Page 31 of Making of a Scandal
“Lying around is exactly what you should be doing.”
“Nonsense! I’m not dead yet. Come now … what do you say we venture to Sadler’s Wells?”
Nick raised his eyebrows, though he shouldn’t be surprised his uncle would make such a suggestion. Paul had been the one to introduce him to the aquatic theater, where an under-stage water tank made spectacular naval reenactments possible. The theater was known for its rowdy audience as much as the exciting productions complete with ships in full sail and fireworks.
“Why not?” he replied with a shrug. “I have no plans for the evening and haven’t been to Sadler’s in years.”
Despite his pale complexion and the dark circles under his eyes, Paul looked like an irrepressible boy just then, eyes twinkling as he flashed the famous Burke grin. That smile had earned him quite a reputation among women in his youth, and Nick had inherited the trait. It had certainly served him well over the years.
A fat lot of good that did you last night.
Annoyance overwhelmed him as he recalled his second botched attempt at curing the fever in his blood caused by Calliope Barrington. He’d stumbled out of one of his favorite gambling hells several pounds poorer with a whore hanging all over him, her glistening eyes raking over his form along with her busy hands. He’d been drunk enough to be unsteady on his feet, but not so much that his cockstand had lost any of its urgency. He’d been walking about in a state of agitation all week, and had attempted this same thing the night after his walk with Calliope and the Earl and Countess of Hastings. It had ended much the way last evening’s encounter had … with him grunting in frustration as his erection died a swift death, something within him recognizing that what he wanted wasn’t a whore in a tatty dress with rouged lips.
But, he couldn’t have what he wanted. Or, rather, he shouldn’thelp himself to what he wanted. He wasn’t being paid to seduce the woman, but rather to throw her into the arms of another man. A man who would marry her and take that beautiful goddess of a woman to bed every night and do all the things Nick fantasized about.
A knock on the door disrupted his thoughts—and thank God for that, for it was becoming increasingly difficult to pull himself away from his lurid imaginings. If he wasn’t careful, he would die this way, his mind crumbling under the strain and his balls exploding from lack of release. He couldn’t remember going so long without a willing woman since his years at university.
He found a footman in the corridor, who informed him that he had callers awaiting him.
“Go, see to your visitors,” Paul urged with a wave. “If I am to enjoy our night out I suppose I ought to have some of that rest the physician is always pestering me about.”
“A capital idea,” Nick replied. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
Nick made his way downstairs, certain he already knew who had come here looking for him. Only a handful of people would venture to his father’s house rather than wait for him to return to his flat.
Sure enough, when he entered the drawing room, it was to find Benedict and David Graham awaiting him. His two fellow courtesans stood at the sight of him. They couldn’t be more different in both appearance and personality—David with his dark, Mediterranean looks and indolent smile, Benedict with his bulky frame, bright blond hair, and severe features. David looked as if he thought his entire existence nothing more than an amusing lark, while Benedict frequently looked as if he hated the world and everyone in it.
“I hope we aren’t interrupting anything,” Benedict said, eying Nick with his usual perceptiveness. “Thorpe indicated he was preparing to join you here, and had no idea when you’d return home.”
Nick did his best to present an outward appearance of stoicism. “I’ll be spending more time here than usual until … well, I’m not sure how long. Uncle Paul is visiting.”
David’s blue eyes brightened, and he grinned. “Oh, capital! I haven’t seen him in ages! How long will he be in town?”
“I have no idea. He’s … ill.Veryill.”
David’s smile disappeared, and a rare grave expression settled over his ridiculously pretty features.
“I’m so sorry, Nick,” Benedict said, concern breaking through his hardened features.
Nick rolled his shoulders as if shrugging off something of no consequence, even though he felt as if his entire world was being upended. “There is nothing I can do but enjoy what time we have left. I’m taking him to Sadler’s Wells tonight.”
“Then we won’t take up too much of your time,” Benedict replied. “I simply wanted to ensure all is going well with Miss Barrington. You know I like to check in on new contracts sooner than this, but there was a bit of a … problem with another arrangement that needed sorting out.”
David snorted and rolled his eyes. “Problem. That’s an understatement. What Lady Bowery has is far more than a problem.”
“David,” Benedict snapped. “Let it go.””
Nick frowned, glancing between his two friends in bemusement. “What happened?”
“Aubrey’s newest keeper doesn’t know what she wants, that’s what happened,” David replied. “Tried him out for a week, ended the contract, met with me and decided I wasn’t good enough either.”
“In her defense, she’s gone back to Aubrey, for good this time,” Benedict said with a glare in David’s direction. “Which means it’s no longer any of your affair. I’ll find you another keeper. But we aren’t here to talk about you, difficult as that might be for you to imagine. Nick, how are things with Miss Barrington?”
Yet again, his mind was drawn in a direction he would rather avoid. He spent his solitary hours activelynotthinking of her, and now Benedict was breaking his resolve.
“We are getting on well enough. I made certain we were seen walking in the park together last week, and I attended a dinner party a few nights ago where I was able to finesse the seating arrangements to my liking. Lewes wasn’t there, but word will reach him that I spent the entire evening dancing attention on Miss Barrington.”
“Gad, Nick,” David murmured. “Never thought you of all people would find yourself playing the affectionate suitor. It’s a wonder you haven’t gone mad by now.”
