The Rake's Wicked Proposal

Lucian’s gaze was icy. ‘You will explain that last remark, Wynter.’

Francis gave an unconcerned shrug. ‘I am sure if you were to ask Margaret she would be unable to deny that privately Darius has made his feelings concerning her removal to the Dower House more than clear.’

Lucian’s mouth thinned frustratedly. The Duchess had suffered enough this last week, with the sudden and unexpected death of her husband; Lucian certainly had no intention of adding to her distress by posing any questions to her concerning the reasons for her insistence in removing herself to the Dower House so speedily.

‘I believe you are being decidedly indiscreet in discussing this matter at all, Francis,’ he rasped impatiently. ‘I strongly advise you against repeating any more of this malicious gossip in either my own or Grace’s hearing! Despite your apology, you have learnt nothing, it seems, after your earlier indiscretion in gossiping about Grace and myself!’

Grace had been stunned by Francis’s accusations against his brother. Initially… But on further reflection she could not help but wonder if there were not some truth in what Francis said concerning the reason for her aunt’s decision to decamp to the Dower House only a week after the death of her husband. It was precipitate, to say the least, as Grace had pointed out to her aunt only yesterday. But the Duchess remained adamant in her decision to leave by the end of the week.

Because Darius had all but asked her to go…?

‘In that case…’ Francis bowed stiffly. ‘Grace. St Claire.’ He strode off in the opposite direction from the one they would be taking back to the house, his back rigid as he obviously remained offended by Lucian’s reprimand.

Grace looked up at Lucian from beneath lowered lashes, sure that if he ever looked at her with the icy disdain he had just shown Francis Wynter she would quiver in her slippers!

‘Lucian…?’ she prompted softly, when he continued to stare after the other man with narrowed eyes.

Lucian drew in a harshly controlling breath before turning back to Grace. ‘It is totally beyond my comprehension why someone has not run that man through before now!’ he rasped disgustedly as they began to stroll back towards the house.

Grace gave a rueful smile. ‘And I had such high hopes that his pleasantness of this last week might continue!’

Lucian’s mouth thinned. ‘A leopard does not change its spots, Grace,’ he warned her tersely. ‘Although I believe in Francis Wynter’s case that may be insulting the leopard!’

‘You are probably right.’ Grace nodded, her curls gleaming darkly from beneath her bonnet as the two of them walked out of the woods and into the sunshine. ‘You do not think that there is any truth in what Francis said?’

That was what bothered Lucian the most about his conversation with Francis Wynter—his own fear that the younger man’s accusations might have some basis in fact!

There was no doubting that the Darius in whose company Lucian had spent this last week was not the same man Lucian had known since boyhood. Darius had never been a man to suffer fools gladly, which was one of the things Lucian and he had in common, but this last year had given the other man a sharper edge to his manner, and a cynicism that was all but impenetrable, making it impossible to discern what Darius was thinking or feeling at any given time.

The truth of the matter was that Lucian no longer had any idea what Darius might or might not be capable of!

He frowned darkly. ‘I make a habit of never listening to idle gossip, Grace. Especially when it is spoken by one such as Francis Wynter!’

Grace’s cheeks warmed as she felt herself reprimanded. It was a reproof she did not feel was merited when she was only intent upon seeking the truth. It really would be too awful if, as Francis had implied, Darius were privately being unkind to her Aunt Margaret.

‘I forbid you to question your aunt on the subject,’ Lucian added coldly.

‘You forbid me…?’ Grace repeated softly, the colour in her cheeks caused by anger now.

Lucian’s face was all hard angles as he looked down the length of his aristocratic nose at her. ‘It would serve no purpose even if you were to learn that it is Darius’s wish for your aunt to remove herself to the Dower House. He is perfectly within his rights.’