him, one eyebrow raised.
Gray seethed at the way the man called him out, as if he had no sins of his own. They both knew those sins were legion.
“I will be watching you, Broxbourne,” he said, too low for the others looking on to hear. “If you step so much as one foot out of line in my family’s house, I will have your head for it.”
“And if you do even the slightest thing to ruin my sister’s introduction as a society hostess, I will make certain every door in every corner of this country is shut to you,” Charlie threatened him in return.
Gray found himself breathing heavily, his blood racing through him and gathering in inconvenient places. He stood so close to Charlie as they stared each other down that he could smell the man’s shaving soap. He used the same kind now that he’d used back then. It was enough to cause Gray to salivate as he remembered the taste of Charlie’s skin.
“Stay away from me,” he growled, backing up in an attempt to remove himself from the heat and scent of Charlie’s body.
“That was precisely what I was attempting to do,” Charlie said in return. He glanced past Gray to Barbara, Lady Eudora, and her mother, then nodded. “Ladies. Forgive me for not engaging in your company, but I must see to unpacking my things.”
“It is quite alright,” Barbara said, a bit too much excitement in her high voice. “You must join us for luncheon in the rose garden in an hour. Cook has prepared such amazing treats for us.”
Barbara turned to the other ladies to describe some of those treats, which was apparently Charlie’s signal to move on. He started up the stairs before Gray could say another word to him, which felt like a disappointment in too many ways.
Gray himself was left alone with Pettigrew, who had the audacity to say, “Oh, I see.”
“There is nothing to see,” Gray insisted, quivering on his spot as he fought twin urges to charge up the stairs after Charlie and to storm off down one of the side halls. “Broxbourne is the very worst sort of man, and I want nothing to do with him.”
