Page 59 of Impossible
“I’m the Viscount Warfield.”
“Ah, yes, however, I don’t recognize that name from the membership roll.”
Max tamped down his annoyance. “Fetch Lord Lucien.”
“I’m afraid his lordship is exceedingly busy. There is an assembly this evening.”
“I am aware of that as I’ve come to join the bloody assembly,” Max growled. “If you don’t fetch Lord Lucien this instant, I guarantee he will not be pleased.”
The man, who was perhaps a few years younger than Max’s thirty years, blanched. Still, he hesitated until Max growled again. Max may also have turned his scarred face toward the bloke and bared a few teeth. The man took himself off at last.
Occasionally, being a beast had its advantages.
While Max waited, he studied the large entry hall. Hung above the staircase, a massive painting of a bacchanalia was the focal point. The more he studied it, the more he seemed to recognize some of the figures portrayed within it. There was Pan, of course, and Dionysius. But in the lower right, it seemed Lucien and Dougal laughed with another pair of gentlemen. Another figure caught Max’s eye—just up the same side of the painting, a man arrived at the feast on horseback. Max recognized both man and beast—it was him astride Arrow.
He was completely unprepared for the sweep of emotion that stunted his breath.
“Good God, Warfield?” Lucien’s voice broke into Max’s haze of befuddlement.
Blinking, Max turned his head and focused on Lucien. “What the bloody hell is that?” He jerked his head toward the painting.
“I had it commissioned. Isn’t it marvelous?”
“You’ve no right to put me in a damned painting. Especially like that.” Seeing himself on Arrow… Max still couldn’t breathe properly.
“I like it,” Lucien said coolly. “It’s a wonderful reminder of my old friend.” He moved closer, lowering his voice. “Let’s not begin this way. I’m so very pleased to see you. What on earth brings you all the way to London and to my club of all places?”
Max grunted. He definitely should have climbed back into the hack. He wasn’t sure this aggravation was worth seeing Ada or meeting his half sister.
“I came to give Prudence her dowry.”
Lucien gaped at him. “Come to my office for a moment.” He led Max up the stairs. As they ascended, they passed a few gentlemen. Max didn’t know any of them, and to a man, they registered Max’s face and quickly averted their gazes.
At the landing, Lucien went to the right, and Max followed. Once they were inside, Lucien closed the door. “Brandy?”
“I understand you have Irish whiskey.”
Lucien stared at him. “You are full of surprises,” he murmured. “Yes, but it’s in the library.”
“Take me there,” Max said, recalling it was the place Ada had said he might like best.
With a nod, Lucien led him from the office back past the staircase to the front of the club, where a long rectangular room overlooked Ryder Street. Though the room was large, it was inviting with dark wood bookshelves and several seating areas. A sideboard with a varied collection of liquor atop it stood between the windows.
“How did you know about the Irish whiskey?” Lucien asked as he went to pour the alcohol. “It’s primarily for Wexford, and he likes to hoard it.”
“Miss Treadway told me about it. She thought I might enjoy it.” Max took the glass and inhaled the scent of the whiskey. There was sweetness with a bit of fruit and vanilla. Honestly, it reminded him of Miss Treadway in a subtle way, not that she smelled like whiskey.
Lucien poured himself a glass of brandy. “I am utterly baffled by whatever happened during Miss Treadway’s visit.”
“She didn’t tell you?”
“Should she have?”
“She drafted a report, which you’ve surely read. She also likes to talk.”
“That she does,” Lucien said with a chuckle. “Her written report was quite extensive, and I read every word. We also spoke, and she mentioned your resistance to change, but that you eventually came round. I’m still in awe as to how she did it.”
“Can we not belabor this?” Max asked wearily. He realized he was tired from the journey and annoyed by a number of things, namely that asinine painting. “I came tonight hoping I might meet Prudence. Is she here?”
