Page 25 of On the Ropes of Scandal (With Love in Their Corner #3)
Stapleton Boxing Salon
Mayfair, London
P hoebe frowned as she stood on Brook Street, staring up at the facade of a building that housed a shoe seller’s shop.
There was a tiny sign on the second level that proclaimed the existence of the Stapleton Boxing Salon, but as of yet, she hadn’t ventured forward to find stairs that would lead to the salon.
To be frank, it was somewhat disconcerting to be here by herself in the rapidly darkening evening, but her husband assured her that it would be safe and that at least one of his brothers would be in attendance.
In order to discover that, she would need to find the courage to go upstairs. Why was London so big and frenetic and loud? It sapped at her confidence.
“Lady Frampton?”
She turned at the sound of her voice, and her heart gave a glad leap to see Duncan’s middle brother striding up the pavement toward her. “Oh, Viscount Wexley, how lovely that you’re here.” Immediately, a wave of relief went through her person.
“I suppose it is,” he said with a grin, “but why are you here? It’s not every day a lady lingers on the street outside the salon.”
“Well, since I wanted to know more about Duncan’s world and why he loves boxing so much, he asked me to meet him here once the salon closed for the evening.
” With a frown, she glanced about, but other than the viscount, there was no one else in the vicinity.
“I must admit, I still haven’t acclimated to London’s hustle and bustle.
It’s quite overwhelming and I often find myself drowning in the differences from Cranleigh. ”
“I can only imagine what you’re going through, and a pox on Duncan for not taking you around to see the sights so you’ll grow accustomed to the noise and crowds.”
“He, ah, is good at avoiding me.” Even she heard the disheartened note in her voice. “Except this morning. For whatever reason, he woke in a different mood.”
“Oh? How so?” The viscount led her to the side of the building and through an ordinary door, which opened into a narrow wooden set of stairs.
“Well, for one, he kissed me as I was enjoying breakfast, then he told me about the rout you and Lydia are hosting, and lastly, he invited me here.” She shrugged. “That is a large step forward for him, since this is a big part of his life that he’s previously shut me out.”
“Agreed.” He opened a door at the top of the stairs then let her proceed him into what appeared to be an office.
“It is progress, so let us be grateful for that.” When he came into the room, he closed the door behind him.
“This is Lewis’ office, but it’s also where I keep the books for the salon.
At times, the countess will assist in that endeavor, especially if I’m busy on the salon floor or with private lessons. ”
She glanced around the space that had been tastefully decorated in a masculine style with heavy oak furniture and gleaming floorboards.
A window at the opposite side of the room looked out into the salon itself, due in part of the open Venetian blinds.
Overall, there was a sense of power housed in the room, and she could easily imagine the brothers inside, planning their monthly schedule.
Then the door leading into the salon opened. The earl came into the office, and when he saw her, he gave her a ready grin.
“What an unexpected surprise. Welcome, Phoebe.”
Faint heat went through her cheeks, for she enjoyed how the brothers used her given name while in private but her title when in public. “Good evening, Your Lordship.”
He snorted. “Lewis, please.” When she nodded, he continued. “What are you doing here? Duncan didn’t tell me to expect you. And, in fact, I’m on my way to the Lords.”
“I was told to meet him here since I’m curious about this part of his life, but for whatever reason, he’s late.”
“Then, by all means, let Alexander and I show you around the salon.” He went back into the salon proper.
“Out here on the floor, we have much going on at any given time. The general public is allowed inside later in the afternoon, but we’ll also do paid lessons across the room on the tick mattresses.
” With a hand, the earl gestured to a corner where a small ring was roped off.
“Then there are the punching bags on the far wall where clients can practice their punches and jabs or gauge their strength.”
Alexander caught them up near the bags. “We also offer sparring lessons.”
She frowned. “What is that?” Everything was new to her, and it made her thoughts spin.
“When both opponents wear stuffed, leather mittens and punch each other. The mittens prevent serious injury or bruising and allow clients to get comfortable with the act of boxing.” He grinned. “I can teach you if you’d like.”
“Oh, I don’t know…” Not in her wildest dreams did she ever think she could punch someone, even during a lesson.
“I think you’ll like it,” Alexander said with plenty of teasing in his voice.
