Page 14 of His Scandalous Siren
Seven
Drew leaned over the table he’d been occupying at his club and stared at several documents his solicitor had given him to look over. Now that he was about to become a married man, he had decisions to make on top of several changes that made his insides ache. His bachelor quarters would have to be a thing of the past, and sooner rather than later. Hence the documents…
It was time to purchase a townhouse. He had no title yet, and no house to bring a wife home to. He was pretty sure that the other gentlemen that resided in the apartments he currently found solace at would frown upon a woman of respectable means on the property. Luckily, ever since Alex had purchased his residence, it had made Drew start to consider his own. He had been looking over several properties for a month, but had been dragging his feet.
Now he had to decide which one he liked best, but for some reason, none of them appealed to him. Should he ask Sofia for her opinion? Perhaps she might prefer one of them… He considered that idea and dismissed it. The house itself didn’t matter, but the location did. There were two options. One was closer to Alex, and the other was closer to his parents. He would prefer to be close to his family. Sofia could always redecorate whatever house he chose to her specifications. Besides, she liked his family.
Despite what she had said the other day, she liked Drew as well. She was merely miffed with him, and honestly, he couldn’t blame her. He had been high-handed and fully intended to go forward with the same attitude. She was going to be his wife, had always wanted to belong to him. It was time for her to realize what that actually meant.
“There you are,” a man said.
Drew glanced up and met Alex’s gaze, then smiled. “I haven’t been hiding. That would be you.” He should have stopped into see Alex several days ago. Drew had been consumed with Sofia and had forgotten about his twin. That hadn’t happened in, well, ever.
Alex set the Times down on the table. Drew didn’t even glance at it. He knew exactly what Alex would say and had purposely kept his plans a secret. If Alex didn’t know, he couldn’t talk him out of it. “What the hell is that?” Alex pointed at the paper.
Drew tilted his head to the side. “I can’t say with any certainty, but I would hazard a guess it is the Times.” He shrugged lightly. “Though I’d have to read a bit to ascertain that with any amount of certainty—I cannot even say with any knowledge when it was printed.”
His twin stared at him as if he’d grown a second head. “I don’t mean the bloody paper,” Alex ground out the words. “What the hell is that announcement? There must be some sort of mistake.
The announcement had gone in the paper a couple days earlier. It had taken Alex longer than he had expected to bring it to Drew’s attention. Alex seemed irritated, but distracted. “What announcement?” Drew lifted a brow, then picked up the paper to pretend to scan its contents. “Oh, did you mean this?” He pointed to the part of the paper that mentioned an upcoming social event that neither one of them would dare attend. He inwardly shuddered at the idea of being surrounded by so many marriage minded misses and their equally determined mothers.
“No,” Alex said through gritted teeth. “I mean this.” He jabbed his finger at the betrothal announcement.
Drew nodded nonchalantly. “That concerns you? Why?” He waved at a waiter to come over to the table. He suspected they would need a drink, maybe an entire bottle. Alex was having some difficulty with Drew’s upcoming nuptials.
“How can you sit there….” He sputtered over the words. “How are you so damn calm?”
The waiter came to the table. “Yes, my lord?”
“Bring us a couple glasses and a decanter of brandy.” Drew glanced at Alex. “Do you require anything else?”
“No,” Alex said in a mulish tone. “But you may wish to bring two decanters. One may not be enough.”
The waiter nodded. “Certainly, my lord.” He spun around and went to get what they had ordered.
“Now about this marriage nonsense,” Alex began.
“It’s nothing of the sort,” Drew said casually. “I am marrying Sofia in less than three weeks. After the banns are read, we will have a small ceremony on father’s estate in the country.” He had yet to speak to his father about the wedding. It was on his list to do soon. He had to have seen the announcement too, but seemed to be content with waiting for Drew to deliver the news himself.
“I need you to explain how this happened.” Alex sat in one of the empty chairs. “You’re against marriage. How many times have you declared you won’t be tied down?”
“Too many to count,” Drew answered. “Things change…people change. You certainly have.” He leaned closer. “Why don’t you tell me why you’ve been so distant?”
Alex rubbed his hand over his face. “You’re right. I’ve been avoiding discussing anything of any importance. If I put a voice to things, then I’ll have to admit that I’m terrified.”
“Of what?” Drew was baffled. What could be this bad that it bothered his brother so much?
“I was like you and thought I would never marry.” Alex glanced away from him. “But I’m starting to wonder if we’ve both had it all wrong. What if love is more real than either of us ever thought possible?”
Drew snorted. “It’s not any more real that it ever has been. Some people are just lucky enough to find someone they can trust.”
“Love seems to exist in our family. Why can’t we find it?” Alex frowned. “Why are you? Marrying Sofia. Tell me the truth.”
“Because I took her innocence, and the price for such foolishness is marriage.”
The waiter came and set the decanter of brandy on the table with two glasses. “If you require the second decanter, please let me know, and I’ll bring it immediately.” He left them alone. Drew poured brandy into the two glasses, then handed one to Alex.
“I suppose we should toast to your upcoming wedding,” Alex said dryly. “And pray somehow you two find happiness.”
