Improperly Wed (Aristocratic Grooms 3)

Ten

“Congratulations, Melton.”

Colin glanced around him after offering the words. He and Sawyer, along

with Hawk, were sitting in the library of Sawyer’s London abode, a luxury flat in Mayfair. Tamara, Sawyer’s wife, had come home from the hospital yesterday, after giving birth to Viscount Averil. She, Pia and Belinda had gone to the nursery with the baby.

“Thank you,” Sawyer said in acknowledgment of his words. “In lieu of cigars, I’ll suggest a round of scotch.”

“It is a rather stupendous occasion,” Hawk remarked.

“Rather,” Colin commented. “The newly arrived viscount is in fine form, though he came a little early.”

Belinda had received a call that Tamara had given birth, a few days after the trip to Covent Garden. Colin had driven them to London at one of the earliest opportunities.

Still, his brief time at Halstead Hall with Belinda had been spectacular, Colin thought with an inner grin. Three years had not dimmed his memory of their wedding night in Las Vegas, and the night of the opera had been a fitting sequel.

He felt a bone-deep sense of rightness—like turning up an ace at the end of a card game. Certainly, it wasn’t a feeling that he’d gotten with any other woman.

Now all that remained was to get Belinda to acknowledge aloud that he, a dreaded Granville, had the same effect on her. It was all that remained, but it was a tall order.

“The baby’s arrival caught both me and Tamara by surprise,” Sawyer said, breaking into Colin’s thoughts. “Though since he weighed seven pounds, perhaps it was a good thing that Tamara didn’t go on for even another week.”

“Thanks to Tamara’s dual citizenship,” Colin remarked, “the little viscount will also be an American heir to the earldom.”

Sawyer rose and headed to the bar. “I’m sure one of my ancestors is rolling in his grave right now. Probably one of those who was among George III’s cronies.”

“No doubt.”

“Tamara rather liked the idea of—”

“—snubbing one of your starchy ancestors?” Hawk finished.

Sawyer turned back and smiled. “I’m just relieved we were within walking distance of a hospital when Tamara went into labor. And now with the baby, we’re heading in a new direction.”

Hawk addressed Colin. “Speaking of new directions, you and Belinda appear to be on more amicable footing these days, Easterbridge.”

Colin cast him a droll but forbearing look. “You mean she doesn’t seem to be on the verge of doing me in?”

Sawyer looked up, pausing in the act of pouring scotch into a double old-fashioned. “One can’t help but note the subdued fireworks.”

“Meaning there still are some?”

Hawk tilted his head. “I’m surprised I haven’t enjoyed more barbed comments between you and Belinda up to now.”

“Yes, rather unsporting of me not to provide more entertainment,” Colin commented drily.

“We do have empathy for you, Easterbridge,” Sawyer put in, walking back with three glasses in his hands, “because we were in your shoes ourselves not too long ago.”

Colin knew that neither Hawk nor Sawyer had had a smooth path to the altar with their wives. And yet, both were happily married now.

“Still, it is interesting to watch how the mighty have fallen,” Hawk added with a grin, accepting a glass.

Colin quirked a brow. “What makes you think I’ve fallen—or even kneeled?”

Hawk and Sawyer exchanged looks before Hawk looked back at Colin with a sly smile. “Then I’ll look forward to witnessing it happen when it does.”

Colin felt his cell phone vibrate, fished it out of his pocket, and glanced down for a moment at the screen.