To Pleasure a Duke (The Husband Hunters Club 3)

Johnno thought a moment more, until Rufus stirred and nudged his shoulder. “His Lordship left me some blunt, in case,” he admitted. “He was worried that the duke might fly up into the boughs about something or you’d have a barney, or so he said, and you’d be left high and dry, miss. You may as well have the blunt, if it’ll get you home safe. His Lordship would want me to do that.”

“Tell Lord Ridley we’ll pay him back as soon as we can,” Terry said seriously.

Eugenie felt like sagging with relief. They would be able to get home safely, thanks to the kindness of Lord Ridley. The next emotion that swept through her was sadness, like a dark cloud, the color of mourning, because this really was the end of all her hopes and dreams.

The end of love.

Chapter 34

Sinclair had changed out of his wet clothes and returned to the Burdocks’ cottage. The sun was setting, the long evening beginning, as he climbed the stairs and found his sister still asleep. He reached for her hand where it lay curled on the bedclothes and her eyelashes flickered, lifted sleepily, and she smiled.

He shook his head at her in mock anger. “What a mess, Annabelle. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Her mouth turned down, but he could see she wasn’t as repentant as she was pretending. “I thought I wanted to be ordinary but when it came to it . . .”

“You didn’t.”

“No. That awful coach Terry hired. I was so sick. I’ve never been so sick. That’s why we decided to use the canal.”

Remembering the coach he himself had hired Sinclair understood her objections completely. “Just as well you took to the canals or I wouldn’t have found you.”

“No.” She sighed. “I’ve decided I do want to marry Lucius. Do you think he’ll still have me?”

“As I remember it Lucius is so besotted with you he would marry you if you grew another head.”

She giggled. “He is, isn’t he? I’ve been such a fool. But at least I know what I want now, at least I will never die wondering if I’ve made the right decision.”

“You’ve chosen rather a desperate way of discovering it.”

“I know. I’m sorry. But Lizzie was with us, you know. I think Terry prefers her to me,” she added with painful honesty. “Not that I mind, of course. They deserve to be happy, too.”

“Of course.”

Sinclair watched her, but he wasn’t seeing Annabelle. He was seeing Eugenie, with her freckles and her wild curls and her wicked little smile. He didn’t want to die without having the happiness of her in his life every day and every night. It would be such a waste. What was the point of living a life without love in it?

“Sinclair?” She was looking at him oddly, and he realized she’d been calling his name while he’d been miles away. “What is Terry’s sister doing here with you?”

He thought about his answer.

“I was a little surprised to see her. She’s hardly in your class, Sinclair, is she? Mother will be cross when she finds out. What a scandal!” She gave a false laugh, but her eyes were watchful, doubtful, waiting.

“Do you know, Annabelle,” he said, “I have an urge to discover what it is like to be at the center of a scandal?”

“Whatever do you mean?” Her eyes were big.

“Well . . . I have been so good all these years. I think it is time I was bad.”

Annabelle sat up. “Sinclair, you had better tell me what you mean!”

“I have decided to elope with Miss Belmont, Annabelle. I think that is the best way of diverting the scandal from you. In fact we can turn it all around and say that it was Eugenie and I who were heading for the border while you tried to stop us. No, that would not do. Best just to pretend you had nothing to do with it, while I take all the blame. Do you know, I am quite looking forward to it?”

She seemed to be finding it difficult to speak.

“You see, Annabelle,” he said, leaning closer, “I am in love with Eugenie Belmont, and I don’t think I could live my life without her. I don’t think I would want to live my life without her.”

“Sinclair, you can’t mean it! Mother will be furious . . .”

“I know.” He grinned. “But I won’t be there to hear her scalds.”