Page 4 of Wicked Rivals
“It’s not because of the incident at the theater is it?” Lucien queried. “You’re wanting revenge because she got the upper hand in that alcove?” Cedric snickered, and Godric cursed under his breath. It was not the response Ashton had been expecting. In the past, this would have been normal for the League. They would have been congratulating him for such a victory.
“What?” Ash demanded hotly when the others remained silent.
Godric rubbed a hand through his dark hair. “What if Lady Melbourne takes this too personally and brings those wild brothers of hers down from Scotland? I still have nightmares about the last time I tangled with them. One of them broke a bloody chair over my back. I was left to pay for the damages to the tavern we fought in.”
“Three wild Scotsmen do not scare me.” Ashton had never lost a boxing match, and he had never lost a tavern brawl either. While Charles was the group’s true pugilist, Ashton’s skill was on par with his, though he fought only when necessary.
“No,oneshould scare you,” grumbled Godric. “Three should terrify you.”
“Isn’t anyone else worried that right now our wives are entertaining the victim of Ash’s scheme?” Cedric asked. “If they discover we knew about this, I’m liable to be spending the next month sleeping in my study rather than in bed with my wife.”
The murmurs of agreement from Godric and Lucien made Ashton scowl at the lot of them.
“I’m starting to believe Charles was right. You are all getting soft.”
Charles had once said that love and marriage were tearing the League apart, destroying its strength. At the time Ashton hadn’t been inclined to believe him, but of late…
A rap on the door made them all turn to the entrance of the Bombay Room. A young lad opened the door, his eyes wide and hands shaking a little with the letter he carried. Their reputation still held some in awe, at least.
“Excuse the intrusion, my lords. I have an urgent letter for Lord Lennox.” The boy’s face darted between them. He sensed he’d interrupted something and no doubt felt the invisible tension present in the room.
Ashton waved at the lad. “Bring it here.”
The boy practically threw it at Ashton and fled.
“At least someone still has the good sense to be afraid of us,” Godric sniggered.
The thin paper contained a short message from his youngest sister, Joanna.
Ashton,
You must come home at once. Our two tenant farms caught fire last night and are completely destroyed. Thankfully no one was hurt. The families are safe but without shelter. Please come home. The farmhouses will need to be rebuilt at once.
Yours,
Joanna
Ashton calmly folded the letter and tucked it into the inner pocket of his coat.
“Bad news?” Lucien inquired.
“It’s from my sister. She says my two tenant farmers’ houses burned down. I must go home at once.” He rose from his chair.
“What about Lady Melbourne?” Cedric asked.
“What about her?”
Cedric raised a brow. “You set her up for financial ruin and now you’re leaving London?”
A slow smile spread across his face. “If she decides to come grovel at my feet, please feel free to send her to my estate. I’ll be happy to entertain her apologies there.”
He swept his coat on and left the Bombay Room, leaving his friends behind.
If only it would come to that—Lady Melbourne on her knees, begging him for forgiveness, her gray eyes bright with pretty tears and her long dark hair swept back in a Grecian fashion. Those long curls caressing her neck…
Yes, Ashton had imagined the scene too often in the last week. How he’d tell Lady Melbourne that if she really wanted to appease him she could think of a few creative ways to make amends, behind closed doors. Not that he could trust her even in bed, and he’d certainly never coerce a woman to bed him, but such fantasies were worth exploring in his head.
Ashton departed Berkley’s and hailed a hackney. He would have his valet pack light so they could reach his estate quickly. Joanna’s note was troubling. While fires were common enough, the fact that both his tenants were miles apart was troubling.