The earl nodded. “It might help you to understand why Duncan enjoys it so much, especially since he’s fighting in another bout this weekend.”
“What?” It felt as if the bottom of her stomach dropped to the floor. “He didn’t tell me that.” A wave of hot annoyance rose in her chest. “After the horrific outcome from the last one, why does he think he’ll have a different outcome now?”
Both brothers exchanged a speaking glance.
“That is a largely unfair opinion.” Annoyance flashed in the earl’s eyes. “Duncan has raw talent and is quite skilled when he’s in the ring.”
“Lewis is correct.” Alexander was no less aggravated, and she appreciated their need to defend her husband. “Couple that with the fact that he’s desperate to make coin to support you.”
“What?” Again, she was left breathless by something they said.
“It’s true,” he continued. “Duncan wishes to do right by you. We spoke at length yesterday regarding his new marriage and what he wants for the future.”
Would he tell her that, or would that betray a confidence? A queer little tremor went through her heart and encouraged flutters into her lower belly. Then her spirits plummeted. “While that is admirable, of course, the sad fact is that Duncan doesn’t care for me, though.”
“Not to be rude, but come off it, Phoebe,” the earl demanded, and when his intense gaze landed on her, she took an involuntary step backward.
“My brother cares for you more than you think, and for him to tell either of us anything about his inner thoughts, it means you have been uppermost on his mind.”
Her heartbeat accelerated. “But he hasn’t said anything to me, and we haven’t done…” Heat burned through her cheeks. “Well, nevermind. That’s a bit too personal, and I need to remember talking with you is not the same as doing such with my aunt.”
Both men chuckled, and the awkward tension was soon dissolved.
Alexander briefly touched her arm. “Then Duncan is a fool.”
“Thank you.” However, her inadvertent admission buoyed her confidence.
“Come with me.” The viscount led her over to the wall near where large, long leather bags hung suspended by ropes from the ceiling.
“Since Lewis has got duties to parliament, and since Duncan is late, I’ll give you a first lesson into boxing.
Then you can truly stand up in defiance to our little brother. ”
A snort of laughter escaped her. “I have already done that a couple of times, to no affect.”
“That you know of,” Lewis was quick to remind her as he trailed behind them.
Alexander was quick to choose a pair of brown leather mittens, then one by one, he held them up for Phoebe to shove her hands into. “These will prevent errant punches from landing hard into my face,” he said with a fair amount of teasing in his voice.
“As if I could ever do that.”
“It happens,” the earl said as he rested a shoulder against the wall with his arms crossed at his chest. “Alex always thinks he’s immune since he has a pretty face.”
The viscount made a crude gesture at his brother, and they both chuckled. Then he rested his attention on her. “You’ll form fists as best you can while you land your punches into my palms.”
“And remember, your middle knuckle will guide the direction of where your fist goes,” Lewis added as Alexander guided her a bit away from the punching bags. “It will feel odd at first, but you’ll soon acclimate to it.”
For the next several minutes, Phoebe learned how to form a fist as much as the somewhat stiff mittens would allow and how to throw a punch.
Where she assumed she wouldn’t have the strength to drill her mittens into the viscount’s hands, she surprised herself when not only did she do it, but the power and confidence such exercise filled her with was amazing.
Eventually, her husband entered the boxing salon from the public door, and as soon as he saw what she was doing with his brothers, he immediately joined them. Annoyance and jealousy warred for dominance in his expression.
“What the hell is going on here?”
“What do you think?” the earl was quick to answer with a faint grin. “Your wife came by to meet you, and since you were nowhere to be found, Alexander decided to teach her a few basics of boxing.”
Only then did she realize Duncan carried a small bouquet of autumnal flowers wrapped in dark yellow tissue paper. “You brought flowers?”
“Yes.” He nodded and with a shrug, he held them out so she could see the asters, chrysanthemums, daisies, and other blooms all of orange, yellow, white, and red colors. “I thought you might enjoy them, and wherever you put them in the house will add some much-needed cheer.”
Her heart squeezed. “They are quite pretty, and it’s a lovely gesture on your part.”
As he glanced at his brothers, Duncan rested the bouquet on a nearby wooden chair. “I will take care of the remainder of the lessons for today, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course.” Alexander winked at her. “I have accounts to fuss with in any event.”