Page 19 of On the Ropes of Scandal (With Love in Their Corner #3)

Stapleton House

Marylebone, Mayfair

London, England

“W here the hell do you think you’re going?”

Duncan huffed out an annoyed breath as he turned at the foot of the stairs as Lewis was coming down.

“What business is it of yours? Don’t you have pressing business in the Lords at this time of the afternoon?

” It had been three days since his whole world—or the tiny one he thought he’d known—had come crashing down around him.

And he’d spent a good portion of that time imbibing brandy.

Damn, he’d missed those spirits while he’d been gone.

“I do, and that is exactly where I’m going, but I wanted to talk with you first.”

“Well, I don’t wish to talk with you.” In fact, now that the swelling at his temple was gone as was the bruising, and being back amidst familiar surroundings, bits and pieces of his memories were slowly coming back.

And since they mixed with the new ones he’d made with Phoebe during that week, he had been walking around in a cloud of consternation and confusion.

How the hell did I allow myself to fall for such nonsense?

When Lewis joined him, they walked to the entry hall together. Nearly there, he drew them to a halt and dropped a hand on Duncan’s shoulder. “I’m concerned about you.”

“So I assumed, since you demanded that I stay here instead of my rooms.” Not that he minded.

It would have been the first time alone since the bout and the terrifying blow, and within those perimeters, he rather missed his pretend wife.

If nothing else, she was a wonderful conversationalist and a refreshing change of pace from the women of the ton he usually pursued.

“Beyond that.”

Duncan stepped back out of his brother’s reach. “How so?”

“Well, you spent a week with a woman to whom you thought you were married, one who’d told you that she carried your child.

From what you’ve told me and Alexander, you were quite happy with the arrangement.

In fact, you’d accepted it without much of an argument.

Don’t you find that odd with the man you truly are? ”

Did he? “I don’t know, and hell, Lewis, I had no idea who I was. What’s more, I believed Phoebe.”

“I’m aware of that, but surely you must be hurt after everything. You’d cared for her, and she lied. When you expressed feelings for her, did she return them?”

That was something he didn’t want to discuss with his brothers.

Yes, that betrayal had cut deeply. To say nothing of the odd disappointment that was crushing him.

He’d actually enjoyed his life in Surrey, and part of him wished it had been real.

But then he’d reminded himself that he wasn’t a man who wanted domestication.

Or her. Because of that, he’d only seen Phoebe at dinners with the rest of his family, which included his mother and his sisters-in-law.

Because everyone had a mad desire to watch the wreckage of his life, apparently.

“I’m fine.” When he tried to move past his brother, Lewis blocked his way. “What?”

“You are marrying the girl tomorrow. How does that make you feel?”

When had his brother started worrying about emotions? “Why the hell do you care?”

“Because you’ve been through quite the experience, and any man in the same place would come out a bit scarred.” Compassion shadowed Lewis’ brown eyes. “There is no shame in that, but I need your promise that you will attend your own damned nuptial ceremony. On this I’m quite firm. No more scandal.”

I’ll be a married man tomorrow morning. Shit.

“I ruined her, so I should pay the price. In this way, everyone gets what they want, except me. How is that any different from any other day?” That wasn’t a fair assessment, but he didn’t care.

In truth, he wanted to yell at the heavens and curse whoever was handy, but he tamped down hard on that urge.

There was no point in arguing, for Lewis was stubborn, and he’d just have him married by proxy.

“Good.” Lewis nodded. “This might prove for the best, as long as you stay true to her and leave your mistresses behind.”

Again, the past and the present collided in his mind. There was no denying that coming home at the end of the day to the same woman had been more pleasing than hopping beds, as had been his wont. Yet being forced into a marriage with the same woman felt all too wrong.

“Now, if your lecture is over, I need to borrow your closed carriage.” The day was a dismal, overcast one that portended rain at any moment but hadn’t started yet.

Lewis frowned. “Why? I need it myself.”

“I’ll drop you off at the Lords on the way.

And if you must know, I’m going over to Mama’s house to ask Phoebe to go for a drive with me.

There are… things we need to discuss before the morrow.

” Point of fact, he had to know why she’d done what she did.

Everything she’d previously told him had been a lie.

What of the feelings he thought she’d had for him?

Were they merely an act as well? How would he know if they hadn’t been?

