Page 6 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke (Claimed by Regency Devils #1)
Chapter Six
“I suppose you think I am a fool,” Roderick, the Duke of Aldworth sighed as he took a long sip of whiskey.
Anthony, the Duke of Eggelton scoffed. “I do. Although I doubt it is for whatever reason you are suggesting.”
His best friend rolled his eyes and then nodded across the room, indicating to the family of his soon-to-be wife. They stood by the fireplace, massed together in a huddle as they argued and bickered loudly in ways that would suggest they were not guests in the home of a duke.
At the center of it was Dowager Countess Grayhill, her attention focused mostly on her second-eldest daughter, Aurelia. The two went at it like bulls with locked horns, tempers slowly rising without care or concern for how inappropriate it was.
Roderick’s betrothed, Violet, looked to be trying to calm them down. Of all the children, she was undoubtedly the most proper and mature, her expression one of pained embarrassment because of the scene her family was making.
Another of the girls... Eveline, Anthony was certain to be her name, had a wild look in her eyes as she goaded mother and sister, while the only son, Daniel, stood back a small distance and eyed the scene with disdain.
And then there was Lady Caroline Hawkins, by the fire, watching her family bicker, but doing nothing to get involved. Surely, a rare instance, as she is one who I assume to be a constant cause of upheaval. At least as far as my own experiences are concerned.
“Have you ever seen anything like it?” Roderick groaned and took another sip of his whiskey. “If they had knives, I am sure that by now blood would have been spilt.”
“They are a rather cantankerous lot,” Anthony agreed.
“Ha!” Roderick snorted. “That is a nice way of putting it. I have seen tavern brawls contained of more order. I say it now, Anthony, but when you find me in a year’s time with a noose around my neck, you will know the cause.” His lip curled as he watched the family. “Tiresome people.”
It had been a long, tiresome evening, and Anthony was already looking forward to its end. Was it not expected of him to remain for a drink, he would have retired as soon as supper had been finished with, happy to lock himself away and put this day behind him. Alas, Anthony was nothing if not a slave to expectation, thus his being here right now.
Supper had been a rowdy affair, spent mostly by the dowager countess trying to keep her children in line. Aurelia was without a doubt the most troublesome, but that Eveline gave her a run for her money. Anthony had spent the long hours saying little, happy to be ignored because he did not wish to find himself in the middle of the chaos. Even if it was all but unavoidable.
Once supper ended, Roderick had declared that they should retire to the drawing room for a drink before bed. Tomorrow, the guests would begin to arrive for the duration of the weekend, so this was the last chance they would have to spend time together as one big happy family.
One big unhappy family, I think he meant to say. I cannot help but wonder if Lady Caroline Hawkins had been left behind by accident or if she had purposefully fled.
“I would say that I feel sorry for you,” Anthony chuckled dryly as he took a sip of his own glass of whiskey. “But you and I both know how little I care for your happiness.”
Roderick scoffed. “You think me a fool, but I am not as simple-minded as it might appear. Yes, I have agreed to marry into a circus hosted by hyenas, but I tell you now, once it is done with, I will see the back of that lot—” He flicked his head at the family. “—and then endeavor to never see them again. Which will still be too soon.”
“Oh? Moving overseas, are you? How lucky for all of us.”
“Not quite,” Roderick smirked. Then he checked that the family were not listening, dropping his voice slightly to ensure the fact. “You know I have no love for marriage, Anthony. The entire concept to me is as pointless as tits on a bull.”
“Yes, you have said so before.” Anthony could not help but smirk. “Yet here we are.”
“Blame my father,” Roderick said with distaste. “I did not care for the man, even if I find myself upset that he is no longer with us. Although not for reasons that might suggest I miss him.”
“So, it is his fault you are marrying?” Anthony chuckled. “Even from beyond the grave, he finds ways to ruin your life.”
“He was an old wart,” Roderick snapped. “And I know he is up there right now, laughing at me.”
“Perhaps he is proud of you.” Anthony could not help but smile, as he knew how little Roderick and his father cared for one another. “His only son, finally getting married. What a happy circumstance, I would say.”
“A marriage of convenience,” he sighed. “You know as well as any how expected such a thing is from men of our ilk. Alas, even I was not able to avoid expectation, so when the countess approached with me the marriage offer, I figured why not...” He shrugged and had another sip. “Best get it over and done with.”
“How romantic of you.”
“Even more romantic are my plans post wedding.” His eyes flashed with wickedness. “Violet is a fine creature, do not misunderstand me. And if I was to succumb to the lure of wedded bliss, she is perhaps the only one who could coax such a thing from me.
As I have told her, I do not want a part of it.” His expression hardened suddenly. “Which is why once we are wed, we will be living apart. Separate homes. Separate lives. That, in my estimation, is the true definition of wedded bliss.” He held up his glass as if to make a toast and then drained the rest in a single mouthful.
