Page 92 of The Duke's Ultimatum

“How so?”

Derek sighed. He usually admired his friend’s attention to details, it was what made him a great solicitor and businessman.Unfortunately, when it came to him squeezing out details of Derek’s personal life, Derek was not a fan.

“It’s complicated.”

William looked at his time piece. “I don’t have anywhere to be for a while. Why don’t you uncomplicate it for me.”

Derek pushed William’s empty tumbler closer to William. “I slept with her.”

William stared for a moment with wide eyes before taking his empty tumbler over to the bar cart, filling it, and taking it all in one gulp. “That is complicated,” he wheezed through the burn of the whisky.

“Told you. Mind filling mine up?”

William filled both tumblers up and returned to the desk.

“You slept with her?”

Derek nodded. “Last week.” Memories of that night were etched into his mind. No matter how much he threw himself into his work, he couldn’t stop thinking of the way her skin felt under his touch, the way her lips molded around his. Her sighs and moans were playing on repeat in his mind.

“What has happened since?”

Derek took a sip of the whisky, finding comfort in the burn. Any feeling was better than the dread he was feeling thinking about Eleanor’s upcoming nuptials.

“We parted in the most awkward of ways then the next morning at breakfast, she all but dismissed me. Rightfully so. I was a cad to agree to her proposition; I should have known better but?—”

William waved his hand. “Wait. She propositioned you, and you believe that she doesn’t reciprocate your feelings? Derek, tell me you’re a smarter man than that. Eleanor does not seem like a frivolous loose skirt. If she came to you, she has to have some sort of feelings for you. And trust me, when I came to you earlier about your behavior with her, know that I saw it coming from both sides, not just yours. To me, she was just involved as you were. You must be mistaken.”

Derek stood and began to pick up papers. He needed to do something with the nervous energy cursing through his veins. “I came to breakfast the next morning. Charlotte asked why I looked miserable; I couldn’t tell them it was because I had the most amazing night of my life with Eleanor, but I can’t have her, so I made up an excuse that it had to do with business.”

William nodded. “Seems reasonable.”

“Well, Eleanor asked what had happened with this made-up business deal, and I basically said it was a pleasant surprise, one I would’ve entertained sooner if I knew the rewards, but it fell through because it was not mine to have.”

William smiled. “Ah, code for Eleanor was the business deal. Nicely done. Did she get the message?”

Derek grimaced. “I think so. Then she promptly jumped up, said she was too excited to go to the modiste to look for a new dress for the wedding and wanted to leave immediately after breakfast, then left.”

William grabbed at his heart. “Ouch.”

Derek shook his head. “Mhmm.” He couldn’t say more. The wound was still fresh. He was hoping she would somehow acknowledge she understood his code. The look of understanding flashed on her face before it morphed into something else that had her practically leaping out of her chair.

“Perhaps she didn’t like being compared to a business deal?” William deadpanned.

Derek narrowed his eyes at his friend.

“It no longer matters what she thinks or feels about it. If it was something she needed to discuss further, she would’ve found me. I haven’t seen her since, so she must be absolutely fine with our one night and is ready to marry Hountshire.”

“And you’re happy staying in here, rotting away with your ledgers?”

“It’s about all I have right now.”

William shook his head. “You know, Derek, I’ve seen you broker some of the toughest and riskiest deals out there. I find it hard to believe that if you actually want this girl, you’re not finding a way to make it a reality. It’s what you do best.”

Derek took another sip of his whisky. “Her marrying Simon is for the best.”

“Unless you have an endless supply of whisky lying around somewhere, I’ll need further explanation.”

“Have I ever told you your humor is hilarious,” Derek deadpanned.

---