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“You think so?” Lady Charlotte asked as she glanced in her friend’s direction. “Then I suppose it is good that she’s not yours, isn’t it?” She tilted her head to the side. “She’s free to find a gentleman that will appreciate her.”

Amberwood turned his gaze toward her. “And whoever that fictitious person may be, he is quite welcome to her.”

Considering their earlier conversation, Adrian didn’t believe Amberwood’s protestations.

He fully believed that the duke did want Lady Jaclyn, but for some reason didn’t make any moves to either claim her or declare his intentions.

He didn’t understand what was happening with his friend and the lady in question, but there definitely was a story there.

One that Adrian hadn’t been privy to, and he suspected neither had Easton.

That said a lot. There wasn’t much they did not tell each other.

“You may regret that one day,” Lady Charlotte told him. “Though I do believe you already carry many regrets that weigh on you. Perhaps you should not add more to that already-overbearing load.” She turned toward Adrian and said, “If you’re waiting for Miss Georgina, she’s approaching now.”

“I’m not…” Adrian sputtered out the words. “I mean…” How had she known that he wanted to see Georgina? Had he been that obvious? He hadn’t thought he was, but hell, he had been acting very much unlike himself ever since he’d met her.

Lady Charlotte didn’t wait for him to find the ability to speak properly.

She walked away from him with purpose. He turned toward the duke, but he seemed to have his gaze fixed on something or someone in the distance.

He suspected he knew what had him so riveted, but he had already pushed Amberwood earlier regarding Lady Jaclyn.

“Do you want to participate in the archery?” he asked Amberwood.

“Not particularly,” he said in a wary tone. “I am starting to wonder if I should even remain at Easton Abbey. Perhaps I should return to one of my own estates.”

“You don’t mean that,” Adrian said. “Just avoid the chit if she bothers you that much.” He patted his shoulder. “She’s not that terrible.”

“It’s not that,” Amberwood said, then sighed. “You don’t understand…”

“Well then explain it to me,” he urged his friend.

Adrian did want to help him. The duke could be far too stubborn for his own good.

They could help him sort through his troubles if he would only allow them.

He’d have to ask Easton to step in. Amberwood might be more willing to speak to him than Adrian.

“I can’t,” he said, then sighed again. “I made a promise, and I intend to keep it.”

Amberwood never broke a promise. If he said he would do something, then he’d stick to it. Adrian surmised that whatever his animosity was toward Lady Jaclyn involved that promise. He would have to let it be unless the duke agreed to break his oath.

“Well, if anything changes,” Adrian said. “You can speak to me or even Easton regarding it. We’re here for you.”

“I know that,” the duke said in a solemn tone.

He motioned toward the distance. “I think your lady is arriving. Just as Lady Charlotte suggested.” Amberwood’s gaze had gone glassy.

He probably did not even notice the ladies approaching anymore.

His thoughts appeared to be already back on Lady Jaclyn.

Adrian did not glance in the direction that the duke had indicated.

It would say more than he wished to admit right then.

“She’s not my lady,” he said in a firm tone.

He had not lied with those words. She was not his.

At least not yet… He hoped she would be, and given enough time he would ensure it.

A proper courtship, to his understanding, took time.

He was not a patient man. Not really. He might appear that way at times, but once he knew what he wanted, Adrian pursued it relentlessly.

“You don’t sound very convincing,” the duke chided him.

“Who do you think you are fooling?” He lifted his brow mocking him.

“I know you.” He grinned, and that knowing smile almost irritated Adrian.

“But I must remind you to heed Easton’s warning.

He won’t appreciate you ruining one of the Havenwood students.

He will gladly strangle you if you ruin that young miss. ”

“I have no plan to ruin anyone,” he told him.

He should not be so affronted by that reminder.

Especially considering that they both had a good reason to warn him against taking advantage of Georgina.

He only had the best of intentions regarding her.

“I promise that when it comes to Miss Georgina, I would never do anything to harm her.” He meant that to the bottom of his soul.

The irredeemable one according to anyone who had heard of his tattered reputation.

“I believe you,” the duke said in a quiet tone. “You do seem different with her.” He smiled. “I wish you luck, my friend. Go meet with your lady.” He held up his hand. “Don’t protest that. I know differently. You are already thinking of her as yours, and if she is what you want, I support you.”

Adrian didn’t respond to that statement.

Not that Amberwood had given him the opportunity to.

The duke had wandered off right after delivering that speech.

It had ensured that Adrian would have much to ponder over though.

He had a marked interest in Georgina and the duke had noticed.

Which meant so had Easton. Much like he had noticed Easton’s interest in Lady Charlotte and Amberwood’s odd reaction to Lady Jaclyn.

They had been friends for far too long not to take note of each other’s odd behavior.

He fully suspected that by the end of the house party, if not sooner, Easton would find himself betrothed to Lady Charlotte.

That had been his reason for agreeing to the house party.

It gave him ample opportunity to court the lady.

As to his own intentions—he didn’t know if he would be betrothed at the end of the party.

Adrian did want to court Georgina. As he’d never done such a thing, he was at a loss on how to proceed.

He knew how to seduce a woman, and he had plenty of skills in the bedroom.

Well, he didn’t always need a bedroom to put his talents to use, but he preferred one.

Honestly, he just preferred a room he wouldn’t likely be interrupted in.

Once he had a woman where he desired, he wanted all the time he could with her. Adrian savored his lovers in every way.

He glanced up and met Georgina’s gaze. Adrian smiled and started toward her.

Perhaps she would like to participate in the archery with him.

Either way, this afternoon, he would find time alone with her.

He would kiss her, and he hoped, make her realize how much he truly desired her.

Not just as a lover, but so much more than that.

There was no other woman he had wanted as much as he did Miss Georgina.

She was the one for him. He had known it the moment he’d first seen her.

Convincing her of that might not be a simple task, but he fully believed he would accomplish it.

Adrian never did anything in half measures.

He wanted her, and he would have her. It was only a matter of when.

He did hope it was sooner rather than later, and in the end, it would never be a matter of ruination.

Adrian would marry her. That was his ultimate goal. She would be his wife, his countess, and if he was fortunate, the only woman he’d ever truly love.