Page 84 of Irresistible
For the past four years, he’d worked hard and loved being in service. He’d known who he was and what was expected. Before that, he’d done the same in the Black Watch. And that had resulted from his father prompting him to decide what he would do. He couldn’t live an aimless life as the younger son of an earl. Somewhere inside, Dougal had known that, but the lure of London to a young buck fresh out of Oxford with his friends had corrupted him for a while. Until his father had forced him to remake himself as a soldier. Now, he would do so again.
Dougal stood, finally intent on that whisky. Lucien intercepted him. “What did Kent want?” he asked.
“I summoned him so I could tell him I am finished with the Foreign Office.”
“It’s official, then?” Lucien grunted. “You need a drink. Or I do.” He went and poured them both Scottish whisky.
“Kent said he may call on me sometime.”
Lucien handed him one of the tumblers. “You’d be open to that?”
“I would, provided it didn’t interfere with my duties. My family and the Stirling estate must take priority now.”
“I really hope Con and Sabrina’s child is a boy. If something happens to Con, I donotwant that responsibility.” He grimaced at Dougal, then lifted his glass. “Sorry.”
“You’d excel at it, and you know it. Just look at what you’ve done with this club.”
“Running a membership club is not managing several estates and an entire legacy.” Lucien shuddered. “No, thank you.”
“Thankyoufor making it sound completely overwhelming,” Dougal said wryly before sipping his drink.
“You’re up to the task. The question is, when do you plan to take a viscountess?”
Dougal snorted. “I have no plans.”
“Really? I wondered if you might after you and Miss Goodfellow went missing last night.”
“We didn’t gomissing. We took a walk around the garden on a pleasant evening. If you must know, I wanted to see how she was faring after the mission. It can be quite jolting to go from one reality to another.” That was utter nonsense, but the truth was that Dougal should have done that. It seemed he owed her another apology. Another reason to see her.
But when? How?
“You could do worse than her,” Lucien mused softly over the rim of his glass before taking a drink. His eyes shone with teasing mischief.
“Do not meddle,” Dougal said sternly. “Have you learned nothing from your experiences with your brother and sister?”
Lucien rolled his eyes. “People keep telling me not to get involved, but this is literally what I do at the Phoenix Club. I put my nose in others’ business for the greater good.” He spoke passionately. “I created an environment that would be welcoming to those who most need a haven. And I help those who need it. If you need assistance finding a wife, my services are at your disposal.”
“Careful, or we’ll have to start calling you the Gentleman Matchmaker.” Dougal shook his head. “I don’t need your help. Truly. There is no chance Miss Goodfellow will become my viscountess. She is quite committed to spinsterhood.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of two very dear people—Maximillian Hunt, the Viscount Warfield, who had been a close friend of Lucien’s and Dougal’s for many years, and his wife, Ada, now Lady Warfield, who was one of the very people Lucien had helped. He’d hired her as the club’s bookkeeper two years earlier.
“You’ve come,” Lucien said, smiling. “I feared you weren’t going to make it tonight after all.”
Max shook his hand, then Dougal’s. “We arrived in town this afternoon.”
“So you’ve been in the club for hours.” Lucien arched a brow in silent insinuation.
Ada rolled her eyes at her employer. “I was doing work in my office.” Which was on the ladies’ side of the club and part of her suite where she and Max stayed when they came to town.
Lucien bussed Ada’s cheek then Dougal did the same.
“It’s lovely to see you, Ada,” Dougal said. “I’m sorry to have missed your wedding to this bumpkin.”
“We understood.” She took his hand and gave him a warm squeeze. “How are you? You look well.”
“I am, thank you.” He didn’t want to discuss Alistair’s death. He realized he never did. And he never had.
“I’m so glad.” Ada turned her gaze to Lucien. “Can we discuss a few things?”
