Page 50 of Stealing the Rake's Heart
“No, it isn’t.”
“I’m not here to argue. Lady Caldecott is extremely concerned about something and confided in me today. She’s an honoured guest of our mother’s, and a personal friend of mine. And ofyours, too.”
Alexander clenched his jaw. He had a feeling he knew what this was about, and it was not going to be a pleasant conversation.
William looked ready for battle. He had a way of drawing himself up when he was ready to have a serious conversation with somebody. His mouth was tight the way it did when he disapproved of something, and tension rolled off his shoulders like steam. Alexander braced himself.
“Do tell me, then,” he said at last. “Get it over with.”
William let out a long sigh. “You’ve been flirting with Miss Atwater.”
“I have not. Believe me, William, I have not tried to flirt with the girl. It would be disrespectful and unkind. I’ve just… just treated her in a friendly manner.”
William crossed the room in a flash, standing almost nose to nose with his brother.
“Don’t be such an abysmal fool. You know fine well what the rules are between unmarried ladies and gentlemen. You cannot simplybe friendlywith a young woman like Miss Atwater.”
“She is hardly a pale and insipid miss, nor a frivolous debutante eager to succumb to the affections of the first gentleman who casts his gaze upon her,” Alexander snapped back, getting angry despite himself.
“No, but she is here to look for a husband. Lady Caldecott made that clear. She also told me a few things about Miss Atwater’s background. Did you know that she’s a middle child, the second daughter of three, with no fortune and not much breeding to speak of? She’s neglected by her mother, bullied by her younger sister, and entirely kept away from Society and any opportunity she might have. Her aunt’s intervention might be the only opportunity she will have to make a good marriage and get herself a family and an establishment. I willnothave you and your rakish ways getting in the way of Miss Atwater’s prospects, and neither will Lady Caldecott.”
Alexander bit hard on his lower lip, tasting copper. “Not every young woman wants a family and an establishment. Not everybody is as fixated on marriage as our family has had to be, William.”
“No, that is true, but I have it on good authority that Miss Atwaterdoeswish to marry. Lady Caldecott has made it clear that she does not approve of you as a suitor, and I reassured her that you would not be serious. However, you must see how cruel it is to make Miss Atwater believe you are serious when you are not. It would distract her from other prospects.”
Before Alexander could say something to defend himself – he wasn’t sure what he would say, only that he had to saysomething– William reached out, laying his hands awkwardly on his shoulders. It was odd to receive a touch like that from his older brother, and Alexander flinched, momentarily distracted.
“You’re not unkind, Alex,” William said, more gently. “I know that, and Lady Caldecott knows it. But you must leave Miss Atwater alone. I saw how you kept looking at her across the table at dinner tonight.”
“I haven’t flirted with her, Will. Truly.”
William sighed. “I’m sure you mean that. I’m sure you didn’t consider it flirting. But as I said before, young ladies looking for husbands must be treated differently. I must insist on you keeping your distance from Miss Atwater from now on. It’s for the best, and everybody wants it.”
Alexander swallowed hard. “I’m not the man you think I am, William. You think I’m a fool, a stupid, flirtatious,cruelrake, somebody who enjoys making others squirm.”
“I think you are careless,” William said firmly. “You are not cruel, and although you make stupid choices more often than I can recall, you are notstupid. I assured Lady Caldecott that I would talk to you about this, and I have. I can’t control you, Alex, but I do expect you to try.”
Alexander nodded tightly, not trusting himself to speak. When William removed his hands from his shoulders, he picked up his wine glass again and drained it. The footman had gone, wretched fellow, and taken the decanter of wine with him. He glanced at the door, noticing that it was ajar. Odd, considering that William had slammed it shut with his heel when he came in.
“Think on what I’ve said,” William said firmly, and left without another word.
For a few moments, Alexander stood alone in the billiards room, the forgotten billiard balls casting shadows over the green baize, the ghosts of a game.
Then the door creaked open.
“I couldn’t help overhearing,” Graham commented languidly, still twirling his billiard cue in his fingers. “Got your knuckles rapped, didn’t you? I can’t say I’m sympathetic. That’s what happens when you bother defending sensible, genteel ladies.”
The hairs on the back of Alexander’s neck rose. “Do you mean to tell me you were eavesdropping on our private conversation? A private conversation between myself and my brother, the Duke of Dunleigh and your host?”
Graham sighed. “Eavesdropping. Such a dramatic word. I just happened to be standing in the hallway outside. You were both rather loud, and the door was open.”
“No, it was not. It was closed.”
“Well, you’ve already imbibed a good deal of wine tonight, so perhaps your perception is not what it should be.”
Alexander tightened his jaw. “What do you want, Graham?”
The man took a moment before replying, pursing his lips. Abruptly, he leveled his cue at the billiards table, and made a neat shot. The echoingclack-clack-clackof the balls bouncing against each other filled the room. He potted several.
