Page 25

Snorting in annoyance, Alexander stood up and made to leave.

“Wait a while. Where are you going? Come sit down and let’s discuss.”

“You seem to enjoy taunting me. I am not quite in the mood to banter with you.”

“Calm yourself and let’s sit, shall we? You can tell me all about the beautiful lady who seems to have the baffling power to discomfit you.”

Alexander reluctantly sat down. After telling him the story, James burst into laughter.

“How the great have fallen!” Jame regained a sense of composure, but mirth danced in his eyes.

Alexander rarely did anything to prompt jests from his dear friend, and whenever he did, he went to great lengths to hide the faux pas from James. In moments, James’ eyes would twinkle, and the daft man would take to calling him ‘Alexander the Great’.

James’ lips quirked a bit at the glory of being right. “If you had been having women problems all the while, you should have come to me. I am quite the connoisseur.” He wiggled his eyebrows mischievously.

“Connoisseur of mistresses,” Alexander scoffed. The habit was beneath him. However, he was hardly an ignorant Puritan. “How many ladies with strong aspirations to propriety have you seduced?”

“Dearest Alexander, forgo the verbosity and ask me for help. I won’t even demand you get on your knees.” James widened his arms, relaxing into the plush leather chaise. Then, with great hauteur, he added, “Look at me being quite magnanimous! Wherever would you find another friend like me?”

On the streets of Saint Giles, scouting for their next partner.

Alex held his tongue. He did need his friend’s help, whatever it consisted of.

Helen didn’t believe in the political nature of a marriage. She wanted love, children, and a doting husband, and while he could not give them to her, a duchy was at her feet! He was to make her a duchess! What more could a lady want? He was the closest thing to royalty. A most fortunate catch. Why was she so myopic?

“Your help would entail what?”

“How to compromise your damsel, so she’s forced to marry you of course,” James monotoned, as if considering whether to attach tassels to his boots or not.

“Good day to you, friend.” Alexander made to rise. However, James was quicker.

“Don’t be so hasty, I only jest.”

“Don’t make such remarks concerning a woman’s virtue.”

James nodded.

Only when Alexander slumped back—though with ducal grace—did James repose.

“Here’s what you really should do.”

Listening to him, Alexander wondered what his friend thought of him to suggest such a preposterous idea.

“Helen is a woman. Women love lies, they love deceit, and what do they love more? Believing they could see through a man’s deceit and lies. If you were to make her believe this brooding mein is nothing but a façade which you unraveled for her, which she uncovered, I bet you she would beg you to marry her.”

Alexander considered his friend’s suggestion, though not with the intention to enact it. James was actually a madman.

“I will not be partaking in any ritual to humiliate myself. You expect me to act as a nincompoop dandy just to marry her.”

James grimaced but nodded.

“I am a duke, not a peacock. Women vie for my regard.”

“What women?”

“That was a low blow even for you,” Alexander retorted. “Even though they damn nearly faint at the sight of me, surely there’ll be one desperate enough to tie herself to me. Besides, I don’t intend to bed the girl. I just need her to put up a good appearance.”

“And do you intend to reveal your plan to her?”