Page 13 of An Affair with a Notorious Heiress
Rex shook his head, took another sip. “Was Lady Landsdowne ever a member?” Before Drake could answer, something seemed to have occurred to the marquess as he added, “Is she a member now?”
“She’s not a member. I suspect she wouldn’t like the chilly welcome she would be apt to receive.” He shook his head slowly, even though Rex had yet to turn his gaze away from the night beyond the window and face him. “I don’t recall her ever coming here while she was married to Landsdowne. Why the interest?”
Rex continued to stare at whatever was happening on the streets below. Another sip. A tap on his glass. A sip. “I’m not sure.” He swung around, leaned against the wall, held Drake’s gaze. “I met her today.”
“And you started thinking with your cock instead of your head.”
Rex laughed, downed what remained in his glass. “I’m not certain I was able to think at all. I’m supposed to be courting her sister.”
Drake was glad to have been half sitting on the desk as he might have staggered back. Although it was high time his brother took a wife, he’d not yet expressed an interest in doing so. But then, Drake had planned to never marry. But that was eight years, four children, and countless rescued animals ago. His wife had a soft heart when it came to children and animals. And on occasion him. “Mother will be happy to hear that. She is in want of more grandchildren.”
Rex scowled. “Between you and Grace she has more than enough. And I’m not going to marry the chit. I made a pact with her uncle to get the other lords interested in her. Apparently, they fear she will be as unskilled at honoring her vows as her sister.”
“And what do you gain?”
“Two winners from Black Diamond.”
Drake whistled. “You’ve wanted that horse for stud since you first saw him race.”
“Indeed. So I’ll play the besotted beau for a bit.”
Frowning, Drake studied his brother. He wasn’t an unkind man, but he was obsessed with the damned horse, with his racehorses overall. “Have you considered the girl’s feelings?”
“I shan’t be with her long enough for any true emotion to take hold.”
“You can’t control the heart.”
“A week at the most. She’ll have young swains falling over themselves to be with her. She’ll cast me aside.”
“Perhaps you shouldn’t tell Mother or Grace about this plan.”
“I had no intentions of doing so. As I said, it’ll be over quickly enough. She drew the eye of a few gents when I took her to the park this afternoon. Tomorrow is the theater. One more ball, and it’ll be done.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure. Take it from someone who knows from experience. Where ladies are concerned, the plans never go the way you expect they will.”
Dear God, but she sat a horse well.
Rexton watched as Lady Landsdowne trotted a dark brown Arabian along Rotten Row. He’d arrived at six. She at seven. He didn’t know why Gina’s offhand comment about her sister riding in the early morning had stuck with him or why he’d felt a burning need to see her. Perhaps because his body was in urgent need of sexual release, although he wouldn’t find it here. Better to tell himself it was part and parcel of his strategy to ensure Gina well situated, but the lie mocked him.
At this hour no one else was about. Daft woman hadn’t brought a groom with her or even the blasted butler. What if she was accosted, what if some ne’er-do-well recognized quality when he saw it and decided he’d like a taste?
He set his gelding into a gentle gallop, following a path he knew would intercept hers. She must have heard him approaching, because she brought her horse to a halt. When he was near enough to do the same, he found himself staring at the business end of a very small pistol, clutched tightly in her gloved hand, her gaze uncompromising and harsh. Apparently the woman saw to her own defense and didn’t require assistance.
“Lady Landsdowne.” He spoke calmly, evenly, the way he might to a skittish filly. “It would be a shame for your sister to lose her solitary suitor so shortly after acquiring him.”
“Would it?”
He wasn’t reassured that she sounded quite doubtful. “Indeed. I assure you that she would mourn my passing. A great many women would, in fact, mourn my passing.”
“I hope you are not counting me among them.”
“I would not be so presumptuous.” Although the truth was: he did hope she would feel a bit of sorrow at his leaving this world.
“I do suppose bringing Gina sorrow would defeat my purpose in wanting to see her happy.” She slipped the pistol into a pocket in the skirt of her riding habit. “I don’t recall seeing you here in the mornings before.”
“To be sure, I’m certain you haven’t. I don’t usually make it a habit to get up at such an ungodly hour, but I was curious regarding the report you delivered to your sister after our afternoon in the park.”
“My report?”
