Page 38 of To Defend a Damaged Duke
A few more seconds ticked by as the men contemplated the merits of the plan.
“I’m terribly undesirable,” offered Mr Angel at last.
It was only the second time he’d properly spoken, and everyone turned to look at him, casually lounging in a burgundy Chesterfield, legs loosely crossed and one hand cradling his brandy balloon.Tommy concurred.Mr Angel was exactly the kind of chap a well-bred lady would and wouldn’t like to meet alone in a shady corner of Vauxhall.
Aware he was under scrutiny, Angel tucked a few strands of his wavy black locks behind his left ear from where they’d escaped his ribbon.A single gold hoop glinted between those busy, coin-flipping fingers, and the lambent light from the coals in the hearth danced across his dark cheek.
“Not from where I’m sitting, darling,” Rossingley cooed, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Tommy heaved a long-suffering sigh.The man was nothing if not predictable.
Lord Francis’s eyes, meanwhile, popped out on stalks.“I say, chaps.I do believe I’ve been inhabiting a parallel universe all these years.”Like a pendulum, his astounded gaze swung between Rossingley and Mr Angel, then back to his brother, trying to hide his amusement behind his hand but clearly failing.“Are you really…all of you?Weren’t you…weren’t you once married, Rossingley?And you…with Mr Ang…?Oh, I say.”
“Spot on,” said Rossingley warmly as if Francis’s mutterings made perfect sense.“I couldn’t have summarised the situation better myself.Now, if you would be so kind, Mr Angel, please attempt to convince Lord Francis here of your undesirability.His lips quirked.“Prepare to fail.”
With a lazy half-smile, Angel held up a hand, counting off his fingers.“Firstly, I have very little in the way of family and only one home—not ancestral.There is enough colour in my skin to suggest Rom blood courses through my veins, and more importantly to the fickle folks for whom these matters have value, I have appeared in Society from nowhere.Furthermore, under direction inquisition, I steadfastly refuse to explain my origins; I refuse to flatter or engage theton’s mamas in idle gossip.In addition to that, I dance despicably well, so I must be a foreigner, and I favour long hair and an earring.All things considered, I am perfectly undesirable in the eyes of every God-fearing father of theton.”He downed a large swallow of brandy.“Thank the Lord.”
Laid out so comprehensively, it was hard to disagree.
“I’ll save you the bother of pointing it out, Lordy.”Tommy threw a wry smile at the earl.“But I fear I’m undesirable too.In fact, I’d go so far as to say I’m Lord Ludham’s worst nightmare.I run gaming establishments and race stands.And—close your ears, Lord Francis, as I’m clean out of smelling salts—I own several brothels.”
“Heavens above, pass the brandy,” croaked Lord Francis.“I’m in the company of heathens.”
“Yes, but think of all the fun you’re having.”Rossingley sighed happily.“So that’s settled.By the time our new rakish duke has acquainted himself with the cheeseboard, and Mr Angel and young Mr L’Esquire here have done their very worst, Lord Ludham will be practically biting Francis’s hand off, and Lyndon will be an insignificance.Now, talking of undesirable character traits, it’s high time Mr Angel and I pushed off home.”
“But we haven’t discussed the horse nobbling yet,” cried Francis.“We can’t call it a night just as we reach the part where I might actually be of practical use.I’ve been nothing but ornamental so far.”
“And may I say what a very handsome ornament you are, poppet,” said Rossingley rising from his seat.“And, if I’m not mistaken, I suspect your big brother came up with a solution for the horse problem within minutes of hearing of it.”
Modest as ever, the duke looked abashed and proud all at once.Tommy found it utterly charming.“Thank you, and yes, I have indeed.If I may beg just one moment longer of everyone’s time.”
He could have several moments of Tommy’s time.All of them in fact.Something Tommy planned on making perfectly clear after everyone else buggered off.
Crossing over to the mantelpiece, the duke laid his hand upon the cool, solid marble as if garnering strength from it.In his fragile and tormented state, one could overlook he was a duke, but now, towering over them, he wore the first confident, hopeful smile Tommy had seen since, well, far too many years hence.
In turn, the duke regarded them one by one.“You are all being so terribly generous.I am truly humbled and grateful.At the same time, I am thoroughly humiliated that I lack the sufficient tools to remove myself from this circumstance without relying so heavily on the help of others.”He directed the next part to Mr Angel.“Some of whom, I barely knew until very recently.And another whom”—his eyes dropped to the floor—“I…I have wronged but intend to spend all my waking hours putting it right.”
“I think I speak for all of us,” said Rossingley kindly, his gaze skimming to Tommy, “when I say there is no need to apologise for anything, Ashington.”
“Be that as it may,” the duke responded, “but for one error of judgement, I vow to apologise until the end of time.”
He addressed the room once more.“What I am trying to say is that you have all done so much for me already, and as Rossingley has so charitably remarked, I might humbly admit to having a modicum of expertise regarding matters of horseflesh.So, I’d like you all to leave the issue regarding Lyndon and my stables to me.I have the beginnings of a plan, and I’ll wager it will surprise everyone.”
*
“HOW ANYONE IMAGINESthey can transform me into a rake is the devil’s own guess.You’d have more luck with the Archbishop of Canterbury!”Flopping into a seat, the duke peered down his body.He plucked at his immaculate (but funereal) charcoal tailcoat in disgust.“Look at me!I’m the very essence of all that is dull and proper!”
Then it is fortunate that I’m not, Tommy nearly replied.And hewaslooking.Aside from Mr Angel’s damned hypnotic coins, he’d hardly looked anywhere elsewhere all evening.As the others took their leave, he’d felt tempted to express interest in the fine etchings hanging above the fireplace as a flimsy excuse to linger awhile.But Tommy’s desire for this diffident man had become too noisy and insistent a voice to waste time delivering pretty speeches about art.Actions spoke louder than words, and he’d craved an assortment of those ever since that surprise kiss in his study.And some actions, thanks to his inglorious past, he excelled at.
Covering the short distance to the door, Tommy turned the key.He then returned to where the duke sat in what was clearly, from how he appeared so at ease and how a side table was perfectly positioned with his brandy balloon within reach, his favourite armchair.
The duke stared beyond Tommy at the door.“You have locked us in.”
“So I have.”Tugging on the cuff of his tailcoat, Tommy slipped his arm out of the tight sleeve with the practised ease of a man long accustomed to surviving without the services of a valet.“Do you wish me to unlock it, Your Grace?”
When he performed the same manoeuvre with the other sleeve, letting his coat drop in a crumpledfwhumpat his feet, the duke’s shy eyes widened.
“Um…no.I don’t believe I do.”
