Duke of Decadence (Lords of Scandal 9)

“You’re right, of course. You are in danger. I shouldn’t have—”

“Bash,” his name caught in her throat. “Please leave me be.”

He rose up off the bed. “If that’s what you want. But I think we need to discuss this further tomorrow.”

Isabella shook her head. She didn’t want to talk anymore. She’d made up her mind. As much as Bash was helping her, he was hurting her too. He’d leave her just as mother had and her father.

Unless she left him first.

Chapter Sixteen

Bash sat at his desk in his study once again. Pennington was nearly an hour late. The man wasn’t coming.

Irritation rumbled deep in his throat. The girls needed their home back. How else was he going to get them married?

He rubbed his temples. He’d have to buy a townhouse. Isabella could live there once her sisters married.

He stopped rubbing. He couldn’t do that. Everyone would assume she was his mistress. Besides, he supported her family, he’d forbid her to see other men, he was going to buy her a home. How much more ingrained in her life could he get?

Perhaps Mason was right. He should just marry her.

He’d find a way to keep from becoming the next Demon Duke.

Because as much as he hated the idea of ever hurting her the way he’d been hurt, she needed his protection.

And so did her sisters.

He scrubbed his scalp, and then scraped his fingers down his face. He could marry her and then keep his hands to himself. If he didn’t touch her, he wouldn’t lose control. Ridiculous to think of marrying a woman he wanted this much and then not actually be with her. But it was the only solution he could think of.

The more the idea sat in his head, the better he liked it. She’d be safe, no other man could have her. She’d have his complete protection.

He’d be miserable but that was beside the point.

Getting up, he made his decision. He’d visit the Archbishop of Canterbury. He nearly smiled. He’d not have to purchase a townhome after all. The Carrington sisters would be moving in with him.

It wasn’t as though he lacked room.

On his way out the door, his butler appeared. “Your Grace. Lord Pennington is here to see you.”

He swore under his breath and he stopped in the middle of the room. “By all means, see him in.”

He didn’t bother to retreat behind the desk. He stood exactly where he was, arms crossed over his chest.

Lord Pennington entered, a snarl already on his lips. At least they were about to have an honest conversation. No formalities necessary.

The other man lifted his cane, giving it a shake in Bash’s direction. “You brought them here, didn’t you?”

“Who?” he asked, though he already knew.

Pennington stopped a few feet away, still near the door. “My nieces. You can’t just move girls like that into your home. There are consequences.”

Bash lifted a brow. Isabella had foreseen this. The man was about to threaten ruination. He should have seen it too, but he was done being on his back foot. It was time to take charge of the situation with Lord Pennington. “There is no reason a man can’t move his wife and her sisters into his home.” A lie he’d correct very quickly.

The snarl on Pennington’ss face turned black. “You didn’t.”

He’d not tell the man they weren’t married yet. “I did. And I want that townhouse. It belongs to my wife by right.”

Pennington raised a fist. “You’re lying. And I won’t sell the house to you. The deal is already done. I’ve sold the property to another duke, no less, so not even you can undo it.”