Page 19 of What A Rogue Wants (Lords Of Deception #1)

Twelve

Tired but eager to see Madelaine, Grey dressed quickly for dinner.

He changed the bandage covering the deep gash Gravenhurst had accidentally given him the second night of training and then slipped on his boots.

By God, he was sore from the long hours of dagger, sword, and one-on-one combat training and tracking.

The endless romps through the pitch-black night searching first for objects and then people Gravenhurst had hidden had left Grey cut, bruised and stiff as a stick.

If he tried to bend too far, he might break.

But it was over. He’d bested Gravenhurst in every test the man had thrown at him today.

Tonight he would enjoy the reward of spending time with Madelaine, even if the mere act of sitting hurt his body.

He’d forget the pain the minute he saw her brown eyes light for him and a lovely smile of greeting come to her beautiful face.

One of the things that drew him to her was the way she looked at him.

Not jaded or knowing as so many women of the Court he’d been with.

Nor wary as the ones who’d been warned against him, or lustful as the women whose favors he’d declined to partake in for one reason or another.

Madelaine stared at him with an open, trustful gaze as if he was good and true, which made him want it to be so, even more than he’d already wished for since finding out about his father and brother.

As he shrugged into his dinner coat, the door swung open and Gravenhurst sauntered in pulling the door shut as he entered.

Grey straightened his jacket. “You needn’t have shut the door. I’m leaving for dinner.”

“Change of plans.” Gravenhurst stripped off his soiled shirt and strode to the wash stand to clean himself. He tossed his shirt to the ground exposing his back and the red, angry cuts Grey had given his friend.

“Sorry about the cuts.”

Gravenhurst waved a negligent hand before he dipped both of them into the water. “Don’t apologize. Your training was necessary.”

“And finished.”

“Not quite,” Gravenhurst replied while donning a clean shirt.

Grey crossed his arms over his chest and glared. “I should’ve gutted you.”

“Careful.” Gravenhurst straightened his jacket. “That volatile temper could get you killed where we’re going tonight.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you. My only plan is to see Madelaine.” Grey strode past Gravenhurst and through the door.

He had one foot in the hall when Gravenhurst said, “That’s a noteworthy plan. And I like it. I really do. Yet the king has just taken me to task for not training you in the art of subterfuge.”

“I’m plenty deceptive,” Grey retorted. “Just tell the king to ask around.”

Now fully clothed, Gravenhurst sauntered from the room and held Grey’s overcoat toward him.

Grey shook his head. “I won’t be needing that coat.

I’m going to dinner and then I’m going to spend a lovely evening indoors in the warmth of my aunt’s apartments with Madelaine.

I’m going to drink wine and get to know the woman who has intrigued me. ”

“A fine plan, as I said. Off with you then.” Gravenhurst pressed his face near Grey’s. “I’ll tell the king you don’t wish to be one of us.” He tapped discreetly on his ring.

Grey’s thumb went immediately to the king’s ring. He recalled his vow to protect and serve above all personal wants, above all personal needs, above all else. “Damn it to hell.” He snatched his overcoat from Gravenhurst and shoved his arms in it. “What am I supposed to tell Madelaine?”

“You’ve got me. But you’ll have plenty of time to think of a believable lie by tomorrow.”

Gravenhurst had already started down the corridor. Grey caught him on the stairs. “I can’t allow her to go to my aunt’s apartments, wait for me, and then I never show up. I’ve got to give her some explanation before we leave.”

“No time.” Gravenhurst didn’t pause in his descent. “Pearson has just arrived, and if you haven’t figured it out already here is how the chain of command goes—the king commands us all.”

“You’re enlightening as usual.”

Gravenhurst flashed a smug smile. “The king has commanded Pearson to test you in two hours at the Merry Tavern. It’s my job to ensure you pass the test. From here to the tavern I’m going to tell you every trick of our trade I know for getting information out of someone.”

Grey was mad as hell. He had to excel to make his father proud. To be the best, he needed to know important information in advance. He had to be able to rely on Gravenhurst. “You’re just now teaching me this? Did it not cross your mind to impart some of this information sooner?”

Gravenhurst shrugged. “You’re a fast learner, and as you so rightly pointed out, you’re already rather deceptive.”

He pressed his lips together. He couldn’t argue with his own words. “What am I supposed to do?”

“You’re to get information out of Constance.”

“The chambermaid you’ve been bedding?”

