Page 60 of Impossible
“In fact, she is, along with her husband. I will warn you that Glastonbury may be angry with you.”
“That’s to be expected.”
“I continue to be astonished by the fact that you are well aware of your surliness and yet you do nothing to change it. Except apparently you did with Miss Treadway.”
“She said that?”
“Not entirely, no. I just assumed you’d mellowed since you’d agreed to hire a steward. And a woman to boot!”
“Assume nothing,” Max said tersely. He took a drink of the whiskey at last, finding it spicy yet smooth. He could see why it was Ada’s preference.
“What prompted you to give Prudence her dowry?” Lucien asked skeptically.
“Miss Treadway was a rather strong proponent on that front.”
“So, she wore you down about this where I could not. Amazing.” Lucien shook his head, and while Max recognized that his change of heart and mind on these issues was astounding, he didn’t appreciate how bloody flabbergasted Lucien continued to be.
Max glowered at him. “You’re still carrying on.”
“My apologies. I don’t wish to drive you away. I am delighted you’ve come to your senses when it comes to my cousin. You will like her immensely. She’s a lovely woman with a great deal of sense and wit.”
In response, Max drank more whiskey.
Lucien took a quick sip of brandy. “Your Phoenix Club membership is official. I apologize for the head footman. His job is to ensure nonmembers don’t gain entry, and you are an unfamiliar face. Furthermore, you didn’t officially accept the invitation I sent over a year ago.”
“I will remain an unfamiliar face as this is likely the one and only time I will visit. Don’t be surprised—or harass me—if I allow my membership to lapse.”
Lucien’s expression dimmed. “Does that mean you won’t be in London long?”
“A few days, I suppose. I should like to spend a little time with my half sister.” Unless he met her tonight and found her completely irritating. He was also considering meeting with her mother—his father’s lover, Lady Peterborough, who was Lucien’s aunt. Max thought back to the handful of times he’d met her in his youth, never realizing her link to his family. That ignorance ate at him. He’d been friendly to this woman who had heartlessly stolen another man from his loving wife.
“I’m so glad to hear it. We’ll organize a family dinner—”
Max lifted his hand and cocked his head with a grimace. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather not attend a large event. I’m certain we can get along on our own.”
Lucien couldn’t seem to stop from meddling. Max could see why he’d hired Ada and found her so valuable. They shared that annoying trait. Except Max had come to accept her meddling and even appreciate it. Could he do the same with Lucien? Perhaps it was time. He was just trying to be a good friend. And perhaps he was trying to make up for what he’d done—saving Max when he hadn’t wanted to be saved. Not that Lucien would ever regret doing that. Max believed he would defend his actions, both what he’d done in the moment and what he’d done afterward to ensure Max was seen as a hero, with his dying breath.
“Of course. I just thought it might be nice to get together as a family.” Lucien looked him in the eye. “We are family now, Max.”
That hadn’t occurred to him, and Max didn’t know how he felt about it. He’d gotten rather accustomed to being alone, to accepting that and perhaps even using it as an excuse to remain apart from everyone. What an uncomfortable thought.
“Just because I want to meet my half sister and give her the dowry she deserves doesn’t mean I want to join a family.” He drank more whiskey.
Lucien appeared briefly disappointed, but nodded to cover that up. “Understood. I don’t know where you’re lodging, but if you’d prefer maximum privacy, I invite you to stay here. We’ve excellent rooms on the second floor just above me, and the kitchen is quite good, if I may say so.”
Max had gone to the Stephen’s Hotel on Bond Street. It was the only place he thought he might be remotely comfortable since it was where military men lodged. But the lure of a place where he could be relatively alone was too attractive to ignore. “How many gentlemen lodge here?”
“At the moment, none.”
Perfect. “Can someone fetch my things from the Stephen’s Hotel? I’ll also need to notify my coachman. His name is Francis Ogden, and he’s situated in the mews nearby.”
“I’ll have someone take care of everything.” In this case, Lucien’s managing was bloody helpful. Max would try to remember—and appreciate—that. “But first, I’ll take you downstairs to meet Prudence.”
Max twitched. The idea of going into the assembly and seeing so many people all at once was a bit distressing. He nearly asked for Lucien to bring her upstairs, but didn’t want to seem a coward.
Except he was. Or wanted to be, anyway. But since he’d come all this way, he’d brave the stares and the murmurs. “Let’s go.” He finished his whiskey and set his empty glass on the sideboard.
Lucien tossed back the rest of his brandy, and when they started toward the door, Dougal MacNair blocked their path. Broad shouldered with ink-black curly hair, Dougal possessed the ability to look both imposing and approachable at the same time. The latter was due to his brilliant smile, which was not currently on display.
