Earl of Exile (Lords of Scandal 3)

Vice grimaced. “And miss the tongue-thrashing she’s about to give you? This is the reason I came.”

Bad gave a slow smile. “What he said.”

Diana brushed her hair back over her shoulder. She and Minnie had stayed up so late she hadn’t bothered to braid it and now it hung down her back in what was likely a tousled mess. “Get out.” She started move toward them. “Both of you. Now.”

Vice gave her a wicked grin. “You look lovely like that, with your hair down. I can see why Exile is so—”

“If ye dinnae get out, I am going to break open yer skull. Dinnae think I won’t.” Exile gave Vice a shove.

Bad did something she’d never seen before. Just as he was leaving, he winked. Her mouth dropped open. That was the most expressive he’d ever been. Then both men exited the room and her gaze shifted to Exile. “I was asleep.”

“I can see that,” he answered, crossing over to her. He reached for her face and cupped her cheek.

“Have you slept?” She narrowed her gaze. Why was he here?

He shook his head. “I’ll let ye go back to bed. It’s just that Vice mentioned that the attack in the alley might somehow be connected to Lady Abernath and I was suddenly concerned for yer safety.”

Diana’s brows scrunched together. “I suppose it’s possible they are somehow connected, but even if they are, that doesn’t explain why you’re here.”

He looked down at her, his mouth open. “Cordelia was snatched by a man right from yer home.”

“Someone she was acquainted with did so during calling hours.” Diana appreciated his concern, but honestly, it wasn’t necessary. She took his hand from her cheek holding it in her own. She had to confess their skin clasped together felt nice. Very nice. She cleared her throat trying to collect her thoughts. “No one is going to be able to break into my bedroom at the Duke of Darlington’s house—”

“I did,” he answered suddenly pulling her into his embrace.

She looked up at him. “Exactly. You are well known to me and the duke, which is the only reason you have access to me at all.”

“What the bloody hell is going on,” Darlington growled from the door. Diana looked up to see Bad and Vice just behind him, both grinning like idiots.

“Are they still drunk?”

Exile looked up at them. “It’s seven o’clock in the morning. Of course they are.”

“We only just stopped drinking.” Vice grinned. “I’ll be pickled for hours.”

Darlington, looking green, bent over. “You had better tell me why you’re in Diana’s bedroom, holding her in your arms, or I’m going to have to escort you down the aisle to the altar with my derringer.”

“We were attacked in the alley,” Diana answered her voice both light and soft. “Lord Exmouth was worried the attack was somehow connected to Lady Abernath and that I was in immediate danger.”

Daring lifted his head, his skin an alarming shade of green. “Why wasn’t I notified of the attack?”

Minnie squeezed past Bad and Vice, her hair down, clad in a dressing gown. “Because you were out cold, you big blockhead.”

Vice snorted a laugh while Bad chuckled. “The ladies are growing on me,” Bad said to no one in particular. “This is the most fun I’ve had in ages.”

Darlington made a half-groan, half-growl. “I’m just going to shoot you and hope I have time to reload for Exile.”

Minnie tsked. “No one is shooting anyone.” Then she clapped her hands together, rather loudly, and Darlington grabbed both sides of his head.

Vice snorted a laugh while Bad grinned. Vice stepped up, peering at Darlington. “There’s no way he could shoot anyone in this state. Couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.”

Callum was still holding her close. She thought perhaps she should pull away, might make this conversation easier, but Callum’s grip was rather firm and he was honestly quite nice to be pressed up against. She closed her eyes, drawing in his masculine scent.

Darlington straightened, his face pale, but his gaze more resolute. “Would you care to test that theory?”

Vice took a half step back. “I was only teasing. There’s no need for that.”

Darlington turned toward Callum, pointing his finger. “You made us all promise at the start of this that we’d behave or you yourself would see that we married the girl we’d compromised.”