Page 6 of Once More, My Darling Rogue
“If you want to have pin money before you’re thirty, you will marry some lord, even if he’s on his deathbed. Honestly, Ophelia, I’m in quite the pickle here.”
“That’s why you were interested in Grace, because she had such a large dowry.”
“Well, yes, of course.”
He said it as though she were an idiot to think otherwise. “She wanted to marry for love.”
“I assure you that if a woman puts coins in my coffers, I shall love her very much indeed.”
“That’s not the sort of love Grace wanted,” she told her brother. “I’m ever so glad she didn’t take your suit seriously.”
“Well, I’m not glad at all. Lovingdon didn’t need her fortune. He’s got a bloody fortune of his own. It’s not fair.”
She could certainly enlighten him about things that weren’t fair. But surely he was exaggerating concerning his financial state. “How dire are things really?” she asked.
“Just don’t purchase any new gowns,” he said wearily.
“I don’t see that I should be inconvenienced because you’ve mismanaged things.” The carriage pulled to a stop in front of their residence. “Besides, I’m sure something will turn up.”
Surely an heiress somewhere would take his suit seriously.
Somerdale chuckled low. “It had best happen quickly as creditors will soon be knocking. And you’re quite right, sister, we wouldn’t want you inconvenienced, now would we?”
Before she could respond, the footman opened the door and handed her down. Her brother followed.
“Aren’t you going to the club?” she asked as they walked up the steps.
“Our conversation dimmed my desire to make merry. I think I’ll simply drink myself into oblivion.”
He opened the door and they entered the foyer.
“It won’t make your troubles go away,” she pointedout.
“But it will make me forget them for a time.” Leaning in, he kissed her cheek. “Sleep well, Ophelia.”
He’d taken two steps before she called out, “Somerdale?”
Stopping, he glanced back over his shoulder.
She released a long put-upon sigh. “I shan’t purchase any new gowns, but I won’t be happy about it.”
He gave her a small smile. “I wouldn’t expect you to be. And I’m quite sure you’re right. Something will turn up. I simply need to give some thought to it.”
She watched him head down the hallway. For a mere second she considered going after him, but she had her own troubles. Uppermost was how to make Drake Darling pay for the kiss he’d stolen. When next their paths crossed, she would give him a proper set-down. She would publicly snub him. She would tell Grace exactly what sort of rogue he was. Perhaps her family would boot him out, the scoundrel.
She made her way upstairs, and it wasn’t until she reached the top that she realized she’d been searching for any lingering taste of him on her lips. How could someone so sinful taste so utterly delicious? Had he kissed others tonight? Probably. She hated the thought of it, of him in a shadowed corner with another lady, thrusting his fingers into her hair, taking possession of her mouth as though he would die without it.
Marching into her bedchamber, she decided she would need a bath tonight to get the scent of him off her. After jerking on the bellpull to summon her maid, she paced. She wasn’t in the mood for a bath, yet it had to be done. Otherwise she would carry his aroma into her dreams. The last thing she wanted was to have him visiting her in sleep.
Turning at the sound of footsteps, she scowled at her maid. “Why must you dally? Assist me with my clothing. I feel a headache coming on. I’ll want some warm milk before retiring.”
“Yes, my lady.”
It was nearly an hour later before Ophelia was in her nightclothes and curled on the settee, staring into the flames of a low fire. Colleen was having the warm milk prepared. Why was it taking so long? Staff moved as slow as honey around here. She would have to speak with the housekeeper about the matter again. Honestly, since her father’s death the staff had gone to ruin. Somerdale really needed to be a bit more forceful, more along the lines of Darling.
She doubted Darling’s servants lollygagged. If he even had servants. She doubted that he did or ever would. He no longer resided with Grace’s family. From what she understood he lived in that gaming hell that he managed. She wondered if that was where he entertained ladies. She shook her head. She was not going to think about him entertaining.
Where was her warm milk? She came to her feet just as Colleen entered the room—empty-handed. “What the devil, Colleen? Do you not value your position here?”