“I only bedded her once. I found out she’s bedding some scar-faced blacksmith from the village who pays handsomely for her favors, and the thought of plundering a woman who just dallied with another man doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Your standards are impressive.”

“Much the same as yours were not long ago.”

Grey didn’t like that Gravenhurst saw that he wanted to change for Madelaine.

It didn’t matter that it was true. Nor did it matter he would have eventually told his friend.

He needed time. Having Gravenhurst recognize his turnaround made Grey feel weak and vulnerable, much the same as he had before he’d decided he didn’t need his father’s love.

“I never paid a woman for favors.” Old habits of self-preservation were hard to quit. He was an ass.

“You should have. No doubt you would have encountered a lot less problems if you had. When a woman is paid for services rendered, she understands perfectly not to expect anything from you but her money.”

Grey could’ve pointed out that the women he had bedded understood not to expect anything more from him than pleasure, but Gravenhurst would argue the point and he’d been an ass enough for one night. Hell, maybe two. The conversation could go on all night. “Let’s forget it.”

Gravenhurst nodded. “Done.”

“Isn’t it rather risky to involve a chambermaid or any outsider in our training?”

“There’s no risk at all. Constance thinks she’s trying to win a bet with me. She has no idea you’re attempting to get information from her or about anything else.”

The amusement in Gravenhurst’s voice didn’t sit well with Grey. He trusted his friend with his life, but Gravenhurst had a sense of humor that had led Grey to more trouble than he cared to remember. “Just what sort of bet have you made?”

“I bet her she couldn’t seduce you.”

“You bloody jackanapes.” Grey itched to punch Gravenhurst in the jaw.

“What?”

“I can’t let some woman try to seduce me in a public tavern. What if it somehow got back to Madelaine?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not as if Lady Madelaine is going to have a conversation with the chambermaid.”

That was true enough, but it wasn’t the damned point. “I no longer welcome another woman’s touch.”

Gravenhurst scowled. “What’s your bloody point?”

“I don’t want Lady Madelaine to think I’ve lied to her or that I won’t be loyal.” His ears burned with exposing himself.

“There’s no choice.”

Bloody, blasted hell. Gravenhurst was right. Grey clenched his jaw. “If it gets back to Lady Madelaine I’m telling her you were trying to seduce Constance.”

“Fine.”

Grey had to forget Madelaine and what could happen and concentrate on what was about to occur. “What am I trying to learn about Constance?”

“Where she’s from and how old she is.”

“Simple.” Grey smiled grimly into the darkness.

“Not as simple as you might think. She’s unusually tight-lipped.

It took me these last few days to find out where Constance is from and how old she is.

If you fail to tell Pearson the answer when he arrives at the tavern, then it’s back to training for the both of us.

With Pearson as our trainer.” Gravenhurst abruptly stopped and pulled up his jacket and shirt sleeve. “See this?”

Grey squinted in the dark night. “No.”

Gravenhurst grabbed Grey’s hand and shoved it against his arm. “Do you feel that scar?”

Running his fingers down the length of a raised, knotty line, Grey nodded. “What happened?”

“Pearson happened. The man is worse than both of us at not making dangerous contact with his dagger during training. He damn near killed me when he trained me. So, make sure your head is clear of all distractions.”

“I’m focused.”

“You’re sure?”

He was still worried about not making an appearance in his aunt’s apartments, but Gravenhurst was right. He had to block out all of the distractions. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. “I’m ready.”

“Not to drag your thought back to Lady Madelaine, but have you carefully thought about what pursuing her means? Do you realize of six of us only one—your father—is married?”

He’d realized it. But he hadn’t thought much about it until now. “Madelaine’s father was married as well.”

“True enough. But he felt he had to marry for the sake of an heir. From what I’ve been told anyway. Her parents’ marriage wasn’t a love match. It was convenience and mutual respect. I don’t think the woman was ever a weakness for him.”

“Your point makes no sense. His enemies could have still gotten to him because of her.”

“True,” Gravenhurst agreed. “But it’s easier to think logically if love isn’t involved. He didn’t love his wife. But his daughter…”

Grey understood without Gravenhurst finishing. “Madelaine is his weakness.”

“I think so.” Gravenhurst bounded across the grass toward the stables. “He’s acted strange lately, and my theory is it’s her. He wants to marry her off, so if something should happen to him, she’s taken care of.”