Page 66 of Duchess By Accident
“Ah! So I take it you are hiding from the eligible ladies of the ton?” he laughed.
“More… Taking a break from them. Besides, I know that most only want me for my money.” His face darkened momentarily. And then he added. “And what about you? I thought you were supposed to be on your honeymoon?”
Frederick waggled his eyebrows suggestively and Adrian rolled his eyes.
He took a sip of his drink. “My wife is why I am here. You surely have heard the rumours about her.”
“You know I ignore such things on principle.” Frederick made a dismissive gesture.
“Ignoring does not mean you have not heard them. You know what they are saying about her.” Adrian clenched his fists tightly, a cold, dangerous anger in his words. “I will not allow it to continue.”
Frederick canted his head towards him. “So you are here to fix her reputation? How gallant of you. Have you gone soft in your old age, Blackwood? I thought you had sworn off love.”
“Love has nothing to do with this.” Adrian shook his head, trying to ignore the way Natalie’s hurt face swam to the forefront of his mind.
Memories of the feel of her in his arms as they danced, the way they had moved as one. The animal within him curled around his heart, urging him to leave and go back to his wife, to tell her everything. But he knew that was foolish.
Ours is a business arrangement. That is all it should ever have been.I thought we were friends.Her words echoed around his mind. He did not need another friend. Especially not one who was so dangerously disarming. She had held his attention for too long.
“Whatever you say, Blackwood. But few things would drive a man to look so furious at the thought of someone slandering his wife.” Frederick gave him a flat look.
Adrian snapped, “Her reputation affects me as well, and I cannot allow such slights to go unanswered. I have spent too long cultivating my image to let the ton think they can escape my wrath. I have been complacent, but that is done.”
“Complacent? Or distracted?” Frederick moved from his chair into the one opposite Adrian and poured each of them another measure of whiskey.
“Both.” Adrian admitted without thinking.
Frederick grinned. “Well, you can hardly be blamed, your wife is rather fetching.”
Anger flared to life in his chest, and he narrowed his eyes at Frederick, a note of warning in his voice. “She is still my wife. You best remember that, Caverton.”
“Blackwood, you know thatIdo not covet what another man has. That is far too tawdry and dramatic for me.” Frederick gave him a significant look. “Though you are rather tetchy for someone who does not care for her.”
“I never said I did not care for her.” Adrian shook his head. “I… It does not matter. You know my feelings on the subject. Love willonly make me weak. Whatever is happening between Na- the Duchess and me, it has cost me too much already.”
“Calm yourself, Blackwood. I was only teasing. If you say there is nothing between you, then there is nothing between you.” Frederick held both of his palms up in a placating gesture. “Regardless, it is admirable that you should choose to protect her.”
“It is a necessity. The ton need to remember who they are dealing with. They fear me, but clearly not enough. It is time to make them fear my wife.” Adrian gritted his teeth.
“That should be fun to watch. I take it you have some kind of plan.” Frederick leaned closer.
“The makings of one, yes.” Adrian glanced around them.
It was nearly three in the morning, and the club was nearly empty. The few occupants were in corners far from them, and from their stance, were too deep in their cups to notice much else.
Still, it would pay to be circumspect.Adrian lowered his voice, his mouth barely moving. “I know who keeps stirring the pot, and I think it is high time that he was taught a lesson.”
“Who is it?” Frederick’s eyes widened.
“Lord Bolton.” He spat the name.
The image of the insipid man swam before his eyes.I should have flattened him when I had the chance.The anger he felt calmed the confusion of the ball. It gave him clarity, a focus, and he fed that like a man feeds a fire on a cold winter’s night.
Frederick’s face soured and he looked like he had taken a bite of a particularly unpleasant food. “That man is scum.”
“He is. I thought I had seen the last of him, but apparently the cretin is determined to make himself a nuisance.” Adrian’s lip curled in disgust.
“More than a nuisance – he has made you end your honeymoon early.” Frederick stroked his chin thoughtfully, the stubble visible in the firelight. “I will not lie, but I would not spit on the man if he were on fire. He is a loathsome creature.”