Anthony studied his friend with a mixed feeling of emotions.
On the one hand, he wasn’t surprised to hear of this plan, for he knew as well as any other how Roderick felt about marriage—that was why he had been so surprised by the announcement in the first place.
Anthony’s relationship with Roderick was complicated, as both men were naturally closed-off creatures who struggled to share their emotions with anyone. This meant that their relationship always remained at the surface level, borne from a familiarity with one another, while unable to grow into anything truly meaningful.
Perhaps this will change with marriage? The irony that it might take getting married to finally coax out those emotions which he guards with such venom.
That did not mean he wasn’t annoyed with how lightly Roderick was taking his impending marriage. It was an arraignment that had fallen into his lap without much effort exerted, something that Anthony would never get to experience thanks to a certain moniker that had the entire ton convinced that he was the sort who’d best be avoided at their own peril.
“I wish you well,” Anthony said bitterly, joining his friend in his toast.
“What of you?” Roderick grinned. “A night spent with a luscious young lady whom you have not been able to keep your eyes off all evening. Do I hear wedding bells?”
Anthony narrowed his eyes. “I would be careful of what you are suggesting, Roderick. Unless you plan on spending the rest of the weekend with a black eye.”
Roderick held up his hands, laughing to himself. He was shorter than Anthony, and nowhere near as physically imposing. Not a weak man by any stretch of the imagination, but not nearly as large as Anthony. “I jest, I jest. Of course, it is but a joke.”
“I thought the purpose of a joke was to be funny.”
Roderick shrugged. “I know she isn’t your type. And I know that you of all men are not one to take advantage of a young maiden who has found herself accidentally wandering into your lair.” He flashed his teeth in a mocking grin. “Besides, I have a feeling that the countess might offer up the hand of her other daughter...” He flicked his head toward the family, noticeably at Aurelia. “Anything to get her out of the house.”
“Are you quite done?”
“Oh, she is not so bad to look at.” He was chuckling and shaking his head. “A little plump, perhaps, but a man of your size would surely rise to the task. Shall I ask Violet if the match is one worth pursuing? I am sure she would be thrilled to help.”
Anthony knew Roderick was making fun, so he resolutely ignored him, turning his head away and focusing instead on the bickering family.
Despite himself, Anthony found his attention falling on Lady Caroline Hawkins, who was still standing back from her family, and still at pains not to find herself in the middle of their argument. Strange, as I would have guessed that of her siblings, she was the most outspoken.
Anthony had been doing his best all evening to put the previous two days behind him. A series of events that had not been in his control but had very nearly undone him, nonetheless.
He found his gaze locked onto Lady Caroline Hawkins, unable to keep himself from looking at her. She had frustrated him beyond belief for the entire time they were together, a woman who seemed designed to annoy him. Never had he met one so argumentative and forward, one who let her tongue wag before stopping to think what the consequences might be. Ordinarily he would despise such a trait as that, yet—where she was concerned—he could not help but be intrigued.
Oh yes, the fact that he was physically drawn to her did not help the matter. She was far shorter than he was, and her body was curvy in all the right places. Her round face was undeniably pretty; a mixture of wholesome and wicked. Her big eyes, round like an owls, had an innocence to them which contrasted mightily to her plump lips and the words they spoke.
Again, as he had been doing all day, his thoughts drifted to their night spent together. First, when he was between her legs, hands on her thighs, feeling her struggle and then relax as she gave into him. As he made her his to control. And then when he woke in the morning to find her wrapped around him, her soft body pressed in close, her warm breath drifting across his face as her legs squeezed him...
“Anthony?” Roderick said. “Is something the matter?”
“Hhmm?” Anthony snapped his gaze back from Lady Caroline, as he had been staring without realizing it.
“That look on your face...” Roderick could not have looked more pleased. “If I did not know any better, I would say that you were?—”
“Off to bed,” Anthony announced quickly, cutting through his friend before he could even suggest the obvious joke. He downed the rest of his liquor and then shoved the empty glass into his friend’s chest. “And not a moment too soon.”
Roderick’s face fell. “Yes, a good idea, I think.” He glanced at the family and his lip curled. “Urgh, I envy you, you know. Being single, not having to worry with that ...” He shuddered. “Enjoy it while you can, old friend.”
“I intend to.”
Anthony left Roderick standing there, walking quickly past the bickering family with his head down, determined not to be seen by them. Despite his best efforts, he dared a glance, finding Lady Caroline Hawkins’ eyes following him. They met and their stare held, his felt a lump appear in his throat and his stomach twisted down toward his crotch...
A shake of the head and he looked away, still aware of her eyes on the back of his head, hoping that all she was thinking was how glad she was to see the back of him. Better that I keep my distance from her as best I can. For both of our sakes, I would think.