Page 11 of Married to the Rake

“Well, I shall need your help too, Elizabeth. I hope to persuade Benedict to host a ball.”

Elizabeth chuckled. “Benedict will need no persuasion.”

Benedict stood. “I might if there is to be bloodshed between the two families.”

Elizabeth tapped her husband’s arm. “As much as the two families loathe one another, I am sure they would not be so rude as to disrupt a social gathering.”

Benedict grimaced. “Lizzie, you have been lucky enough not to have been stuck in the center of these disagreements. Believe me when I say both men are entirely capable of disrupting any event.”

“Well, I always said I enjoy a touch of the dramatic,” Benedict said with a resigned sigh.

“Thank you. I meant what I said, I owe you.”

“Nonsense,” said Elizabeth. She perched on the arm of her husband’s chair. “Did I hear mention of Miss Chloe Larkin?”

Brook pursed his lips. “Listening at keyholes, are we?”

Elizabeth perfected an innocent look. “Can I help it that you two have loud voices and this room echoes just so?”

“I am working with Miss Larkin,” Brook admitted.

Elizabeth arched a brow. “Be careful there, Brook. She is an innocent.”

“I am aware of that. Though she is not as sweet as she may seem.” He thought back to her rather pointed remarks.

“All I am saying is that should you get caught in a compromising position, it shall be assumed that you did so deliberately.” Elizabeth smoothed some lint from her husband’s shoulder and Benedict took her hand, keeping hold of it.

Brook watched the small moment of affection and the slightest pang struck him. It had to be simply because he was in the country and not in the company of any of the delightful women of London. Nothing to do with wanting that sort of familiar affection. He had plenty of years to think about marriage. One day he would do it, he was certain, but he’d yet to meet anyone he could picture such moments with.

“I will be a gentleman, I swear it,” Brook vowed.

“It doesn’t matter if you are,” said Benedict. “Your reputation will be enough to ensure she is ruined.”

“I have no intention of ruining her. And my reputation is greatly exaggerated as you both know. Do I enjoy women’s company, yes? But I have not flitted from bed to bed or seduced virgins or stolen women from their husbands.”

Benedict held up a hand. “There is no need to defend yourself to us.”

“I know, forgive me.” Brook grimaced. He never usually cared what was written about him or what others thought of him. Apparently, Miss Larkin’s opinion on him mattered more than he had realised.

“Well, I shall leave you two to discuss the ways of the world.” She leaned in to give Benedict a kiss on the cheek. “Try not to get into any trouble.”

“Never,” Benedict promised his wife.

Brook watched Elizabeth leave then turned to his friend. “I swear you took the only decent woman in England.”

“Well, she is the most amazing woman in the world, but there are plenty more out there. Even one for you, I’d wager.”

“Just one?” Brook quipped.

“One day, you shall fall hard and I shall enjoy watching it, just as you did with Elizabeth and I.”

“I only took pleasure in two friends falling in love,” he protested.

Benedict shook his head. “That is a lie. You are happy for us, I know, but you cannot tell me you did not enjoy my lovesick behavior.”

“It certainly made for some entertainment,” Brook admitted.

“So you cannot begrudge me when I do the same.”

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