Page 73 of Impeccable
Gregory readjusted his weight in the chair. “Isn’t there some saying about gentlemen not telling?”
“I haven’t heard it, but it’s probably a good maxim. In any case, I hope you are enjoying yourself and that it was worth the wait. I, for one, can’t imagine.”
Most men struggled to comprehend why Gregory had remained celibate. “It cost me a friend or two over the years, but then I don’t think they were probably going to be anyone I wanted to call friend anyway.”
“I would agree. Boys and young men can be cruel and stupid. I ought to know.”
“I can’t see you as cruel,” Gregory said.
“No, but I was plenty stupid, getting into scrapes and generally infuriating my father.” A wicked smile curled Lucien’s mouth. “It was great fun.”
“Did you go out of your way to annoy him?”
Lucien’s dark eyes glinted with mischief. “Oh yes.”
“And do you still?”
“Not entirely. Though, I do wear a brightly colored cravat when I pay him a call. He hates that.”
Gregory had taken a sip of whiskey and now sputtered. “Why do you do it? Annoy him, I mean.”
Lucien shrugged. “Because it’s expected? Isn’t that why you behaved in the way you did? Because your father expected it?”
“I suppose,” Gregory murmured. “Though I am beginning to think it’s perhaps better to do the unexpected.” That was what had prompted him to pursue Evie. And he had no regrets. “I doubt your father expected this club.”
“Perhaps not the club, but he certainly expected me to champion what he would call outcasts and miscreants. Present company excluded.”
“Damn, that sounds exciting. I might like to become one or both.”
Lucien let out a hollow laugh. “Trust me, you don’t. It sounds captivating until you’re on the outside. Much easier to stay within the realm of polite acceptance.” He took a drink of whiskey. “Now, back to your meeting yesterday—and your brother and sister-in-law. They aren’t going to receive invitations, I’m afraid. The membership committee will not be intimidated. Is that going to cause problems for you?”
“Not personally, no. It’s no difference to me if they’re invited or not.” That wasn’t precisely true. Gregory would actually prefer they weren’t, but he wasn’t going to tell Lucien that.
“What about the appointment to the Office of the Lord High Chancellor?” Lucien asked. “I don’t think Hargrove would allow that sort of nonsense to determine a man’s future, but his wife is, to borrow the word you used for Lady Witney, tenacious. She may have worn him down.”
“I’ve explained to my brother that I have no influence with you or anyone else. He didn’t care. I told him I’d speak to you. I’ve done that. If he sabotages my career for something I can’t control… Well, I want to say I’d be surprised, but the truth is, I almost expect it. Clifford can be rather devious—and for apparently no reason.”
“Damn. My brother and I have had a strained relationship—we’ve overcome that now, I’m glad to say—but we would never harm each other in that way. I’m sorry to hear it.”
“I’m used to his spite. My hope is that Hargrove will judge me for who I am.”
“I expect he will,” Lucien said, frowning slightly. “Still, perhaps I’ll speak with him.”
“It isn’t necessary, but do what you will.” Gregory took another drink and realized his glass was rapidly reaching empty once more. “This is exceptionally good.”
“I told you. Another glass?”
Gregory thought about it for only a moment. He wasn’t seeing Evie later, so why not? “I think so.” He held his glass out and Lucien leapt up with a grin.
It was nice to have a new friend.
Chapter15
The week had dragged, probably because Evie had only seen Gregory twice—one of which was a meeting in Green Park, where she’d also spent time with Ash. That had been the best day and made her smile now even as a mild anxiety swirled in her belly due to the imminent patroness meeting.
Her smile faded as she realized she didn’t know when she would see Ash again. She missed him terribly, and her heartache only increased with each encounter. She ought to stop seeing him—and Gregory—now, rather than draw out the inevitable.
She was still hopeful that she’d tire of Gregory. But she knew she’d never grow weary of Ash. He had stolen a piece of her heart forevermore. And therein lay the problem:noneof it was supposed to be forever.
