Page 16 of A Simple Marriage (Millionaires of Mayfair #2)

Pelham’s eyes flashed with fury, and all of it was directed at Hugh.

“Pelham.” Hugh stood slowly. “Good to see you.”

“Is it?” the duke retorted. He swung his gaze to Pippa. “Darling, what in the bloody hell?” He headed straight for the table that held various whiskey bottles and poured one. He lifted a glass Hugh’s way.

He nodded in answer.

Pelham eyed him again with a hint of disgust, then finished his glass before he poured another. “It’s a good thing my sister enjoys whisky as much as I do. Otherwise, we’d have to adjourn to my study.” Only then did he pour Hugh a glass. When he picked it up, Hugh walked to his side and took the glass that was offered.

“Lucky for you that I didn’t wear my poison ring,” Pelham murmured.

Pippa glided to Pelham’s side. Without a word, the duke swept her in his arms and squeezed. He kissed her on the cheek. She returned the sign of affection.

Hugh moved back slightly, giving the siblings room to express themselves. He’d never seen Pelham this emotional with anyone. He had his eyes closed and held his sister as if he’d never let her go. With the slightest of movement, he rocked to and fro, offering comfort.

Probably as much for himself as Pippa.

When they finally pulled away, Pelham murmured, “Let me look at you.”

Wearing an impudent grin, Pippa leaned back and examined her brother at the same time he studied her. “What are you doing back so soon?”

“The Jolly Rooster was too quiet. A bit boring to be truthful.” A look of chagrin crossed his face. “I needed to come back to London.” He took a swig of whisky. “It’s a good thing based upon what I saw.”

“What did you see?” Pippa planted her fists on her hips. “Before you go off half-cocked, let me tell you something about your friend here. He offered to look over my project again. The one that he made the effort to discuss with you. I found his advice and observations very instructive and comforting.”

“Along with his lips about to land on yours. That type of instruction where you both are alone? What does that have to do with a dress shop?” Pelham challenged with a lift of an arrogant brow.

“Pelham,” Hugh warned. “Do not embarrass your sister.”

The duke nodded once as if considering Hugh’s advice.

“Pippa, I apologize. If I should be angry at anyone…” He let the words trail off and turned to Hugh. Instantly, Pelham’s gaze turned intense, much like a hawk observing its prey. “We’ll finish this in a bit.” He glanced around the room. “Where exactly is Lady Grace? I’d like to have a word with her as well and discuss what I discovered in your study when I arrived.”

Pippa tilted her chin in the air. “Grace received a summons to attend a young lady who found herself compromised through no fault of her own. She and a gentleman were locked together in a dressing room overnight.”

Pelham ran a hand down his face. “Let me see if I understand this. Your chaperone left you alone with Ravenscroft so she could see about a client who was ruined.”

“She didn’t know that Ravenscroft would be calling. I sent Alice on several errands on my behalf.” Pippa smiled and clasped her hands in front of her demurely. “There’s no cause for concern.”

“So, she left to see about another woman and left you here alone.” Her brother lifted a perfect ducal brow. “How many times have you had Ravenscroft as a visitor?”

Pippa slid a side-ways glance at Hugh. They both knew what Pelham was trying to do. He was a master strategist at twisting the tables to the exact position that he wanted. Afterward, he upended it to see where all the broken pieces landed.

“Pelham,” Pippa growled softly, the dulcet sound oddly reminiscent of her brother’s voice. “Hugh…I mean, Ravenscroft and I are friends.” She lightly stomped her foot. “For God’s sake. He’s your best friend.”

“And you’re my sister,” he pointed out with a wave of his half-empty whisky glass in his hand. “Look at Trafford and Honor. I trusted my other best friend. He ended up compromising my eldest sister.”

Hugh froze. If Pelham had caught wind of what he and Pippa had done last night, he’d kill him. His conscience wanted to slink out of the room before they went into greater detail. Or if he or Pippa said something they shouldn’t.

“Don’t, Dane.” Pippa’s alto voice deepened. “Make your life and ours easier. Don’t turn this into something it isn’t.”

She was correct, as usual, that it wouldn’t do any of them well if Pelham turned their meeting into a circus or worst. Yet, in that unfathomable moment, he wanted to decry her statement. The intimacy that they’d shared at the orangery and last night in this very room was something to him. Yet, her words rang true as Pelham was known for the dramatics, at least where his sisters were involved.

He ran a hand down his face. This was a recipe for disaster for both of them, but he didn’t think he could stop. He was drawn to her like no other woman he’d ever met before. She was unique on so many levels, and he was intrigued. Her passion for work, family, and especially her kisses kept him tied in knots.

Pelham lifted his gaze to Hugh’s without acknowledging his sister’s words. Slowly, he turned to Pippa. “Darling, I’m famished. Will you see if Cook is ready to serve the meal?”

She nodded once. “Ravenscroft, I hope you’ll stay as well.” Without waiting for his answer, she turned back to her brother. An air of challenge swirled around her.

In Hugh’s opinion, it made her irresistible. He’d always found self-assurance attractive in a woman. Pippa wore it better than any one of her gorgeous gowns.

