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“Oh.” Trevor muttered under his breath, then sat up gingerly. He cradled his head in his hands, hoping the throbbing at his temples would not increase to unbearable levels now that he was upright. “The hour of the day is immaterial. I have never had uninvited afternoon guests to my rooms.”

“I imagine, just this once, you could make an exception for a family member,” the valet replied blandly.

And a person of such noble rank . The valet did not speak the words aloud, but Trevor knew they were very much a part of the servant’s reasoning.

It was a delicate decision, considering the state of his head and the exhaustion of his body. Yet Trevor realized his father would have to be faced eventually. Perhaps it would be best to get it over with now.

“Allow me a few minutes of privacy to attend to personal matters,” Trevor said, motioning toward the chamber pot. “Then you may escort the duke in here.”

“Here?”

“Yes.”

The valet’s jaw dropped. “There is no proper sitting area in your bedchamber. What will you have his grace do? Pull up a chair next to the bed as if you were an invalid?”

“Why not?”

“ ’Tis most undignified.”

Trevor wanted to bellow, but he selfishly realized that would only make his head ache more. He glared at his valet. Everett returned the stare. They were at a standoff.

With ill grace, Trevor threw off the bedcovers. He stumbled off the bed, nearly landing in his valet’s lap. Although knowing it was not the reason his valet was so appalled, Trevor concluded it wouldn’t be prudent to receive his father while he lay abed with a monumental hangover.

The marquess made no further protests as his valet set about grooming him. Thirty minutes later, Trevor entered the small but tastefully furnished antechamber that served as his parlor.

The duke stood near the window, avidly watching the traffic below.

“At last.” The duke spoke without turning his head. “I knew if I waited long enough you would finally realize any attempts at avoiding me would fail.”

Trevor nearly turned around and walked back to his bedchamber. His brain was foggy from lack of sleep and too much whiskey. “I can hardly be accused of avoiding you, since I’ve only just discovered you were here, sir.”

Though the blood was surging through his veins, Trevor calmly took a seat.

“What the devil happened last night? You promised to be at Lady Dermond’s ball, yet I never saw you.”

Trevor smiled brashly as his father finally turned to face him. “I arrived early, sir, in hopes of concluding my duties in a reasonable amount of time. Alas, I found the affair so impossibly boring that after waiting nearly three hours for you to arrive, I gave up and left.”

The duke’s eyebrow rose shrewdly. “Is that what caused all the ruckus with the Barrington chit? Boredom?”

Trevor’s mouth twisted derisively. It appeared the gossiping tongues had been most busy today. “Are you referring to Lady Meredith Barrington, perchance?”

“Don’t take that innocent tone with me. I’m not one of your lackwitted cronies to be so easily put off by a show of indignity.” The duke gave a disgusted shake of his head. “I’ve heard all manner of outrageous tales about last night. That’s why I’ve come here. To learn the truth.”

“Right from the horse’s mouth,” Trevor said mildly.

“Horse? If only part of what’s being said is true, I would liken you more to a jackass.” The duke’s mouth twisted tauntingly. “She’s the Earl of Stafford’s daughter, isn’t she?”

“I believe that is correct.”

“And you ravished her in the garden?”

“What!” Trevor felt the pounding in his head return with colossal force. “I merely kissed her. If truth be told, she initiated our embrace.”

The duke gave a humorless smile. “You shared nothing more than a kiss? That certainly doesn’t sound like you.”

Trevor felt some of the tension leave his face at his father’s unmistakable mockery. “Impossible as it may seem, sir, I can occasionally show some restraint of my carnal and depraved nature. When necessary.”

“That is a relief,” the duke replied in a matching tone.

“Since it was only a little kiss, there is no need to make amends. Though Stafford is an earl, I’ve never liked the man.

Too forward thinking for my tastes, allowing his daughter to run amok the way she has all these years—although his wife is a fine looking woman.

In her younger days she could rival her daughter in beauty. ”

Trevor’s mouth tightened. “The thought of making amends to Lady Meredith never entered my mind until you mentioned it.”

“Good. Forget I ever said anything.” The duke made a move toward the door. “I’ll expect you for dinner Friday evening. I’m having a small supper party. ’Tis only three days from now. I’m sure if you exert a supreme amount of effort, you can manage to stay out of trouble until then.”

“I make no promises,” the marquess retorted grimly.

The duke paused and turned toward Trevor. “Don’t be too hard on yourself,” he said, in an uncharacteristic display of sympathy. “Your various exploits are often overlooked by Society. I’m sure this too shall be eventually forgotten.”

He gave his father a look of mock disbelief. “I am not interested in the opinion of Society.”

“Well, you should be,” the duke barked. A frown creased his brow.

“You have made your position on this issue clear to me for several years and I know I will never be able to change your mind. Yet if you do not wish to guard your own reputation, will you at least have a modicum of concern for mine? This scandal will be forgotten if you behave yourself for the next few days. By the end of the week, the brunt of the attention will shift away from you and fall on the Barrington girl.”

His father’s comment roused the edge of Trevor’s conscience. It was true he was nearly immune to the censure of Society, having little regard for others’ opinions. But it was different for a woman.

Though it was well known to all that Lady Meredith had never been completely accepted by the beau monde , a breath of true scandal had never touched her. Until now.

Though he was loath to admit it, Trevor knew he would have to do whatever was reasonable to help her rectify that problem. And he was honest enough with himself to admit it frightened him to even think about what that might entail.