Page 39

“My duchess did not secure marriage proposals because she did not really want them and because Reeds did not make her behave like a proper lady,” William said. “My wife has assured me that she will be a proper duchess, and on our wedding day, I saw that.”

“We shall see,” Hamilton replied, not bothering to conceal his disbelief. “You seem satisfied with your choice, though. I suppose congratulations are in order.”

“Yes.” William paused and narrowed his eyes. “But why are you here? Is this only a social visit?”

Hamilton smiled. “Mostly. I was hoping to solicit your support on a matter, if you are not opposed to discussing parliament.”

William shook his head. “The Season is over, my friend,” he said gravely. “Are you already so eager to do business?”

“As eager as you,” Hamilton replied, nodding to the desk. “Otherwise, you would not be hidden away in here buried under papers.”

William sighed. “I am still trying to untangle the snarl that my brother made of the dukedom.”

“God rest his soul,” Hamilton said flippantly.

William clenched his jaw. “Careful.”

“Apologies if I have caused offense,” Hamilton replied, waving his glass. “It is only the alcohol speaking.”

As if the three sips of brandy could be responsible foranythingthat Hamilton was doing. William raked a hand through his hair and grimaced. He held his brother, the late Duke of Sarsen, in peculiar and contradictory regard. Thomas had been beyond bad for the dukedom. He had spent money as though it was a limitless resource, hosting extravagant balls, raking across the continent, and drinking to excess.

It had been a surprise to no one when Thomas offended another gentleman and died in a duel. They had never been close, but still, William found that he loved his brother and held no small measure of familial loyalty for the man.

“I wanted to draft some legislation to provide additional relief to the poor,” Hamilton said. “I wondered if you would be willing to look over it once I finish and if you might be willing to support me. You know that I often…come across wrongly to some of the lords.”

“You have made no effort to remedy that,” William said.

“Should I?”

William realized rather suddenly that he had somehow found himself surrounded by wild, eccentric people. How hadthathappened?

“It might help you on occasion,” William said dryly. “And the gall of you to insist that my wife is unsuitable when you behave just like her! By your own admission, no less!”

Hamilton only shrugged. “You know as well as I that a man has more freedom than a woman in terms of permissible behavior. Besides, I am not vying to become a duchess. When I inevitably marry, I do not anticipate a shortage of brides. Any baron’s daughter will happily wed even the most detestable earl if it means that she might become a countess.”

“I suppose I will help you,” William said. “The cause is just, even if its champion is a den of vices.”

Hamilton winked. “Shall I pretend that you have no vices yourself?”

“That would be ideal given that you are requesting a favor of me,” William pointed out.

Hamilton grinned and raised his glass in a mock toast. “Then, you are among the most moral of men with nary a vice to your name.”

William’s thoughts wandered to his young bride and how she had appeared bent over the loveseat the night before. In his mind’s eye, he heard her harsh gasps for air and saw the beads of sweat tracing the length of her spine. She had a perfect figure, so fine that even Aphrodite herself would be flushed with envy.

This was not good. He could not let his wife prove to be a distraction.

“And you are a liar,” William said dryly.

“All men are,” Hamilton replied. “Especially those among the ton. We would tear each other apart if we spoke truthfully every moment of our lives.”

“In all likelihood.”

“So howisthe dukedom faring?” Hamilton asked, leaning forward and peering at the papers spread across the desk. “Every time I speak to you, it seems as though you uncover a new rot.”

William sighed. “Itfeelsthat way. This time, I discovered a bride.”

“Lady Catherine?”