Page 16 of Stealing the Rake's Heart
Alex swallowed down any sharp comments. “I hope you enjoy the week, Lord Donovan.”
He made to move aside – their house was large, surely he could avoid the man over the next few days – but Lord Donovan stepped in his path again.
Lord Graham Donovan was around thirty. He had aged well, tended to dress well, and had a neat oval face and thick brown hair. Coupled with his modest fortune and excellent breeding, that was enough to win him the love of Society. His paintings were fairly good, and many people commissioned him to do their portraits, more for the novelty of having alordpaint their picture than anything else. He was generally thought to be an amusing and a likeable man, as well as being considered a Catch in the marriage mart. In another world, Alex and Lord Donovan might easily have been friends.
Needless to say, they were not.
“I hear that Miss Havisham married after all,” Lord Donovan said, an edge to his voice. “She picked neither of us, it seemed.”
Alex flushed. “This again, Graham?”
“It’s Lord Donovan to you. Do you really have nothing to say for yourself?”
“I will say the same thing to you as I said to Miss Havisham. My intentions were always platonic, and I truly hate myself for giving an impression otherwise. The mistake was mine. Miss Havisham is a fine woman, and I’m thrilled for her happiness.”
Lord Donovan’s lip curled. “Three years, and that’s all you have to say? Ilovedher.”
“She would never have married you.”
The words were out before Alex could stop himself. Lord Donovan turned a faint purple colour.
Hamish hastily grabbed Alex’s arm, towing him away. “Let’s go inside. Your mother and brother will be furious if you start a fist-fight on the driveway.”
Alex muttered various curses under his breath, glancing back over his shoulder. Lord Donovan was fighting to compose himself, straightening his waistcoat and shouting at the footmen who came hurrying over to help with his bags.
The tale was a simple one. Lord Donovan had pursued a beautiful young heiress for a Season or two. She was not interested in him. Alex, a youthful fool, made friends with the heiress. He should have known better, should have known how his overtures would have been interpreted. She was a clever, amusing young woman, and pleasant to spend time with, although Alex had never felt drawn to her in that way.
When he told her truthfully how he felt – or rather, how he didnotfeel – Miss Havisham had retired to the country. Lord Donovan made one last attempt at a proposal – which was refused – and promptly challenged Alex to a duel.
The duel had not happened, of course. William handled things, as he always did, and it had been kept from the ears of their father. Miss Havisham had recovered and gotten married – quite happily, if gossip was to be believed – and all that was left was a simmering resentment – mostly one sided – between Lord Donovan and Alex.
There was no time to think about that now, as they were climbing the stairs, and Mary was waiting at the top. Her eyebrows rose at the sight of Hamish.
“Lord Grey,” she said, as calm and dignified as always. “What a pleasure.”
“I am intruding, your Grace,” Hamish said, with just the right note of apologetic wryness. He bent over her hand, and Mary graced him with a frosty smile.
“The fault is mine, Mother,” Alex murmured. “I invited Hamish along, and entirely forgot to ask your permission first. I am sorry.”
Mary nodded. “Think nothing of it, my dear. The more the merrier, and we have plenty of rooms to spare.”
She gestured for a footman to come over and instructed him to show Hamish to his room.
The two departed, leaving Alex with his mother. He was keen to get out of the way before Lord Donovan appeared.
“I am sorry, Mother,” Alex repeated, feeling like a naughty schoolboy. “I never thought…”
“Don’t worry about it,” Mary said, reaching up to pat his cheek. “These house gatherings must be so awfully dull for you.”
“They aren’t dull, I promise.”
“I know how close Lord Grey and you are – I ought to have invited him, to be sure.” She stood up on her tiptoes to press a kiss to her son’s cheek. Alex obediently bent down to receive the kiss. “Now, why don’t you run along and dress? Dinner will be served soon enough. We have only a few latecomers to greet now. Oh, and here is Lord Donovan!”
That was Alex’s cue to leave. He mumbled something and darted along the hallway, climbing the stairs two at a time.
It was a relief that Hamish was here, to be sure. At least he would have someone to talk to. And while they couldn’t get in their cups at the gathering – ladies present, and all – it would be good to have a friend to drink withafterwards. In fact…
Rapid footsteps thudded along behind Alex, and he barely had time to turn before somebody grabbed his arm and manhandled him into the nearest bedroom.
