Page 10 of Married to the Rake

Chapter Four

Brook took the tumbler of whiskey from Benedict and sank onto one of the worn leather chairs in the library. Benedict followed suit, taking a long sip and placing the glass down on the side table between them.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Benedict asked.

Brook glanced at his friend. Marriage suited the man. Benedict had been as much of a rake as Brook was reputed to be and his marriage had come as a surprise to many but Elizabeth was a fine woman and if anyone could tame Benedict, it was her.

“It has been many months since I last saw you. How was the honeymoon?

“Pleasant indeed,” he said with a grin. “But I doubt you wish to hear about my honeymoon. What is it you are after, Brook?”

“Can I not visit without an ulterior motive?”

Benedict shook his head. “I can count on one hand the amount of times you have visited me here. I do believe my London house was your preferred port of call.”

“Alas, you know me too well. I have come to ask a favor of you.”

Benedict lifted his glass and took another sip. “Unfortunately for me, I likely owe you a lifetime of favors.”

“Hardly.” Though Benedict credited Brook with helping him and Elizabeth come together, Brook could not help feel that it was fate the two people should end up together. Both of them had been friends of his for some time and both were exceptional people. He was glad to have introduced them.

“However,” Brook continued, if you do feel you owe me a favor, I would be remiss not to take you up on it.”

“Get to the point, Waverley. What do you wish of me?”

“You know well of this rift between my family and the Larkins,” Brook began.

Benedict nodded. “Who in the area does not? It makes life incredibly difficult living in such a social sphere.”

“Well, what if I told you that I intended to mend that rift?”

His friend chuckled. “I would say that you are mad. No one has ever been able to repair the rift between your two families. What makes you think you have a chance?”

Brook allowed himself a smile. “Because I have an ally.”

“Ally?”

Brook nodded and took a sip of the whiskey, letting it slide down his throat while he recalled Chloe in her evening gown that molded just so to generous curves. It was not the first time he had noticed her curves and it would not be the last. However, it was the first time they had been alone whilst she was wearing such a garment and he had been afforded the full opportunity to peruse her person. He should feel a cad for doing so but, after she had spit fire and brimstone at him, he could not bring himself to feel guilty.

“Miss Larkin,” he said simply.

Benedict released a choked sound. “Miss Chloe Larkin?”

“Indeed.” Brook allowed himself a smug smile. He’d known he would have a battle on his hands with her but she had acquiesced rather more easily than he had hoped.

“If her father hears of this, he shall call you out.”

Shrugging, Brook drained his whiskey. “I have done nothing wrong.”

Benedict gave him a look. “Yes, but with your reputation, it shall be assumed that you have most certainly done wrong.”

“Your reputation was no better than mine, remember,” Brook pointed out.

“Thankfully, he is a reformed man,” Elizabeth declared, sauntering into the room and snatching Benedict’s empty whiskey glass. She poured one of her own and drained it.

“How could he not be, with you as his wife?” Brook said with a grin, standing to greet her properly. “You look as beautiful as ever, Elizabeth. I am glad to see Benedict is treating you well.”

She waved away his flattery with a hand. “What is this I hear of you mending the rift between the Waverleys and the Larkins?”

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