Page 34 of Undercover Duke
Bonham sounded offended, damn it. Sheridan had obviously been too sharp with him. “I do appreciate your advice, Bonham. You know that, right?”
“I do.” An awkward silence fell between them. Bonham shifted in his chair. “I hope you and your family are well. I understand several of you were out last night with the duchess.”
Sheridan bit down a sharp retort at the man’s particular mention of Mother. Bonham was just being polite. “We were.” Then he paused as something occurred to him. “How did you know about that?”
Bonham’s cheeks reddened. “From the newspaper. There was mention of a social affair thrown by your brother at Thorncliff.”
Bloody hell. “Yes, well, it was rather impromptu and casual. A relatively small crowd.” So why did he feel guilty about not inviting Bonham? It hadn’t even beenSheridan’sparty, blast it, and it wasn’t as if Bonham had been at the charity performance.
He hadn’t, had he? God, if he had, then he must be terribly insulted.
The man nodded, almost as if he’d heard Sheridan’s thoughts, which was ridiculous. “Oh,” Bonham said, “and the article mentioned that you and Miss Pryde are about to be wed. Congratulations, Your Grace.”
The bottom dropped out of Sheridan’s stomach. Who the hell had told the newspaper that lie? Vanessa would be none too happy. The courtship was supposed to be just to make Juncker jealous, not to link Sheridan and Vanessa so irrevocably that their parting of the ways down the line would damage both their names and reputations.
Bonham wasn’t finished, unfortunately. “It’s none of my concern, I realize, but I must say it’s very brave of you to take on a wife, given your present financial difficulties—”
“You’re right—itisnone of your concern.” When Bonham paled, he added, “Nonetheless, it might set your mind at ease to know that Miss Pryde has a substantial dowry.” He was probably exaggerating a bit, but Bonham’s concerns irritated him.
Apparently, his wordsdidset Bonham’s mind at ease, for the man’s expression cleared. “Well, thatisfortunate. It sounds like a wise decision indeed.”
Sheridan hadn’t meant to imply he might marry Vanessa, but his usual reticence about his personal life kept him from telling the fellow otherwise. “Glad that you approve,” he said sarcastically.
Bonham seemed unaware of the sarcasm.
Wait. Sheridan had read theTimesthis morning, and that bit of gossip wasn’t in it. “Which newspaper are you referring to, Bonham?”
“TheLondon Society Times.”
Sheridan groaned. That same paper had been focused on his family since their arrival in England. Actually, it had probably been printing gossip about Grey since he’d set foot on English shores twenty-five years ago.
Well, perhaps not that long, but a long bloody time all the same.
“I can send you my copy if you wish,” Bonham offered when Sheridan’s silence went on a bit long.
“Thank you, but no need to trouble yourself. I’m sure I can find a copy in my club’s reading room.”
Bonham eyed him askance. “If you don’t mind my saying so, Your Grace, that’s somewhere else you might trim expenses: club dues.”
“Fortunately—or unfortunately, from your perspective—I don’t pay dues. My father won a lifetime membership or some such. Anyway, it’s free. Because if it weren’t, I would leave the club without a single qualm just to save those dues.”
Bonham did indeed look disappointed. Poor fellow had been working very hard to help Sheridan find some way out of the financial hole his uncle had dug for them years ago. What Bonhamshouldhave done was try to curb Uncle Armie’s excesses when his uncle had been alive. Then again, Uncle Armie hadn’t seemed to be the sort of fellow who let himself be guided by a mere man of affairs.
“Sheridan! There you are.” His mother marched into the study, waving a newspaper and not seeming to notice Bonham, who’d stood and moved to the side the moment she’d called Sheridan’s name. “Have you seen theLondon Society Timesyet?” She dropped the paper onto his desk. “Did you intend for them to say all this about your courtship of Vanessa?”
He forced a smile. “Mother, Bonham is here. Perhaps we could save this discussion for later.” After Sheridan paid his visit to the Pryde town house to see ifVanessahad seen the paper. And if she had, how she was taking all this.
His mother stopped short to look about her. Sheridan could tell exactly when she spotted Bonham by her sudden blush. Was there indeed something going on between them? Or was she merely embarrassed to be talking about private matters in front of the man? With Mother, it was hard to tell.
Bonham bowed to Mother and then to Sheridan. “Actually, Your Grace, unless there’s something else, I will take my leave.”
“Thank you, Bonham,” Sheridan said. “I do believe that’s all. But I appreciate you coming such a long way for such a short meeting.”
Casting a speaking look at Sheridan’s mother, Bonham said, “I am always happy to visit Armitage House, Your Grace.” Then he left.
As soon as he’d gone into the hall, Mother opened her mouth, but Sheridan put a finger to his lips and walked over to close the door.
She cocked her head. “What was that for? I’m sure we can expect Bonham to be discreet.”
