Vexing the Viscount

Chapter 11

“What are you about, Middleton?”

Braden stopped in front of his friend Jack. “I have no idea what you are talking about, Jack.”

“Your vow?”

“It wasn’t exactly a vow, Jack.” Braden shifted uncomfortably in front of his friend. Why did he suddenly feel like a schoolboy reprimanded by the headmaster?

Jack started to walk away, shaking his head as he went.

“What did I do?” Braden asked.

Jack stopped and turned back around. “You have to ask? After Penelope and all those other women, you swore you were going to reform. I believe your words were something to the effect of ‘no more women, I want a wife.’ ”

Braden clenched his teeth together. “She’s not my mistress.”

Jack choked back a laugh. “You kissed her in the middle of Lady Whitfield’s party. She left with you. And you have the nerve to bring her here.” He leaned in closer and whispered, “Whether you bedded her or not doesn’t matter and you know it. In the eyes of everyone in town, she is your mistress.”

“It’s a long story, Jack,” Braden said with a sigh. “I never meant for anyone to think she was my mistress.” And she was supposed to be back at the estate by now. Jack’s words only reinforced the guilt Braden had been feeling since she agreed to his foolish plan. Dammit! She wasn’t supposed to agree. Now he was in too deep.

“Well, it’s a little too late for that.”

Braden grabbed a brandy and walked toward the library after a quick glance back at Tia. She would be fine for a few minutes while he talked to Jack. His friend followed him into the deserted library.

“Do you plan on telling me what happened?” Jack asked, before sipping his own brandy.

“Tia is my wise woman.”

“Your what?”

“My wise woman. She works on the estate healing, delivering children, and so forth. She left to chase down Jonathon.” Braden took a sip and let the heady liquid rest on his tongue for a minute before swallowing. Slowly, he told Jack the rest of the story.

As he finished, Jack chuckled. “So she beat you at your own game.”

“Apparently, she did. Now, what am I supposed to do?”

“Nothing. When you arrive home tonight, you tell her to go to bed . . . alone.”

Braden knew that was exactly what he should do. But his body wouldn’t listen. One certain part of his body, in particular, wanted nothing more than to leave this damn place and take her home to his bed right this moment. “I know,” he muttered.

Jack chuckled again.

“What the bloody hell is so funny?”

“I’m just happy that this is your problem and not mine.”

Braden shook his head. “I won’t ask what you would do.”

Jack tilted his head back and finished his brandy before saying, “There is no need. You know what I would do. And it certainly isn’t taking her to a gaming hell or telling her to go to bed alone.”

Braden placed his half-full snifter on the table. “I need to find her and get her away from these dreadful people.”

“Good luck,” Jack muttered with a laugh.

Braden left the library and walked back into the salon. He soon spied Tia speaking with his cousin, Alistair. No good would come of that. Braden strolled up to them with a tight smile. “Good evening, cousin.”

“Good evening, Alistair.”