Page 18 of The Tempting of a Devilish Lord

She drew in a breath. “It is easy for a man to speak of entertainments and fun. They do not suffer the consequences of it.”

His smile dropped a little. “I take it you have experienced the consequences.”

“Some,” she admitted.

Curses, why did she confess to such a thing? Her past had been buried for a long time now, tucked away underneath thick fichus and shapeless dresses and a generally dull but impeccable existence. For some reason, the way he looked at her made her want to confess all of her sins, past and present.

Not that she had many from the present and for one second, she almost wished she had some. Or at least one.

A kiss from a handsome rake perhaps?

No. She twisted away from him and took Mary-Anne’s arm. “I think we have taken up enough of the lord’s time. We had better leave. Give Lord Adam the sword back please.”

“It’s quite all right,” Adam protested but Lucinda snatched the heavy weapon and returned it.

“My mother will notice we are missing before long.” Lucinda looped her arm through Mary-Anne’s and hauled her toward the door, aware of Alex’s amused expression. “Please forgive our intrusion,” she called over her shoulder. “It will not be repeated.”

And with any luck, she’d never set eyes on that rake again.

There was something far, far too wicked in his eyes, and far, far too appealing.

Chapter Six

“We should not be here.”

Adam lifted a brow at Alex. “Are you becoming dull with age, old man?”

Alex fixed his brother with a look as they paused by the lakeside. The swarms of women had yet to abate and, if anything, new ladies had arrived in the past week. Avoiding the opposite sex was harder than sneaking from a widow’s bed without being noticed by the gossips.

“If we are to abide by our mother’s ruling, it would be a darned sight easier without being surrounded by petticoats.”

Alex gestured vaguely to the various clusters of women promenading around the lake. The excellent weather had brought them out in abundance and the usually serene aura of the town vanished under a cluster of parasols and muslin. Typically, Alex would find little to complain about but if he, the damned head of the family, could not keep his word, then how could he expect his brothers to?

Especially when a specific redhead kept playing in his mind.

The woman was somewhat of a conundrum. Pretty enough to have been snatched up long ago with a quick mind too but with some kind of secret. God help him if he did not want to find out what that was.

“He’s definitely getting dull,” said Leo.

“I’m merely trying not to distress our mother any further,” Alex pointed out.

“And we will not,” agreed Adam. “But that does not mean we need to remain recluses.”

“What harm could a stroll around the lake do?” Leo’s tone remained light, but he noted his brother’s gaze darting about as though looking for someone.

“Knowing you two, a lot.” Alex had the distinct feeling Leo had already found himself tangled with a woman. His brother had suffered heartbreak years ago and had plunged headfirst into every flirtation he could find after that, so it did not surprise him. However, Leo had promised Alex he would behave himself for their mother’s sake. The woman had put on a wonderful show of tears and being in delicate health that none of them could argue against her.

Adam scoffed. “You are no better, Brother. Where do you think we learned it from?”

Alex shook his head to himself and continued along the path leading around the lake. The route did not take a full lap or else one could be walking for days but simply curved a path to the shops before coming to an abrupt end by the jetties. Clustered about the small wooden piers, row boats of varying sizes awaited occupants. A few were already out on the lake so not even rowing over to the island in the middle would help them escape the ladies.

Lord, maybe hewasbecoming dull with age. He did not even mind the idea of not being able to stop and charm every lady here. Truth be told, unless he spotted one lady in particular, he had no interest in any of the current offerings.

“This could all be solved if you just married the Miss Kingsley,” Leo muttered.

“Or you could marry her,” Alex said. “I don’t even know her, and I have done marriage once before. It was quite enough for me.”

“You’re the one with a duty to marry,” his brother shot back.

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