Page 6 of The Rake I Wished For
And then, as time passed, and his endeavors grew, it had become increasingly difficult to broach the conversation. He knew what questions he’d face.
Why didn’t you tell me from the start that you were investing in land?
Why didn’t you come to me for a loan rather than go to strangers?
Oh yes, he knew the questions to come, and he supposed it was the dread of facing them that had kept him silent.
But he couldn’t keep it quiet for much longer. Not now that he’d purchased a property so close to Liam’s estate. Not when he’d already begun reaching out to new investors to ensure it would be a success.
Truthfully, staying in London for Jocelyn would make it that much easier for him to meet with investors without Liam or his other friends finding out.
But even so, Harlow couldn’t keep this to himself any longer. He truly was not cut out to keep secrets. It was why tonight, when he’d normally be in the center of activity, laughing and talking, and toasting with his friends before they all set off for their country estates, he stood alone by the empty fireplace.
From where he stood, he could hear Rose as she chatted with her friend Camilla, the Marchioness of Ashburn, about a new collection of poems Liam had gifted her.
Liam stood by his wife’s side, smiling down at her like a doting fool while she spoke. When Liam’s hand slid to clasp his wife’s, Harlow couldn’t help but dart a look across the room to see if Jocelyn noticed.
Though she was talking to the Duchess of Amesbury, she clearly had, because her gaze met his and it was filled with laughter as she subtly shifted her gloved hand to hold up four fingers.
Harlow’s lips twitched as she went back to her lively conversation as if nothing had occurred.
Keeping count and placing bets on how often Liam found excuses to touch his wife in public was one of their favorite games. Mimicking his doting looks and dimwitted smiles was another.
He didn’t realize he’d still been staring over at Jocelyn, but he must’ve been because he didn’t see or hear his friend, the Duke of Amesbury, approach until he was standing right at his side.
“Thornton tells us you’re staying on in London for a while,” Amesbury said.
He meant Liam, of course. And Harlow wasn’t surprised his old friend had explained the situation. Harlow’s staying was the only reason the overprotective big brother was allowing Jocelyn to stay at the finishing school while he and Rose went on ahead.
“Indeed. I’m in no rush to leave my London lifestyle behind.” His grin, he knew, made that remark sound far more nefarious than it was.
But years of acting the part made it second nature now.
Sure enough, Amesbury chuckled knowingly. “No, I suppose not.” He nodded toward his wife and Jocelyn. “I promised the ladies I’d fetch them a drink.”
“Ah, allow me.” Harlow moved to an end table where lemonade and ratafia had been set out. Amesbury poured a cup of lemonade for his wife, while Harlow snagged Jocelyn a glass of ratafia.
When they joined the ladies, Jocelyn took the glass from him with a wide smile. “My favorite.”
“I know.” He lowered his voice as the duke and his wife spoke amongst themselves. “If you drink too much of that, your brother will blame me. My death will be on your hands.”
Her laughter was low and melodic, and so familiar, it made some of his earlier unease vanish. “Harlow, if I drink too much of this, the ratafia will be the death of me. We’ll have to argue who’s to blame in the afterlife.”
He raised his own glass of whiskey to clink against hers. “I’ll save a spot for you in heaven.”
She lifted her glass to her lips, her smile sly. “Bold of you to assume you’ll be let past the pearly gates, is it not?”
He feigned offense. “Truly, Jocelyn, you of all people should know that beneath this too-handsome exterior lies a heart of gold.”
Her next laugh was more of a giggle, a sure sign he’d caught her off guard with the too-handsome bit.
He fought a grin at the sound.
She recovered quickly. “Too handsome, you say? I hadn’t noticed.”
He chuckled. But before he could come back with a verbal repartee, the duchess interrupted. “I’m so glad you’ll be looking after Jocelyn while Thornton and Rose are in the country. I know they’ll worry.”
Jocelyn cast him a sidelong glance, so quick and so furtive, he was certain he was the only one who saw her wry amusement.
