Page 7 of Tempting the Scoundrel
Thorne clapped Richard on the shoulder and beckoned with his fingers. “Deal him out, Doyle.”
“I was enjoying that game,” Richard said as he followed Thorne to his private wing.
“You were about to lose one hundred pounds.”
“Money I could stand to lose, for the enjoyment of seeing you this angry at my presence.”
Thorne whirled on Richard. They were alone in the hallway. It was as good a place as any to have words with his brother-in-law. “You want to lose one hundred quid and line my pockets just to annoy me, have at it.”
Richard leaned his shoulder against the wall. “If you wanted me to do that, you ought to have left me to the game. I’ve never been terribly good at whist.”
Thorne made an irritated sound. “You aristos and money. Wasting it is about the only thing you’re good for.”
“Nicholas Thorne criticizing another man for having too much money.” Richard gave a laugh. “Now that’s hypocrisy. You’re one of the richest men in England.”
“Having too much blunt is one thing, squandering it is another.” He crossed his arms. “Now stop wasting my time. Finish it. Hit me in the face.”
Richard raised an eyebrow. “Are you drunk?”
“If only,” Thorne muttered. “See, I figure I owe you two punches: one for not telling you Alex was my wife, the other for the hell she must be going through. Go on.”
“Jesus Christ, I’m not here to beat the shit out of you. I’m here to tell you to go see my sister. She’s a mess, Thorne.”
“She’ll be fine once things have settled. Not having her bastard husband in her life will make it easier.”
His brother-in-law pushed off the wall. “Once things havesettled? You really are a stupid sod. I hadn’t planned to punch you in the face, but perhaps I should.”
“Do it, then.” Thorne spread his arms.
“Listen to me, you obstinate son of a bitch,” Richard hissed, moving closer. “This needs to start getting settlednow. Alexandra refuses to withdraw to the country because of her work, and I can’t leave her alone in London. I have no idea where my brother is or when he plans to return from his honeymoon.”
“Then stay in London until Kent returns. Easy.”
Richard ran a hand through his hair. “I can’t,” he said, surprising Thorne. Then his expression softened. “Anne is with child. She’s not showing yet, but she’ll need to enter confinement soon. We’re planning to stay in Hampshire until next season.”
“My congratulations.” Thorne’s voice sounded more detached than he felt. Sometimes, he thought about what it would have been like with Alexandra if he weren’t such a bad husband. Would they have had children? Did she even want them?
“Go see Alexandra,” Richard repeated, tiredly. “Act like a husband, for once.”
Thorne held back a flinch. How could he be a husband to her? His reputation had shredded hers. “Her maids talk, Grey. I know she’s been cut by every bloody friend she’s ever made. You might have given her some warning that you’d made an enemy of the prime minister.”
Richard’s expression darkened. “There wasn’t time—”
“I know it. I don’t blame you for damaging a woman’s social connections. They’re easy enough to lose, if you marry a man born on the wrong side of the blanket and on the wrong street.”
Richard whistled. “Look at you. You speak quite prettily when the mood strikes.”
“Aye. I learned it from your father.”
The other man went quiet. He stared at Thorne with an unnerving astuteness, but then, he had a habit of turning those pretty blue eyes on a person and making them feel like baring their soul.
Thorne just didn’t have a soul to bare.
“My sister told me everything,” Richard said, his voice quiet. “Including your deal with the old earl.”
“Good.” It was easier that way. “Then you know I’m no good for Alex.”
Their marriage, after all, was undeniable proof that Thorne was a deceitful blackguard. There wasn’t a person alive who wouldn’t empathize with a lass swindled by a man who lied about being a lord.
