Page 19 of A Trap by the Rakish Duke
The Viscount laughed. “I am here to pay homage to my good friend’s union.”
“A gift?” Aurelia looked around the empty hall. “But I see no evidence of this homage.”
Tilting his head back, Oliver laughed from the pit of his stomach. “Forgive my mirth, Your Grace. The gift is an Arabian stallion. I have already instructed my men to take it to the stables. You may come and inspect it if you wish?”
He turned his body sideways and gestured with one hand to the front door.
Narrowing her eyes, Aurelia lifted her chin. “That is quite all right, My Lord. I am sure that the staff will eventually inform us of any lack of Arabian stallions. I am afraid that my husband is not home at present.”
A frown creased the Viscount’s brow, yet the smile never left his lips. “Do you know when he will return?”
He ceased his playful banter but remained friendly.
“I am afraid that I do not. Would you care to join me for tea in the parlor while we wait? I would hate to think that you had come all this way for nothing.”
She gestured to a passing maid and instructed her to send a tea tray to the parlor.
“That would be lovely. I am rather parched after such a long ride.”
The Viscount folded his hands behind his back and waited for Aurelia to lead the way to the parlor.
Pausing on her way past him, she frowned. “Did you ride the horse all the way from London? That must have been quite a ride.”
“Not on the back of the beast, no. I had one of my men ride the horse while I followed behind in my carriage. I am afraid that I am not as gallant as you think I am. I prefer comfort over bravery.”
Aurelia laughed and shook her head, leading the way to the parlor that was used for entertaining guests, just off the entrance hall.
The neat little room boasted a small nook furnished with couches and a coffee table, as well as a pianoforte. The heavy pink drapes were pulled all the way back to let in as much light as possible.
“Please, My Lord, take a seat.” She gestured to the settee opposite the chaise lounge as she tucked her dress beneath her knees and sat down.
“Thank you, Your Grace. You know, I did recognize you almost as soon as I saw you on the stairs. We have never met in person, but I knew your father. You have the same eyes,” Oliver spoke just as a maid carried in a tea tray.
Aurelia furrowed her brow as she tried to place him. “Forgive me, but I do not think I recall ever seeing you, My Lord. I think I would have remembered if my father ever mentioned a Viscount Whitley.”
Oliver accepted the cup offered to him by the maid and sat back. The sparkle in his eyes faded for a moment and was replaced by shame and guilt.
“No, you would not have. Your father and I only ever ran into one another in one of the many gambling halls that both of us frequented in London.”
Her body suddenly stiffened at the mention of her father’s gambling. If it was true, then why was she never aware of her father’s behavior? He did go out most nights of the week, yet shehad assumed that all gentlemen frequented clubs. Her husband certainly disappeared for extended periods of time.
“I am not proud of my past, but I do have some fond memories. Your father and I used to place bets on who would lose more money when we had a bit too much to drink. Quite an ironic bet, I know,” the Viscount added with a light chuckle.
He seemed to sense the sudden change in atmosphere, as he placed his teacup back on the tray and leaned forward with his forearms on his knees.
“I did not mean to offend you, Your Grace. I am certainly in no position to judge anyone else’s behavior.”
Forcing a smile, Aurelia placed her hands in her lap and sat up straight. “There is no need to apologize, My Lord. How often did you and my father frequent these gaming halls? I have only recently learned that it was part of his life.”
“I…” the Viscount trailed off as a flush crept up his neck.
Aurelia could feel that talking about the situation made him uncomfortable, yet she couldn’t see any other way to gain more clarity about her father’s behavior.
“What is going on in here?” The Duke suddenly stepped into the room, nodding a curt greeting to Aurelia before looking at Oliver.
Aurelia took charge of the situation and stood up, smiling at her husband despite his dismissal. “We were just waiting for you while we had tea.”
They hadn’t spoken since their fight the previous day. A muscle in his jaw ticked as he briefly met her gaze.
