Page 27 of Starlight and the Duke (Cherish and the Duke #5)

The ton thrived on secrets revealed, but any scandal would die before it ever had a chance to arise if there was nothing lurid lurking in the darkest recesses.

However, what would happen in the coming year when it became clear he was sleeping with Fiona? Neither Bromleigh nor Reggie would ever stand for this, but that was a problem to be addressed afterward.

Anyway, what could they do? Put a shotgun to his head and force him to marry Fiona? She was the one who needed the prodding, not him.

Fiona poked him. “You are getting too deep in your thoughts again, Rob.”

He smiled. “I know.”

He relented for the moment and participated in the late afternoon lawn games Cherish and Fiona had devised for the guests. As promised, he was placed on Fiona’s team while Pershing was handed over to Lady Eloise’s.

Rob watched as the sot was pointed in the right direction and stumbled over to his teammates. Gad, the man was a walking disaster.

Eloise looked quite pleased, however.

Fiona was also pleased, because Rob had been added to her team. They had always been an unbeatable pair.

They won their game of badminton, defeating Florence and Aubrey to take first place in a match that was breathtakingly close from start to finish.

They had gathered quite a crowd by the time it ended, everyone gasping with each point made.

But Rob knew the victory would be theirs, for Fiona was tenacious and never gave up.

If only conceiving a child worked this way, too.

If only Fiona’s yearning could make a difference.

Their prize was a bracelet charm in the shape of a racket for Fiona and cuff links also shaped like rackets for him.

After the match, Rob took Bromleigh and Reggie aside. “Something I need to tell you before tonight’s dinner party.”

Fiona did the same with Cherish and Margaret. He hoped she would fare better than he expected for himself.

Bromleigh led him and Reggie into his study that happened to be unoccupied at the moment, since it was still too early for the men to be sitting around drinking.

Pershing might have been found in here, but Eloise now had him firmly by the collar and kept him otherwise occupied.

“What’s wrong, Durham?” Bromleigh asked.

“Nothing really wrong, but I need to tell you something.”

They settled in the soft leather chairs around the hearth, but Rob leaned forward, his manner stiff because he was concerned about their response when they learned he’d already been here before the house party started.

He told them, half waiting for Bromleigh’s blow-up.

“The point is, I finished my business in Devonshire a few days earlier than expected. Rather than return to London and have to immediately turn around and head south again, I went to Fiona’s home.”

Neither Bromleigh nor Reggie appeared put out, no doubt because they never considered he was more than a guest at Shoreham Manor.

That was good.

After all, Rob may have been best friends with Reggie, but he was Fiona’s friend first. This was how he had met Reggie back when they were both young boys.

Later, he had been asked by Fiona to keep an eye out for the lad when they were at school together, since he was an upperclassman and Reggie was just starting his studies.

He had protected Reggie from the school bullies and made a lifelong friend in the process.

“I mention it because you are about to meet Milbury’s sister, and she is a miserable piece of work,” Rob said.

“And Milbury?” Bromleigh asked, eyebrow raised.

“He seems to be a good sort. A widower who cannot handle his sons. They are curious boys and always up to something. The sister arrived recently to help out Milbury. I think she is just another headache he must now deal with. I cannot imagine his sons liking her at all.”

“And what has this to do with you or Fiona?”

“We happened to be on the beach together, having a picnic, when we spotted his sons on a boat in the water. They were heading into trouble.”

Reggie eyed him with concern. “Did they get hurt?”

Rob nodded. “One of them did, badly cutting up his leg on some jagged rocks moments before we were able to reach them. However, we rescued them, tended to the boy, and then notified Milbury. He was quite grateful, of course, and invited us to dine with him and his family. His sister took one look at Fiona and became jealous. You know how your cousin has a way of charming everyone.”

Bromleigh grinned. “Yes, she has that ability. Camborne and Lynton adore her.”

“Well, she charmed Milbury, too.”

“And the sister felt threatened?” Reggie asked.

Rob nodded. “More than threatened. She behaved like a cornered animal and began hurling venomous accusations at Fiona.”

“What did she do? Or say?” Bromleigh frowned, because as eldest cousin among the family, he felt it was his responsibility to protect Fiona.

Never mind that he had sought revenge earlier and purposely meant to rile her by putting Pershing on her team. That was merely playful retribution for the misery Fiona had put him through last year during her own house party. This Milbury situation was serious.

Rob cleared his throat. “She hurled some biblical quotations at us, mostly at Fiona. ‘Harlot of Babylon’ and the like. Accusing her of wanton behavior…with me. She’s going to hurl those same accusations and try to humiliate Fiona when she and Milbury join us tonight. This needs to be stopped.”

“What should we do?” Reggie asked, clenching his jaw in determination.

“All that is necessary is for no one to respond with surprise when she makes her accusations. If everyone claims they were aware I was here, that there was nothing untoward with my visiting Fiona, then there is no shock value.”

Bromleigh furrowed his brow. “And you think this will be enough to thwart Lady Cordelia?”

“I hope so.”

“May I tell Margaret? She’ll be Fiona’s staunchest supporter.” Reggie rose, having heard more than enough and obviously eager to do whatever necessary to protect her.

“Fiona has already gone to tell Cherish and Margaret.”

“Good,” Bromleigh muttered. “I think we need to tell Camborne and Jocelyn, Lynton and Eden, as well. Ramsdale and Ailis, too. That ought to be a sturdy enough wall of protection for Fiona.”

Rob nodded. “Yes, I was going to ask you to gather them next.”

“I’ll summon those Silver Dukes now,” Reggie said.

“Gad,” Bromleigh muttered, “stop referring to us as that.”

Reggie cast him a wry look. “Oh, now you do not like it? After all those years of playing it up and making legends of yourselves?”

Rob laughed. “Admit it, Bromleigh. You, Lynton, and Camborne played it to the hilt. Ramsdale was the only one who never did, but his protestations were useless because he was an unmarried duke and had that dash of silver in his hair. The ladies were going to chase after him relentlessly once you three were taken.”

Reggie nodded in agreement.

“But I am past it now and happily settled with my wife,” Bromleigh insisted. “So are Lynton and Camborne happily settled with theirs. Ramsdale, too. Go on, Reggie. Bring them here.”

Bromleigh watched his nephew take off, and then turned to Rob once the door had shut behind him. “Now, let us get to the heart of the matter…why did you really come early to Fiona’s? And what were the sleeping arrangements?”