The Rake's Wicked Proposal

‘The Duchess, if you have not noticed, is resigned to her change in circumstances. You, however—’ Lucian broke off as the sound of raised voices could be heard coming from the dining room.

No—only one raised voice.

Francis’s.

Darius’s voice was a low murmur in comparison.

Lucian couldn’t hear what was being said between the two brothers, only the tone of their voices told him that the exchange was not a pleasant one.

He shook his head. Without the steadying influence of George Wynter, the deceased Duke of Carlyne, all veneer of civility seemed to be crumbling from the Wynter family.

‘There,’ Grace said with satisfaction. ‘Can you not see now that Darius—?’

‘He is now the Duke of Carlyne to you, Grace. To everyone. With all of the power and privilege his title engenders.’

‘But—’

‘He is the Duke of Carlyne, Grace!’

Her mouth firmed stubbornly. ‘Your own brother is also a duke, but I cannot believe that he would resort to bullying and shouting in order to have his own way!’

Lucian gave a rueful smile. ‘Hawk has never needed to raise his voice in order to have his every instruction obeyed. His manner simply does not allow for anything else!’

Recalling her own brief meeting with the haughty and aristocratic Duke of Stourbridge, Grace could well believe that. ‘But—’

‘Grace, all brothers have disagreements from time to time,’ Lucian reasoned impatiently.

‘Do you argue with your brothers?’

‘I have told you—Hawk has never seen reason for argument when in the end he will have his own way. Sebastian has always been such a charming rogue that he does exactly as he pleases. But as brothers we do disagree. Constantly. Grace, we simply cannot continue to stand out here in the hallway eavesdropping!’ Lucian lost all patience as she looked no less stubbornly determined. ‘We will retire to the drawing room as I suggested.’

‘As Darius has permitted us to do?’ The scorn could be heard in Grace’s voice. ‘I think not, Lucian!’ Her chin rose determinedly. ‘I am going to my bedchamber. You may do as the Duke bids, if that is your wish!’ She turned on her heel, her head held high as she walked down the hallway to where the main staircase was situated.

Lucian was torn. As he saw it, he had two choices. He could follow Grace and demand that she apologise for the slight she had just cast upon his manhood. Perhaps not the wisest choice when he had found there seemed only one way of subduing her outspokenness…? No, unpalatable as it was, Lucian knew he would be better advised to go with the second choice— that of returning to the dining room and stopping the two Wynter brothers from killing each other!

Before he could do that, however, the door opened and a red-faced Francis Wynter stormed out of the room. His eyes widened accusingly as he saw Lucian standing there, obviously having overheard the heated exchange, if not the content of it. He gave Lucian a resentful glare.

‘I am sure you will not be surprised to learn that I have also been instructed to vacate Winton Hall by the end of the week! I expect that Grace will be next,’ he sneered. ‘Unless, of course, Darius deduces that Grace’s property and fortune would be an advantageous addition to the Duke of Carlyne’s estates, and so decides to marry her himself!’ he added maliciously.

Lucian recoiled as if with the force of a blow. Darius marry Grace? Never! Not only would Grace not agree to it, Lucian would not allow it.

‘Lucian, would you come in here, please?’ Darius called wearily.

‘His Grace commands!’ Francis snapped scathingly, before turning on his heel and stomping off.

Lucian frowned and continued to stand in the hallway, knowing that, intolerable as this situation was, there could now be no question of his leaving tomorrow or at any other time—until he had seen Grace safely settled with her aunt in the Dower House.

‘Lucian…?’

Lucian’s mouth firmed as Darius heavily repeated his request for Lucian to rejoin him in the dining room. No matter what Grace or Francis might imply to the contrary, Lucian was not accustomed to being summoned anywhere. Not only did he make a point of never doing as Hawk commanded, but he had also been a major in the army, in command of his own regiment. As such he was used to being the one giving the orders rather than obeying them.