Page 18 of In Pursuit of a Christmas Bride
Stephen nodded. “You are now among the Upper Orders, dear Henry. Privilege does come along with money, but you will soon find out it comes with a whole host of other problems. Problems that are best kept out of the papers.”
“My inheriting an earldom does not change my views. I will not use my position to do whatever I please. A title is a great responsibility. It is a duty, and that position should be respected.”
“And you do so love to uphold duty, don’t you?”
Henry jumped to his feet, eager to have this meeting over with. “If I had known you were going to invade my privacy and mock me, I would have left the door locked.”
Stephen darted a glance around the room, shifting from foot to foot. “No, that’s not… hell, I haven’t slept either. Can I start again?”
“If you must.”
“You are a right arse sometimes.”
“And now you insult me.”
Stephen laughed. “I came to ask if you would consider visiting the Duke of Maitland. He’s in need of some legal advice that I cannot give as his solicitor. In return, the duke has offered you a room. He’s hosting a Christmas house party, and I will attend as well. I have business here in Town to handle before I travel, but I can arrange for you to head to Haddington Court alone.”
“No.”
“What if you only went up for the meeting and left? No house party.”
Henry Davies, now Lord Devlin as he so liked to remind himself, did not do house parties. Not now, not in the future.
“There might be a few marriage-minded young ladies there as well. It might be easier to meet them at a house party than at a ball.”
Stephen had a point, still, Henry knew his limit. He would never be agreeable enough to last an entire house party. “Then I would need to contend with their mothers… or worse yet, their chaperones.”
“I will be there to assist with them. Mothers love me.”
“Does that explain why you have an incurable fondness for widows?”
“One day, friend, you will understand.”
His chest ached suddenly. It was happening more and more. The most minor thing could set it off. A mere memory of that night a few months ago, and his body rebelled. It made no sense, and he disliked it very much.
One kiss and he became sentimental.
“Tell me you will think about it. I can arrange everything since I know you are busy with other matters. It would mean a great deal to me, this favor. I can arrange for you to travel there for the day and return the next. No need to spend Christmas in one of Britain’s finest homes with a duke and his dearest friends.”
“I think you meant for that to entice me.”
Stephen navigated through the stacks of books and gently bumped Henry against his shoulder with his fist. “It would entice a great many people, but the fact that it doesn’t you, delights me.” His friend cleared his throat and dropped his smile. “In all seriousness, the duke would be a good friend to have now that you have a title.”
More gray. He had no plans to veer beyond what was allowed, not when he had a legacy to rebuild. “I will go. For you, not for any other reason. But I will only go for the meeting and wish to leave the next morning. Give whatever excuse necessary to see it done. I wish for a Christmas here in Town.”
“By yourself? Where is the fun in that? Come on, come enjoy some Christmas cheer.”
“One night, Stephen.”
His friend grinned, bowing before placing his top hat on his head and spinning for the door. “Very well. One night. I will haveeverything arranged and will send word when you can expect to leave tomorrow. Thank you, friend.”
The door closed behind Stephen, and Henry remained fixed to his spot on the carpet, certain he had made this very promise before.
And it only left him with a hole in the back of his head and a heart that was now prone to tripping now and again at the memory of a haunting kiss.
CHAPTER 4
Henry had never encountered somuch snow in his life.
