Page 15 of Vanquished By A Viscount
Charlie winced, as well he should. If there was one thing Gray had learned in his time abroad, it was that many of the men who used their bodies with foreign tourists to make their living kept their loved ones from sinking into the direst circumstances imaginable. He had stopped judging them early on. But eventhough he had paid a few for small things out of kindness, he had reserved his more involved love affairs for his peers.
“I do not know what to think of a man who has gained a reputation as a libertine,” Charlie said, pushing himself to stand straight. “I do not know how someone so innocent and eager can become soopen to experience.”
Gray scowled at him. “Did you expect me to join the cathedral choir and sit primly with my knees together and my bum cheeks squeezed tight for the remainder of my life after you callously cast me off?” he asked, every bitter feeling he possessed returning.
“I—” Charlie huffed out a breath and wiped a hand over his pink and sweaty face. “I do not know,” he said with a hopeless shrug.
If Charlie had not made his last insult, Gray might have been inclined to feel sympathy for his old lover’s clear frustration. But that final barb had crossed a line.
“We are trapped together at this house party for a month at least,” he said, as cold as he knew Charlie was. “Because neither of us can do a blasted thing about that, I propose that we stay deliberately clear of each other’s paths for the duration.”
“I could not agree more,” Charlie said, standing straighter and looking down his nose at Gray. “We will avoid each other at all times.”
“I do not even wish to look at you,” Gray went on, though he felt a bit ill. “If you enter a room, I will leave.”
“If you are in the garden, I will be in the house,” Charlie agreed.
“We need not catch more than a glimpse of each other throughout this entire ordeal,” Gray said.
“Agreed.” Charlie nodded.
Gray nodded right back, then turned to walk on to the house.
Charlie followed, less than a half step behind him.
They made it almost all the way to the house and were prepared to go their separate ways when Barbara came striding out of the house, a happy smile painting her face.
“There you are,” she said, moving to stand directly in their path so that neither of them could move on. “I have been searching for you everywhere.”
“Good morning, Barbara,” Charlie said, his tone softening, though his stance remained stony. “I would kiss your cheek, but as you can see, I am in dishabille.”
“It does not matter,” Barbara said. “In fact, your current state is all the better for the task I need the two of you to accomplish for me.”
Gray glanced warily at Charlie, then focused on Barbara. “The task?”
“Together?” Charlie added warily.
“Yes,” Barbara said, clapping her hands together. “I need the two of you to go to the gardener’s shed at the end of the spring garden to retrieve the archery targets so that we might enjoy shooting this morning.”
Charlie glanced Gray’s way. Gray frowned and refused to meet his eyes.
“Why us?” Charlie asked his sister. “Is this not a task for the footmen?”
“It would be,” Barbara said, her expression suddenly suspiciously innocent. “The footmen are all engaged in other tasks, however. There is much to be done in the house with so many guests attending the party and with more expected today. There is no one who can complete this small task for me but the two of you.”
Gray did not even attempt to hide his sigh. His sister-in-law fancied herself a matchmaker of some sort.
“Barbara,” Charlie appealed to her, “as you can see, I am in no condition to go rummaging through garden sheds.”
“What’s the matter, Broxbourne?” Gray goaded him. “Do you not have the strength to lift and carry a few, simple archery targets?”
Charlie’s demeanor changed in an instant. His back snapped straight, and he glared at Gray. “I will do your bidding this once,” he said, turning back to his sister. “But your motives are transparent.”
“Motives?” Barbara asked, batting her eyelashes as if in shock. “I have no other motives than keeping my guests entertained. It is a lovely day and we should take advantage of it by spending our time outside.”
“Very well,” Charlie said with a sigh. “Where is this garden shed?”
“It is that way,” Gray said, pointing to the side of the house, then starting off without checking to see whether Charlie followed him.
