Page 26 of Ravishing Camille

“Of course. About what?”

“Do you know Mister Aldridge Connor?”

Victor barked in laughter. “I may take a long while to ease your thoughts about that fellow.”

Pierce met Victor’s gaze with sad trepidation. “So it’s worse than I thought.”

“What do you know?”

Pierce recounted the scene he’d witnessed in the Lanes.

Victor brushed a hand down his trousers. “Why am I not surprised?”

Pierce recoiled at that answer.“He does this often?”

Victor brightened. “Fight in the Lanes? Or get slapped by a lady of the night?”

“Both.”

“He has been known to have liaisons with women who are not of his sterling class.”

“As I feared. Is that his only fault?”

“Wishing for more, are you?” Victor knit his brows in feigned horror.

“Is there more?”

Victor inhaled. “Word has it that his father’s estate is nearing bankruptcy. The good baron has had a few mistresses who have cost him dearly.”

“Well, hell. Courting ladies of the night is an inherited trait.” Pierce had a fierce disdain for a man who could not control his body or his finances. “So his father has a title. And land.”

“The title is old. Twelfth century, I do believe. The land is a major tract in Kent. But Baron Beckford has not attended to its upkeep. He has some property that abuts Julian’s and they’ve had words about repairing bridges and roads. Our brother-in-law, as you well know, is very attentive to his tenants and his land. Anyone who fails to do their part anywhere near his own holdings, gets a piece of Julian’s mind.”

Pierce winced. “I’d not live long.”

A knock came at the far door.

“Come!” Victor bid and his assistants trotted in, each carrying trays piled high with sandwiches and cakes, tarts of strawberry and creme, and a tea service, cups and saucers clattering.

Both men waited until the side board had been laid, then they rose to avail themselves of the offerings. They sat to partake of the fare before Pierce went on.

“Camille says she wants to marry.”

“She has been saying that since she was sixteen.”

“What?” He laughed but Victor did not. “How do you know that?”

“Liv often repeats it whenever Camille has a bout of the ‘Lonelies’.”

Pierce made a face. “Which are what?”

“She says she is the only one who is not matched and she’ll marry before the year is out.”

“I see. Why?”

“Because we are all married. Paired off. She feels…out of place.”

“I’m not married.”