What a Duke Dares (Sons of Sin 3)

He led her onto the floor where a quadrille started. At least it wasn’t a waltz. Apart from the fact that her foolish heart wanted to share the waltzes with Cam, she flinched from an intimate tête-à-tête with the formidable viscount.

Cam and Lady Hillbrook joined another square. There was an ease between them that spoke of old affection. Pen couldn’t summon a shred of jealousy. It was clear that Sidonie Merrick was profoundly in love with her intimidating husband. Which meant either the beautiful brunette was recklessly daring or Lord Hillbrook—Jonas—wasn’t quite the beast he appeared.

“You’ve known Cam all your life, I believe,” Jonas said as they waited for the lead couple to perform their pattern.

Pen hadn’t been mistaken. He meant to quiz her. She answered as harmlessly as she could. “Our mothers were friends.”

“But you’ve been away from England for many years.”

Pen cast him a wary look. Even in Europe, she’d heard about Jonas Merrick. She’d wager he already knew all about her. Had he discovered that the Continental marriage was a complete fantasy? Still, she kept her voice neutral. “I traveled with an aunt.”

“Lady Bradford,” he said, proving that he’d checked her background. “I met her in Greece twelve years ago. A redoubtable lady.”

“I miss her,” Pen said with perfect sincerity, relieved for a reprieve as she and Jonas took their part in the dance.

“I was sorry to hear she’d passed away,” he said when they returned to their place. “I assume you stayed in contact with Cam.”

“I kept up a large correspondence,” she responded coolly.

This inquisition wasn’t as off-putting as she’d feared. Continental courts were hotbeds of intrigue. Agents both for and against the authorities had sounded her out. Jonas Merrick was without doubt cleverer than those petty informers, but the pattern was familiar enough for Pen to cope.

“You’ll pardon me asking. I claim the privilege of old friendship. While we’re obviously delighted with Cam’s choice, everything happened very suddenly. He disappeared for a couple of months, then returned with a bride. Via a shipwreck. It’s the story of the year.”

“My brother Peter brought us together,” she said with complete honesty before the dance claimed them again.

When they reunited, Pen slightly breathless after keeping up with a young man who mistook the quadrille for a race, Jonas continued as if there had been no interruption. “I hope you and Sidonie will become close.”

“So do I.” Pen meant it. “I’ll welcome a friendly face. London differs from free and easy Continental circles.”

To her surprise, humor warmed his craggy features to attractiveness. “Sidonie wasn’t used to society when we married either, as I’m sure she’ll tell you. And you have the unutterable advantage of being a duchess.”

“And Camden Rothermere’s wife,” Pen said with a touch of pride. Even after two outings, she’d realized that the ton held Cam in high regard, despite his scandalous parentage and the irregular circumstances behind his marriage.

“Yes, being Cam’s choice will smooth most paths.”

The square broke into movement and she and Jonas didn’t meet until the end of the dance. “You can count on our support.”

Although it sounded like an endorsement, Pen wasn’t silly enough to take his words at face value. What she heard was “You can count on our support—as long as you do nothing to shame or discomfit our dear friend.”

She could have told him that hurting Cam was the last thing she wanted. In fact, if she felt confiding, which she didn’t, she could have told Jonas that marrying Cam was the worst injury she could do him.

Except she had an unwelcome perception that during the short conversation, the viscount had winkled out secrets she’d kept for a lifetime. Including the biggest secret of all: that she’d lay down her life for her husband.

Chapter Thirty

In the Duke of Matlock’s luxurious library, the ball’s music and chatter formed a distant buzz. At a mahogany sideboard, Jonas poured brandies for Richard and Cam, as well as himself. Cam leaned his elbow on the alabaster mantel. Richard lounged with his usual louche grace upon a leather sofa.

There was no trace of the acrimony that had marked his interactions with Jonas and Richard before Christmas. Cam had been so busy since, he’d had little chance to lament the break. Now that they were reunited, he realized how much he’d missed his friends.

He’d only reluctantly abandoned Pen in the ballroom. In fact, they nearly hadn’t made tonight’s party. Seeing her in that devilish becoming dress, he’d wanted to drag her upstairs, rip away the green silk and pound into her until she screamed his name.

But he was Camden Rothermere, Duke of Sedgemoor, model of behavior, arbiter of manners, and his recent actions had prompted enough talk. The last thing he wanted was the world saying that he was so besotted with his bride that he couldn’t last five minutes at a public event before rushing her home.

Even if it was perilously close to the truth.

After a nervous beginning tonight, she seemed more at ease. Perhaps because Jonas and Sidonie had smoothed her way. Cam appreciated their efforts. Jonas could be a managing bugger, but once he’d pledged loyalty, he didn’t waver.

Cam had restricted himself to one waltz with his wife and the promise of the supper dance. He’d even maintained an expression of polite interest while a line of scoundrels claimed her as a dance partner.