“I know what you’re about to do. If I’m out of the way, then you can rail and fulminate all you want.” Pippa gathered her papers from the table and carefully pushed them into her satchel. “Don’t do it. I shall return shortly.”

Both he and Pelham watched her as she walked from the library. The slight sashay of her hips made Hugh’s gut tighten in a way that he was coming to recognize as unique to only when he was with Pippa. As her steps retreated down the hall, he slowly turned to his friend.

“Welcome home.”

Pelham lifted an arrogant ducal brow. “I do not believe you for a second.” He whipped around and faced Hugh. “So, what did I interrupt?”

“You mean you’re not going to go into a tailspin of a tirade because you saw me with your sister? You’ve learned something the way you handled Honoria and Trafford’s affair.” He didn’t take his gaze from his friend. He knew Pelham well enough to understand that just because the duke appeared calm, that wasn’t necessarily the case. Pelham had a nasty habit of cutting a person in two without them even knowing it until they walked out of the room without their head.

Figuratively, of course.

Pelham tilted his head slightly and examined Hugh. For a moment, he felt as if he were a new species of insect that had just crawled onto the table, and the scientist couldn’t decide whether to smash it or put it in a jar for safekeeping. “For curiosity’s sake, what are you doing here? Don’t lie to me.”

“We told you the truth. I offered to review her plans once again for running Mademoiselle Mignon’s dress shop. We just finished discussing them, and she seemed a little disquieted about discussing them with you. I was comforting her.”

“Oh ho!” Pelham let out a boisterous but feigned laugh. “I could see that when I came in and saw your hands all over her and leaning in for a kiss.” He walked over to the side table and refilled his glass. “At least, I hope you dissuaded her from pursuing the purchase.”

Hugh didn’t move or react to his friend’s attack. If it was his sister, he’d probably feel the same, particularly if he’d known that they’d shared more than a passionate kiss last night.

However, he’d not let Pelham dismiss Pippa’s accomplishment with the plan and what she’d done on her own.

“I did not. In fact, I encouraged her.” When Pelham turned on one foot to confront him, Hugh held up his hands. “Let me continue before you explode into objections.” He walked to his friend’s side and placed his glass on the table. The leaded glass hit the light, and a cascade of rainbows danced across the oak tabletop. “She’s your sister all right. Her sales and expenses for the next year are meticulous. She’s thought of every contingency and problem that might arise. Her mind works like yours. She can ferret out opportunities where others might see only problems.” He picked up his glass and poured a fingerful of whisky in his glass and downed it in one swallow. “She’ll be a success.”

Pelham lifted his brow non-committedly, then ran a hand over his face in frustration. “Do you think I am not aware of that? I’m even considering asking her if she’d like to handle a portion of my investments. That’s how much faith I have in her. But I have no doubt she will retreat into that business if she buys it.” He turned a pleading eye to Hugh. “I want her to have a happy life with a family. Pippa deserves that. She’s been…like the Rock of Gibraltar for Honor and me. She always acted as the buffer between our parents and the rest of us. Only she could lighten the mood when our parents fought. She used that charm to smooth the way for Honor and me. Is it wrong for me, her brother, to want more for her as an adult? I’d like nothing more than to see her take her rightful place in society. But I want her to have the support of a wonderful family.”

Hugh leaned closer and chose his words with care. “There is nothing wrong with wanting such happiness for your sister.” When Pelham slowly let out a sigh of relief, Hugh pulled away. “However, I think she might know how happiness is defined for her better than you, my friend.”

“Turning into a philosopher again, Ravenscroft?” Pelham’s tongue was heavy with sarcasm.

“No. All I’m asking is if you’ll listen to her.” When Pelham nodded, Hugh continued, “She was quite nervous to discuss her thoughts. I believe she was concerned that you might judge them harshly. Why would she think that?”

Pelham waved him off. “You’re imagining things.”

“Just like I’m imagining she wants her trust fund so she can purchase the shop,” Hugh retorted, keeping his voice even.

A cough sounded, and they both looked to the door of the study. Pippa stood there with a stone-cold expression on her face. “Imagine my surprise to hear a conversation about me without me being invited to participate.” She pressed her lips into a terse line. After a moment, a weak smile appeared. It was one that a hostess might give to an unwanted guest. “Gentlemen, dinner is ready.” Without another word, she turned on the ball of her foot and marched down the hall.

Pelham’s gaze darted to Hugh. “What in the bloody hell have we done?”

Hugh turned to follow Pippa. He didn’t wait for his friend. Pippa was absolutely correct. Hugh had no business discussing this with her brother without her being here.

At this moment, he didn’t care if Pelham was likely to take a swing at him.

He had to find a way to get back into Pippa’s good graces.

By the time Pelham and Hugh had reached the dining room, Pippa was already seated and taking a sip of wine. She didn’t acknowledge either of them when they came to the table and sat down. Normally, she would wait for Pelham to assist her with her seat, but after overhearing the discussion between the two of them, she’d not allow them the opportunity to think everything was satisfactory between any of them.

