Page 9 of Ironvine

“He was a traditionalist, as am I.” Hugh’s laughter rumbled through the coach. “All of the men in our family were pleasure hounds, rakes, scoundrels, eh?”

“Except for the very first Montclare.”

“I do enjoy the irony that we have sprung from the loins of a monk who married. I do indeed.”

Charles’s laughter joined his brother’s. “These many weeks, you’ve diligently shown all the ton that you are a free man and very much a Montclare as you ever were.” When Hugh wanted to put effort into a project, he certainly did.

Hugh slapped Charles on the thigh. “You enjoyed our festivities last night, did you not, brother?”

“I did.”

Hugh had brought that prostitute from Vauxhall back to their house. She’d swallowed his cock down her throat as she took Hugh’s from behind, and then they’d switched off. With each new coin Hugh offered her, she performed more dazzling feats for them.

Yet, this morning he’d woken up with the feel of Georgina’s lips on his, Georgina’s taste on his tongue. His lungs had constricted in his chest, so startling had been the feeling of her actually lingering over him. No ordinary memory, no. He couldfeelher flesh on his, her warmth, smell her scent. What madness was this?

Their coach turned down a road. “I fully expect the young ladies tonight will gather about you like flies to honey as they have every night,” said Charles. “One is sure to strike your fancy, in particular, for a wife.”

“Christ, I’ve come to bloody hate that word—wife.”

“I wholeheartedly agree, brother. But the Earl of Ryvves cannot be the plaything of a Duchess all his life.”

“I am no woman’s plaything,” Hugh spit out, his eyes daggers. “That’s not how it was.”

“My apologies.” Charles cleared his throat. “By the way, my lord,” said Charles in a lighter tone of voice. “You didn’t come to our appointment at our solicitor’s today. You should have been there. It’s you they want to talk to, after all. You need to take an interest in your estate. I’ve been taking care of everything since Father—”

“You’ve always done. Isn’t it easier that way?”

“No. No, not anymore.” Charles hadn’t expected him to reply any differently. Hugh had barely ever shown an interest in the family’s holdings, only the rewards. The estate is now yours and thus, your responsibility.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I’m very well aware of my responsibilities.” Hugh drained his glass of liquor. A spindly silence fell between them. “I’ll have you know, I’ve been considering marriage for some time. Even the Duchess and I had discussed the necessity.”

“Had you?”

“She’s a practical sort.”

She’d have to be, married to that man, thought Charles. “And did she provide you with a list of appropriate contenders?”

“She did. A long list of noble virgins.”

“Amuse me, brother. Who did she name? Perhaps I can offer you insight into the ladies.”

“I’m sure you could.” Chuckling, Hugh leaned in closer, his brandy-scented breath fuming the air between them. “But I took no heed of the particulars. No one tells a Montclare where to plant his cock.”

“Too right.” Charles raised his chin, his lips twitching into a slight grin matching his brother’s.

Hugh settled back against the cushioned seat and held his glass aloft. “Here’s to the future Lady Ryvves. She will be unlike our mother, who was a selfish wife—”

“Selfish?” Charles bit out. “Perhaps our father should have tried to be a better husband.”

Hugh only made a face as if he’d had a sour drink. He had no patience for the topic of their mother. “I shall ensure that my wife stays firmly planted at our home always and between my legs for however long I fancy her.”

“Ifyou fancy her.” Charles laughed.

“It could happen. It very well could.” Hugh wiped at his lips through his laughter. “Nonetheless, my wife’s prime obligations shall be to her husband, and she shall see to those many obligations with grace, gratitude, and humility like a proper wife should.”

Charles winced at his brother’s remarks. “You sound more and more like Father every day.”

Hugh chuckled. “We’ll wed, bed, and beget an heir.” He drained his glass. “And so on and so forth.”