Page 18 of The Jilted Duchess
"Take a seat, gentlemen," Hector said firmly, drawing himself to his full height and pinning them both with a stare. "We are runnin' low on time, but I shall try to explain the matter as concisely as I'm able. If ye would direct your attention to the papers before ye."
Mr. Darnington opened his mouth to protest, but was stopped when Hector raised a brow at him. Whether it was the difference in their height or the fact that this was the place where Hector was completely in control, he closed his mouth again, and both gentlemen sat with Cedric and Theodore as Hector started to discuss the investments and potential benefits of the project.
"As ye can see," he said, gesturing to the main plan spread across his desk. "The timeline for the project is five years at the moment, perhaps four and a half with careful management. The return projected is at -"
"How certain are you that the management will be careful?" Lord Harkworth interjected briskly. There was a small pause, and then he added, awkwardly, "Your Grace," with an air of embarrassment that might or might not be genuine.
"Quite certain," Hector said calmly, turning the plans so that the mark of the company was visible to the seated men. "Ye can see that I am part owner of the project and will be heavily involved in overseein' the management."
"And how often in the past have you failed to bring a project to its completion, Your Grace?" Mr. Darnington asked.
"Och, that's nae happened yet, laddie," Hector said, letting his brogue thicken with a fierce grin on his face. "And it willnae be happenin' here either. I'm happy to have ye and yer money involved or if ye cannae stand to be aligned with me and me money ye can always leave. Which will it be?"
Cedric leaned back in his chair, dangerous and languid, while Theodore stood and crossed to the mantle to pour another three glasses of whiskey.
The two gentlemen glanced at each other, uncertain and abashed but too greedy, too aware of the likely success to leave. That was how Hector had known it would go from the beginning, but it left a bad taste in his mouth, nonetheless.
"Charmers, weren't they?" Theodore asked as the door closed behind the two gentlemen. "I do wish they were investing elsewhere so I could desire ruination on them without at the same time wishing that your project would fail, Murray."
"It's nay matter," Hector said shortly, gathering the papers together. "They're happy enough to deal with me but they daenae want me in their clubs or at their homes, it's nay different now than when I was but a jumped up merchant. Perhaps worse for me cheek in being a real duke after all."
"Hmm, they will get used to it," Cedric said firmly, his tone sounding like he was intent on ensuring it happened. "Now, do tell us if you've heard from your brother so far?"
"Nae a word yet," Hector said darkly, his brows drawing together. Every time he thought about his half-brother, his thoughts were drawn back to Alexandra, pale-faced in the church, realizing she was being deserted at the altar by the same man who had forced himself on her in the first place. "I'll have a great deal to say to him when he is back, and nay mistake about that."
"I was going to shoot him," Theodore said calmly, leaning on the mantle.
"Shoot him, I was going to stab him with a sword," Cedric said just as calmly. "I think Gabriel had designs on him with his saber."
"I would have gotten there first, I'm fastest of the three of us," Theodore said. "As soon as the ceremony was over and the guests had filed out."
"I had picked the most strategic seat," Cedric retorted. "I was near enough that I would have been there first and you would have had to clamber over me. Calling him out would have been my pleasure."
Hector laughed despite the dark direction in which his thoughts had drifted. "Ye were all three plannin' on callin' out me brother, were ye?"
"You wouldn't have minded, I'm sure," Theodore said.
Cedric grinned, sharp and vicious. "I was not going to let my Louisa's sister live with him for a moment. She would have been a widow before their wedding vows had stopped ringing in the church."
"Quite so."
Hector laughed again. "Well, I daenae feel I can have done it, blood relation and all that, but I'm sure I wouldnae have held it against ye. I'm surprised that her faither dinnae do it himself."
"Yes, well." Cedric wrinkled his nose. "James is still learning to be a father. I suspect it didn't occur to him."
"Damn well should have," Theodore grumbled.
"Well, I shall be going back now," Hector said, tossing back the last of his glass. "I'll be expected at home."
"Ah, expected, is it?" Cedric said cheerfully. "How nice to be expected by a wife at home."
"Quite so," Theodore said. "A delightful thing, married life, is that not so, Murray?"
Hector made a rude gesture and left the room to the sound of their laughter, a smile dancing on his lips. Despite their joking, he was beginning to find that married life really was delightful after all.
CHAPTER TEN
“Alittle higher. Perhaps a smidge to the right? Hmmm, no. No, let’s take it back to the left. Have we tried down a little?”