The footmen dressed in the formal gray and gold livery served the three of them. The mood was so fraught with tension that she half expected the crystal on the table to shatter from the stress. Her brother and Hugh tried to ease the mood by trying to draw her into the conversation, but she’d have none of it.

As soon as the final course was served, Pippa nodded to the two footmen. “Thank you both. If you’d be so kind as to shut the door behind you, we’ll serve ourselves dessert and after-dinner drinks.”

Both men nodded, then took their leave.

“Excellent dinner,” Hugh said in an obvious attempt to change the ambiance around them.

Pelham readily agreed as he poured them all a brandy, a common ritual that she enjoyed. But Pelham always treated her as an equal…at the dinner table. She was thankful for that. However, discussing her situation privately with Hugh was another matter entirely. When she’d come into the room, she’d heard Hugh asking why she was so hesitant to share her plans. Well, even her brother didn’t fully realize what scars their parents had left her with.

And he never would. They were her secrets to bear and hers alone. Pelham had protected her and Honor constantly. Being a battering ram for her parents’ vitriol was the least she could do. If Pelham knew, he’d be devastated. But she would not hide her plans any longer from her brother, particularly when their handsome guest had weaseled them out of her with his charm, his deep voice, tender touches, and kindhearted words. She wanted that shop. And she was going to lose it if she didn’t do something drastic. Hopefully, it would force her brother’s hand.

“I want to tell you what I’ve done, and why I’ve done it,” Pippa addressed her brother. “You should know that I sent out five letters to various members of your millionaire’s club.”

“This sounds ominous,” Pelham chuckled as he reached over to her side and squeezed her hand. “Wait? What did you do?”

“I sent letters, and it’s hardly ominous,” she answered, not encouraging any lightheartedness between them. “It’s fortuitous. You see, in my letters, I asked each of them if they’d meet me in Hyde Park ‘to discuss matrimony.’”

Suddenly, Pelham choked on his drink. Hugh stood to come to his side, but her brother waved him away. When he could finally take a breath without coughing, he stared straight through her.

She would not fold like a house made of cards.

Pelham’s eyes rounded into saucers. “You did what?”

“I asked them if they’d consider marriage to me. It’s the only way I can access my trust fund without angering you unless you agree to release the funds to me now.” She turned to Hugh with a lifted brow, daring him to contradict her. “I want that dress shop. I have two weeks to purchase it. Mignon has another offer.”

Hugh leaned against the back of his chair. With his hawk-like gaze, he studied her. If she wasn’t mistaken, there was a hint of appreciation in what she’d just done. If it had been any other occasion, she would have been pleased with such a look. It was everything she’d always wanted—to be appreciated for who she was and her abilities without any conditions being foisted upon her.

Being with Hugh taught her one thing this evening. There were many ways to get what one wanted in life. Perhaps the one course she had avoided was the easiest. She would show her brother how desperate she was to purchase that business.

If she was going to confess, she was going to have a grand time at it or at least try. “I picked out five men whom I knew you approve them. All members of your millionaire club. Stanhope, Kingston, Grantham, and Wexworth.” She turned to Hugh with a sickly-sweet smile. “Who was the fifth man?”

“Bedford,” Hugh said. His voice didn’t waver, but there was no telltale humor in it.

“How the devil do you know whom she sent the letters to?” Pelham demanded.

A muscle twitched in Hugh’s left jaw. “The letters were mistakenly sent to me.” He continued to stare at her as he addressed her brother. “I met Pippa at the assigned spot and time that she was to meet Bedford. I thought it appropriate to return them to her.”

Then something miraculous happened. He actually smiled.

“Brava, my lady,” Hugh continued. “I admire your initiative. Shall we say superb nous to change the situation to one that you control?”

She indulged him with a single nod as an overwhelming sense of giddy righteousness washed over her. “I’m glad you approve.”

Hugh inclined his head then finally turned to Pelham. “I was going to explain it all to you. But your clever sister convinced me not to. We agreed that she would proceed with her plan and help me at the same time.”

“And what might that be?” Pelham’s voice had turned to a menacing growl.

“That she would be a companion to my mother and great-aunt as I helped them start to participate in society events once again. I would point out the gentlemen she wanted to meet, and she would befriend my family. Though, I must say that I’m getting the better end of the bargain. With Pippa spending time over at our home, I can see my mother start to come out of her shell. She’s even invited a few old friends to come calling.”

“I’m also making dresses for them. They’re such lovely women. They’ve helped me, too,” she confided. “I’m not so lonely. You should know that Lord Stanhope hosted a dinner for me, Grace, Ravenscroft, Lady Ravenscroft, and Lady Edith.” She could feel herself turning sentimental, particularly when she thought about Hugh’s loving family, but she couldn’t allow that right now.

“Dane, time is of the essence. I only have two weeks. It’s a good investment,” she emphasized. “Nay, I would say an excellent one.”

“Oh, for the love of heaven,” Pelham growled. “I leave, and anarchy breaks out in my own home.”

Just then, Grace entered the room and called out, “Good evening.”

Hugh stood and bowed at Grace’s entrance. “Lady Grace.”

Pelham followed at a more leisurely pace. “Governess, why did I ever agree to allow you to chaperone my sister? I should have known that this was all your fault.”