Page 68 of A Duke But No Gentleman
Imogene nodded.With Verity at her side, she could almost believe it.
Chapter Twenty
Norgrave was not sulking.Nor was he a coward.
He viewed his self-imposed seclusion as a tactical decision.His face and body still bore the healing wounds and pains from Blackbern’s attack, and he was not prepared to explain the reasons why his closest friend tried to beat him to death.There had been witnesses to their brawl, and concerned acquaintances had knocked on his door to ferret out the details.He had turned everyone away.Let them all wonder,he thought.Without the unpalatable truth, Blackbern appeared to be the villain.
It was a title his traitorous former friend deserved.
They had been as close as brothers, and somehow a woman had come between them.Worse yet, the duplicitous blackguard had chosen Imogene—discarding a lifelong friendship and brotherly love.
Love.
Even pondering the word made him sneer.Blackbern had fallen in love with her.The notion might have amused him if he had not quietly succumbed to her charms as well.Or perhaps he merely saw the advantages of seducing and keeping Imogene for himself—especially now, when Blackbern seemed so determined to ruin him financially.The man had claimed his pound of flesh, but he was not satisfied.Now he was determined to pauper him.
“For what, I ask you?”Norgrave abruptly stood and strode to his desk to retrieve the decanter of brandy.“The pleasure I found between her legs was not worth our friendship.”He splashed brandy into his glass.“Not worth my bloody fortune!”
Rage bubbled up within him.Needing an outlet, he threw the crystal decanter at the nearest wall.It shattered quite nicely.
“Milord?”
Unsteady on his feet, Norgrave turned at the sound of his butler’s voice.“What is your opinion, Starling?”he asked, gesturing to the wet pattern soaking into the wallpaper.“The walls could benefit from a little decorating, do you not agree?Since you are here, you might as well bring up some more brandy.”
“Yes, milord,” the servant said, inclining his head with a respectful bow.
At his hesitation to do his master’s bidding, the marquess snapped, “Did you have something else to say to me?”
“Forgive me for intruding, milord.You have a visitor.”
It was probably his damn solicitor again.Of late, the man brought him nothing but complaints and depressing news.“Send him away,” he muttered, taking a sip of brandy from his glass.
“It is a lady, Lord Norgrave.”At the savage look of pleasure on his master’s face, the butler took a step back.“However, I can see that you are indisposed.I will tell her that you are not receiving visitors this afternoon.”
Well, this was most unexpected.Had Imogene been so reckless as to confront him without her protector?Or perhaps, during their weeks apart, she had discovered that she had chosen the wrong man.“Her name, Starling.Come, man, give me her name.”
“Lady Charlotte Winter, milord,” he said, unable to prevent his concern for the lady from leaking into his normally unflappable tones.“Shall I send her away?”
Disappointment burned in his stomach as he silently fumed.Why the devil was the chit chasing after him when he had politely conveyed his disinterest?Her looks were passable and the lady possessed some intelligence.However, when compared to Imogene, Lady Charlotte was merely a pale imitation.He was not the kind of man who settled for second best.
Norgrave was on the verge of telling the servant to show her the door.He hesitated as his mercenary nature emerged.The lady was the beloved daughter of an earl who had the King’s ear.His current situation with Blackbern had placed him in a defensive posture.He needed money and allies.
“I will see her.”
If his butler disagreed with the decision, he hid it well.“Very good, milord.”Starling closed the door behind him.
Norgrave set down his glass of brandy on the desk.He scrubbed his face and belatedly realized he had not shaved.Also, he was pleasantly drunk.His inebriated condition was not a problem since he doubted he was sober during any of his previous exchanges with Lady Charlotte.He glanced around the library, wondering where he had discarded his banyan.Greeting a lady in informal attire created an intimacy that might be misinterpreted.
He had not decided if this was to his advantage.
The door opened and Starling announced Lady Charlotte.She stepped into the room, her gaze sweeping the room until she noticed him standing near the desk.Attired in a bronze silk dress, she looked like a sleek robin.The pleasure in her hazel eyes faded and caution dimmed her enthusiasm as she took in his disheveled attire and the condition of his face.
Norgrave crossed the room to greet her.“Lady Charlotte, how unexpected.”He bowed and she curtsied.
“Forgive my intrusion, Lord Norgrave,” she said, sounding uncertain.“Your butler said that you were receiving visitors.”
His informal attire and neglected grooming was making the poor lady nervous.“Actually, I have been turning away most visitors for weeks.When Starling told me that you were waiting in the front hall, I decided to make an exception.”
“You honor me, my lord.”She stood before him, her hands and reticule clasped in front of her.“You have been injured.”