Did she truly think he wouldn’t ever recover his memory? It made no sense.

For long moments, his brother stared at him. Finally, he nodded. “Very well. Your errand is more important, but I expect you home for dinner with your fiancé, and she’d better not be in tears. I’ve grown weary of that since this whole debacle began.”

One corner of Duncan’s mouth twitched with the urge to grin. “If she is, can you blame her? The poor girl is staying with Mama. That can’t have been a pleasant experience over the past three days.”

Lewis chuckled. “You’re not wrong. God help her.”

*

Wysteria House

No 12

Hanover Square, Mayfair

London

When he was shown into the drawing room of his mother’s house, his nerves felt on edge, for he wasn’t of a mind for a lecture or being chided for his behavior.

“Good afternoon, Mama.” Duncan crossed the room, took her hand, and then brought it to his lips for a kiss. “I trust you’ve been keeping yourself well?”

“Don’t try to charm me when I’m in a snit with you,” she said, but tempered the words with a smile. “While I’m annoyed that you’ve landed into yet another scandal, I am looking forward to seeing you finally wed.”

“I’m glad to have your approval after so long.” Though he tamped down on the urge to huff in annoyance, that emotion still bubbled through his chest.

“Whose fault is that?” One of her eyebrows rose. “Why are you here?”

“Why else?” He shrugged. “I wish to take Miss Bidwell… er, rather, Phoebe—” She had been his wife in a sense, “For a drive and perhaps a stroll in Hyde Park before the rain starts.”

Her face lit. “What a lovely idea.” She flashed him another grin. “Truth be told, I have been having a wonderful time coming to know your fiancé more. She’s polite and has good looks, but since she’s relatively a country bumpkin, she has no decent clothes for being in society.”

“No doubt you’ve taken care of that.” It was something he’d not given thought to.

“Of course, and I am thoroughly enjoying the experience since I have only had sons.” In fact, his mother did appear glowing.

“We’ve ordered quite a few garments from the local modiste, and I’ve bought her a lovely gown for the nuptial ceremony tomorrow.

At least she’ll come to you as a bride should.

She’s a bit plumper than is perhaps acceptable in society, but she’s a pretty young woman all the same. ”

As if a woman’s weight or size determined whether she was attractive.

Another wave of annoyance rose in his chest, yet he recalled how marvelous Phoebe’s form had felt against his and how much he’d adored acquainting himself with her curves.

“If you could fetch her for me? I’d like to make the best use of the time before the rain sets in. You know how damp the autumn is.”

“Of course.” His dowager mother rose to her feet and shook out her ivory and purple striped skirting. “It’s good you wish to spend time with her; you’ve both been quite hurt from what happened in Surrey.”

He didn’t answer as she left the room, for he didn’t trust himself to voice those thoughts, but ultimately, he couldn’t continue ignoring the woman who would become his wife tomorrow morning.

The rustle of fabric heralded the arrival of the ladies, and as he turned toward them, his heart oddly skipped a beat as he caught his first glance at her in the daylight since they were forced back to London by his brothers.

Clad in a day dress of a deep maroon color with long sleeves and a plain bodice, she was almost the embodiment of autumn.

His mother had done a wonderful job at outfitting Phoebe, for her blonde hair had been upswept and held into place with a pair of tortoiseshell combs.

A necklace of small pearls encircled her neck that provided a touch of elegance without being vulgar.

A pair of matching pearl earbobs hung at her lobes.

“Good afternoon, Lord Frampton,” she managed in a trembling whisper, with a hint of a blush in her round cheeks. “Lady Lethbridge informed me that you wish to take me driving.”

What the hell? His mother demanded she call her by the title? With a frown, he glanced at his parent, but she stared back with expectation. “I do, and we are to be married tomorrow. Please refer to me as Duncan.”

She nodded, but an air of sadness clung to her. “Thank you.” When she finally raised her gaze to his, his world tilted a bit, for those damned blue eyes glimmered like gemstones.

“I thought it the best venue to talk.” How well he remembered her eyes, remembered her from before the lies started as the young woman who’d stood on the outskirts at the bout when they’d locked gazes, and she’d turned his world on its ear.

“And I thought you might enjoy an outing since you’ve been stuck inside for a few days. ”

When she frowned, he was struck that her bottom lip was slightly fuller than the top. “Why?”