Page 45 of The Tempting of a Devilish Lord

He grinned. “Not one jot. Lucinda is a fine woman. But do not expect me to fall so readily. I have no intention of giving up my bachelor status anytime soon.”

“Even though you are still technically banished to Langmere?” Leo asked.

Adam gave a nonchalant shrug. “Unlike you two, I am entirely capable of finding entertainment that is not of the female persuasion.”

“That’s a lie. I cannot recall that last time you were without a woman,” Leo said.

Lifting his chin, Adam’s smile grew more arrogant and he held up two fingers. “Two months and counting.”

“Well, enjoy it while it lasts.” Alex set his glass down on the tray beside him and rose. “Mother arrives for the wedding tomorrow, so I think I need a full night’s sleep before I deal with her.”

“If she’s anything like she was with Leo’s wedding, you will have your hands full.” Adam lifted his glass in salute. “I have never seen her more excited. Which means I am entirely correct, and she planned this whole thing all along.”

Alex would not deny it. It seemed likely at this point that their mother had persuaded them to come to Langmere with the express intention of throwing them into the paths of young, eligible ladies. Not that he minded. If she had not begged him to come here, he would not be marrying Lucy.

“It will not be long before you fall too,” Alex warned Adam.

He snorted. “Never. It has not happened before now, and it will not happen anytime soon. Besides, with any luck this Miss Kingsley stuff will be solved before long and I shall be returning to Town whilst the two of you pretend to be country gentlemen.”

Leo rose. “I had better return to Rebecca before it gets too late.” He looked at Alex. “I’ll be mightily glad when the house is finished, and I do not have to listen to this one’s smug diatribes.” He gestured to Adam with a grin.

“You should be used to it, you know. I’m always right,” their brother piped up.

Alex let his lips curve but ignored the taunt from his brother. “Good night, gentlemen.”

He made his way upstairs, chuckling to himself as Leo waded into an argument about who was right more often. If Alex was to put money on it, it would be Adam, though it would be a close call indeed. If their mother had intended for them to find matches, two out of three was a fine achievement indeed.

Leo had wed Rebecca not four weeks ago and Alex frankly envied him. The sooner he wed Lucy the better, but he’d done his best to take things slowly, ensure he courted her properly, despite insistence from everyone that they should rush the wedding given their most scandalous public kiss.

He grinned to himself as he opened the door to his bedroom and shut it behind him. Not long and she would finally be all his.

A bath had been prepared for him, reaching curling fingers of steam toward him. He ignored the bell pull, opting to undress himself and sank gratefully into the copper bath, running hands over his face and through his hair and then sinking back and closing his eyes.

Yes, not long until Lucy was his wife, though he had no regrets really about the courting. It had allowed him to take her to all the sights of Langmere and watch as her face glowed with excitement at every new discovery. Once she was his marchioness, life would be busy indeed, so he could not regret such time together.

Though, he did have every intention of visiting as many castles as they could on their honeymoon. He’d yet to tell her of his intention but he hoped she would like the surprise.

“Alex?”

“Bloody hell.” His heart near jumped into his throat and he cupped his hands instinctively over his crotch area as he opened his eyes and straightened. “Lucy, what the devil are you doing here?”

She gave a shy smile, hands clasped in front of her. “Rebecca helped me sneak in.”

He cast his gaze up to the ceiling. Of course she did. Leo’s wife had a wealth of experience sneaking around his house after all.

“And why, pray tell, did she sneak you in?”

Lucy took a few steps toward the bath then paused, her cheeks flushed bright red. He saw her throat work as she cast her gaze down the length of him.

“As you know, my mother was insisting on a quick wedding, considering you kissed me in front of the entire population of Langmere.”

“You kissed me,” he pointed out.

“A tiny peck. You kissed me properly.” She waved a hand. “Anyway, my point is, despite my mother’s insistence, you were determined to be as gentlemanly as possible and give me time.” Her lips curled. “I have appreciated that time so very much.” She closed the gap between her and the bath and kneeled beside it.

Alex had to clamp his teeth together to maintain some sense of control. Only two more days until she was his wife. He could survive until then, surely? But why did she have to look so blasted pretty, with her curls so red in the lamplight, and her cheeks perfectly rosy and that wide mouth infinitely kissable?

Even the gown, with its tightly pulled fichu, made every inch of him heat. He swore his body temperature would set the water to boiling before long. Somehow, he adored those high necklines now. Lucy might have been keen to set aside the rigid, cautious woman she had been, but he appreciated that she would always remind him of the woman he’d first set eyes upon.

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