Page 6 of Lord of Temptation
Captain Crimson Jack might believe he was tempting—and she had to reluctantly admit that he might be a delicious morsel of manhood—but she was made of sturdier stuff and was not going to be lured by smoky eyes or the promise of passion they held. She had denied Walter, after all, while loving him with all of her young heart. Every day, every night, she lived with regret over their parting. She needed to go to Scutari so she could assuage her guilt, so she could find happiness—if not with him, then with someone else.
“What do you know of the Earl of Blackwood?” Tristan asked, standing in the doorway. The clocks had only just tolled midnight, and he’d known he would find his brother in his office. After all, vice dens were busiest when decent people slept.
Rafe gazed up from his ledgers and glared. “I’ve not seen you in two years and you can’t even bother with a proper greeting?”
“Hello,” Tristan said laconically before wandering into the room and glancing around. His brother had added a new globe to his collection since Tristan had been here. Interesting. He wondered why his brother fancied them.
“How long have you been in London?” Rafe asked.
“A month, give or take a week. Blackwood?” Bless Mouse and his eagerness to prove his worth to Tristan for providing him with a place aboard his ship. He’d not only followed the lady home, but he’d managed to speak with a servant in order to acquire the particulars regarding the household. The earl had four sons and a daughter.
Studying him intently, Rafe leaned back in his chair and rubbed a thumb over his smooth chin, making Tristan wish he’d tidied up a bit; on the docks the rougher one looked, the tougher he was thought to be. Although Tristan had obtained a reputation for being incredibly tough. He suspected he could prance around in lacy shirts and no one would mess with him. At least not with Crimson Jack.
“Does Sebastian know you’re back?”
With a sigh Tristan dropped into a chair across from Rafe. “I’ve not alerted him to my return.”
“He has an heir now, you know.”
He waited as Rafe poured whiskey into a tumbler and set it before him. He downed the amber liquid in one long swallow before saying, “I hadn’t heard, but I’m relieved. Takes the pressure off me.”
“You’ve no desire to be a duke?”
“None whatsoever.”
“You’re not going to follow in uncle’s footsteps and try to take the dukedom?”
“Uncle’s actions would indicate that he was mad, I believe. I’m not. His demise was welcome.” Especially as his last act was an attempt to kill Mary. Attacking the brothers was one thing, but to turn his bloodlust on sweet Mary—
“Sebastian and Mary should be arriving for the Season soon,” Rafe said.
Tristan tried not to look taken aback. “I assumed they would forever stay at Pembrook.”
“I think Mary convinced him that he must be accepted by Society for the sake of his heir, and any other children that come their way.”
They could be of assistance in his quest to entice Lady Anne into his arms, but he didn’t want to wait until she returned from sailing on another ship.
“So—Blackwood. What do you know of him?” Tristan prodded, wanting to get the conversation back to his purpose for being there.
“He doesn’t belong to my club. His two youngest sons do. Mine is not quite as posh as other clubs, so it appeals more to younger men who are not so keen about keeping up appearances.”
“And his daughter? What do you know of her?”
Rafe arched a brow. “I don’t believe she’s a member of my club.”
“Aren’t you quite the hilarious one? I see you’ve not grown more communicative in the months I’ve been away.”
“Why do you care about her?”
“She sought to hire me to take her to Scutari.”
“Why? The war is over. Nightingale is no longer there to lure nurses.”
“She wishes to visit with her fiancé.”
“Are you taking her?”
“Only if she’s willing to pay my price.”
