Devils Bride (Cynster 1)

"Ho! Sylvester!"

Devil halted and turned, then waited until Charles joined him before strolling on. Charles fell into step; he had lodgings in Duke Street, just beyond Grosvenor Square.

"Back to your old haunts, I take it?"

Devil smiled. "As you say."

"I'm surprised-I thought Leicestershire would hold you rather longer. They've had excellent sport, so I've heard."

"I didn't go to the Lodge this season." Manor Lodge was the ducal hunting box. "I went out with the Somersham pack but the runs were hardly worth it."

Charles looked puzzled. "Is Aunt Helena well?"

"Perfectly." Devil shot him a sidelong glance; his lips twitched. "I've had other distractions to hand."

"Oh?"

"I married recently, remember?"

Charles's brows rose briefly. "I hadn't imagined marriage would cause any change in your habits."

Devil merely shrugged. They circumnavigated Berkeley Square, then turned down a alleyway that ran between two houses, connecting the square with Hays Mews.

"I take it Honoria remained at Somersham?"

Devil frowned. "No. She's here-with me."

"She is?" Charles blinked. After a moment, he murmured: "I must remember to pay my respects."

Devil inclined his head, unwilling to commit Honoria to any transports of delight. He knew perfectly well how his other cousins viewed Charles; for his part, he'd always tried for tolerance. They strode on, eventually halting at the corner of Grosvenor Square. Duke Street lay ahead; Devil was but yards from his door.

Abruptly, Charles swung to face him. "I hesitate to allude to such a delicate matter, but I feel I must speak."

Coolly, Devil raised his brows-and took a firm grip on his tolerance.

"Bringing Honoria to London, so early in her tenure, to require her to countenance your wider liaisons within months of your marriage, is unnecessarily cruel. She may not be experienced in tonnish behavior but her understanding is, I believe, superior. She will doubtless realize you're bestowing your interest elsewhere. Women are sensitive to such matters-if you had left her at Somersham, she would not be exposed to such hurt."

His expression blank, Devil looked down at Charles; he'd lost all touch with tolerance-instead, he was battling to keep the lid on his formidable temper. If Charles had not been family, he'd be choking on his teeth. It took concerted effort to keep a snarl from his face. "You mistake the matter, Charles. It was Honoria's wish that she accompany me, a wish I saw no reason to deny." His rigidly even tone had Charles stiffening; his gaze would have frozen hell. "Furthermore, you appear to be laboring under a misapprehension-at present, I have no intention of seeking any 'wider liaison'-my wife holds my interest to the exclusion of all others."

It was the truth, the literal truth, stated more clearly than he'd allowed his own mind to know it.

Charles blinked-he looked stunned.

Devil's lips twisted in chilly self-deprecation. "Indeed-there's more to marriage than even I foresaw. You should try it-I can recommend it as a challenging experience."

With a curt nod, he strode for his door, leaving Charles, blank-faced, staring after him.

Chapter 20

The next morning, as soon as he was free of his most urgent business, Devil climbed the stairs to the morning room.

Honoria looked up as he entered; she smiled warmly. "I thought you'd be busy for hours."

"Hobden's on his way back to the Place." Devil strolled to the chaise and sat on the arm beside her. Resting one arm along the chaise's back, he picked up one of the lists from Honoria's lap. "Our guests?"

She peeked. "That's the connections. These are the friends."

Devil took the lists and scanned them. They'd discussed her notion of an impromptu ball the evening before. Reasoning that the exercise would keep her occupied-distracted from Bromley and his doings-he'd readily concurred. "There are a few names you might add."