Page 7 of Invitation
Poor Lady Sabrina.
Lucien had met her.Hell, he may have even danced with her at one point.He tried to summon Lady Sabrina in her mind.She was blonde, perhaps?A bit taller than average?Honestly, he couldn’t recall her.He fixed Con with a probing stare.“What is it about her that provoked you to marriage?”
Again, Con darted a look toward their father, and it was all Lucien could do not to grab his brother by the shoulders and shake him until something inside him gave way.“She’s demure and kind, excellent at the pianoforte.”He paused, and Lucien folded his arms expectantly.“She, ah, likes dogs,” Con added.“And she’s the daughter of the Viscount Tarleton.”
“Oh, well, that seals it, then.”Lucien uncrossed his arms and resisted the urge to roll his eyes.If his brother were to wed, Lucien wanted him to do it becausehewanted to, not because their father had demanded it.But Con had always bowed to their father’s wishes.As the duke said—and Con parroted—it was the duty of the heir to do as he must, not as he chose.Lucien should have done more to push his brother into some semblance of freedom.The man should have at least chosen his own bloody wife.Alas, here they were.“My deepest congratulations for your wedded bliss.”Lucien stood, grateful for the short interview.
“Sit.”The duke leveled his signature commanding stare at Lucien.Though he was no longer intimidated by his father, Lucien always chose the path of least resistance with him.So he sat back down.
Father clasped his hands atop his desk.“Now that Aldington is to wed, you will need to do the same.”
“Someday, I shall.”It was nowhere in any of Lucien’s current plans nor would it be.
“Not someday.Soon.I won’t force you.”As if he could.“My hope is that you will do so by the end of next Season.If you’d like a list of acceptable young ladies, including those who are not yet out but will be next year, I’ll provide one.”What was it with fathers and bride lists?
Lucien summoned a placid expression.“Is that what you did for Con?”He sent a pitying look toward his brother.“I’m sure I can manage.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.I would prefer to have input into your choice, but I daresay you won’t allow me that fatherly duty.”He sniffed in a weak attempt at appearing offended.
It wasn’t a bloodydutyto meddle in your son’s, especially your second son’s, marital affairs.
“No, I will not.It isn’t your duty to choose my wife,orCon’s.”Lucien glared toward his brother.“Dammit, Con, why do you let him control everything?”
Con’s answering stare was frigid.“I don’t.You seem to think I don’t make decisions for myself, but I do.Just because you don’t agree with them doesn’t mean they’re wrong.For a younger brother, you are annoyingly meddlesome.”
Stung, Lucien sat back in his chair and blew out a breath.Was he no better than their father, trying to manage Con?Was Lucien’s irritation at Con’s impending marriage to do with Con at all, or was it due to the fact that their father’s focus would now shift completely to Lucien?The pressure to wed would be applied most vociferously.
“I shall do my best to select someone acceptable,” Lucien responded, though he was thinking he’d do just the opposite to spite him.
The duke’s answering expression was one of heavy skepticism.“What’s important for now is that you mend your libidinous ways.Your reputation requires rehabilitation if you hope to make the best possible marriage.”
Lucien wiped his hand over his face, thoroughly weary of this interview.“I served under Wellington and received a medal.What more could I do to improve my reputation?”
“Stop gallivanting about town with your unending parade of mistresses.Stop spending so much time in gaming hells.Attend more Society events.And most importantly—do something with your life.”He put his elbows on the desk and steepled his hands.“You should have stood for the Commons last autumn.”
That had been a massive battle that had resulted in Lucien not speaking to his father until well into the new year.“It’s not enough that Con is already a member?Besides, I’d only been home from Spain a month.”
“Closer to two, but let’s not quibble.You would have been elected easily.”Anygentleman with money was elected easily because he could afford the bribes necessary to win.For that reason alone, Lucien wasn’t interested.
He rose again, checking his watch fob.“I must be off.”He turned to Con and inclined his head.“Felicitations to you and Lady Sabrina.When is the wedding?”
“Early June.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”As he walked nearer to his brother, Lucien added in a near whisper, “And I hope you will too.”
Lucien lifted his hand toward the duke.“Afternoon, Father.Thank you, as always, for your counsel.”
“One more thing,” the duke said sharply, halting Lucien’s departure.“I’ve given up my private chamber at Brooks’s.I see no need for it since I rarely ever visit.”
Though Lucien couldn’t see his father’s face, the derision in his tone was blatantly evident.Barely pivoting, Lucien glanced back toward him.“I go there nearly every night.Surely you know that.”
“Do you?”Though the duke sounded as though he had no idea, Lucien knew better.
There would be no point in trying to persuade him to keep it, nor would Lucien lower himself to ask.This was a minor punishment for not falling into line.No matter, Lucien would find a cozy alcove to meet with his friends.Or maybe he’d do something else entirely.Hell, his mistress was leaving him, and now his gathering place had been stripped away too.
Without another word, Lucien stalked from the study.Before he reached the entrance hall, Con caught up to him.
“Would it kill you to improve your behavior?”
