Page 4 of The Brooding Duke's Fateful Letter
“Dear?” Lady Wells said to her husband.
“I was just about to join the duke for a drink.” He said choosing his words carefully.
“See that you do.” Lady Wells responded and turned to join the young woman.
He watched as the beautiful woman walked away from him. Every fiber of his being wanted to leap from his chair to go after her. The moment he set eyes on her he felt everything around him stop. Her gaze went to him, and he could not breathe. Her clear green eyes were a shade of green he had not seen before.
They held him fixed in place as he took in her appearance. She was not only pleasant, she had a beauty that exceeded any other. She had moved toward him with grace, her blonde hair and petite frame had the duke believing she was absolutely magical. And she had not even spoken a word to him.
The door to the tea lounge shut, and only then did the spell break and he was free to move on. He was helped to his seat and took his glass into his hand. A man servant came closer to present the bottle to him. He took a grateful sip and held out his glass for more.
He looked to those he would call his dearest acquaintances.
They were nowhere to be seen when I needed them. Cecil and Reginald aside, the others need reward to keep my company. The moment I promise food and drink, here they all are.
Even though he had forgiven his family and even the woman who had left him, bitterness still crept in.
“And here are our next two victims of marriage now,” the duke said when the two recently engaged men came closer to have a word
“I’m afraid so Your Grace.” George replied. His brother nodded politely.
“Well done. I believe you have found a wonderful companion,” the duke said, truly happy for him.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” He replied and there was a moment where silence enveloped their conversation.
“So old boy, when will it be your turn?” Tristan said as he settled his tall frame into an antique armchair. He raked his hand through his sandy blonde hair and narrowed his blue eyes. He and the duke had known each other since they could walk. Where many parents would strive for their offspring to have friends, this was more of an early start to making heir social status known. If one could visit a duke, then you would make itknown. Tristan had wanted for nothing. That is except wanting to best the duke in every way possible.
“My turn for what, old chum?” Henry asked in mock cheerfulness, not caring to hide all the venom in his voice. It was said in order to warn Tristan, who as per usual enjoyed pushing boundaries.
“Marriage of course.” He answered with a smug smile.
The duke refused to show any emotion, refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing he had gotten under his skin. If he were to retaliate it would seem childish in front of his guests.
He looked to his two friends that he could trust. Whom he wished he could tell the truth to. Reginald had protected him when Henry’s smaller frame had attracted bullying in his youth. He was the man the duke called upon when he felt enticed to have a drink at an establishment. Cecil was born into the finance industry and had as such offered true advice as well as friendship. Tristan made it into their company by being a Lord, where as Cecil and Reginald made it there because the duke trusted them… as he did family.
“I’m way too rich. It puts women off,” Henry said jokingly.
“Puts women off!” Reginald remarked almost spitting his drink onto the floor. “Please show me these women, mine are makingme poorer by the day.” The room erupted into laughter and the duke smiled knowing he had avoided the topic.
“Was a carriage incident wasn’t it?” Tristan said loudly enough for everyone to put their focus back on him.
What the hell is he playing at! Henry thought, as his temper got the best of him.
“That did what?” He asked as calmly as he could.
“Well…” Tristan said at least having the good taste to motion toward the duke’s legs and not bluntly state the obvious.
“That’s quite enough Tristan,” Cecil said, and stood up to walk toward him. Tristan got up from his chair and the men’s bodies were now inches apart.
“Cecil, men of a lower standing shouldn’t interfere when two gentlemen are having a conversation.” Tristan said looking down at him.
“I see only one gentleman, and the other a fiend that will find himself going home sooner this evening,” Cecil responded and put his hands into his trouser pockets.
That isn’t a good sign. It looks like he’s relaxed but in truth he’s coiled like a snake, just waiting for the right moment to strike. What do I do if this turns into a physical altercation?
Henry worked out all manners of how it could play out in his mind and did not like any of them.
“Gentlemen calm down. Cecil, I appreciate the gesture though it’s no secret. I was involved in an accident that could have taken my life. Instead it took my legs and is a far fairer price. No woman would want me. So to answer your question Tristan. I do believe the sea will dry up before I’m wed,” Henry said, and gestured for more drink.
