The Rake's Wicked Proposal

‘We are not married yet, My Lord.’ Grace answered in a chilling voice. ‘Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me? I believe I will follow my aunt’s example and retire to my room for a few hours before dinner.’ She didn’t wait for a reply, but swept from the room, her head held regally high.

Lucian scowled darkly as he watched her departure through narrowed lids. The situation between himself and Grace was becoming intolerable. Enough for him to break his word and confide in her? No, he accepted wearily. That he simply could not do.

‘I believe, dear brother, that you may well have met your match.’ Sebastian’s appreciative murmur interrupted Lucian’s troubled thoughts.

He turned to look at his brother with cold eyes. ‘Then it is as well that I am the one betrothed to marry her, is it not?’

Sebastian held up supplicating hands. ‘Calm your temper, Lucian,’ he taunted. ‘Grace is very beautiful. Very accomplished. But I believe I like the idea of her for my sister-in-law far better than as my wife. If only for the pleasure of watching the effect she has upon my taciturn older brother.’

Lucian’s mouth thinned. ‘And what effect would that be…?’ His voice was deceptively soft.

The deception did not fool Sebastian for a single moment, and his smile was taunting as he stood up. ‘Only you can know that, Lucian.’ He studiously straightened the lace at his cuffs. ‘Although I will say…’ he looked up, his gaze very direct ‘…that I approve of the changes I see in you. You have been away from us for far too long, brother,’ he added huskily.

Lucian’s brow darkened. ‘It is two years since I resigned my commission and returned to London.’

Sebastian’s smile was rueful. ‘In body, perhaps. In mind and spirit…?’ He shook his head. ‘But you are back with us now, Lucian, and if nothing else I will always be grateful to Grace for being the means of that return.’

‘I have no idea what you are talking about.’ But he did. He did!

His brother gave him a long, searching glance. ‘As you please, Lucian.’ He nodded abruptly. ‘Perhaps you would like to confide in me the reason you have remained here, incurring Hawk’s disapproval by not travelling to Mulberry Hall to pay homage to your new nephew?’

Lucian was thrown momentarily by Sebastian’s abrupt change of subject, instantly realising that he had underestimated his younger brother’s intelligence. The ton could perhaps be forgiven for making that mistake, when Sebastian chose to show them only the frivolous side of his nature, but Lucian, knowing his brother rather better than that, should not have dropped his guard in that way.

He forced the tension from his shoulders, forced a lazy smile upon his lips. ‘I would far rather that you told me which lady’s attentions you were so hastily retreating from when you hurried so promptly to Mulberry Hall.’

Sebastian looked at him frowningly for several seconds. Whatever he read in Lucian’s expression caused him to shrug off pursuing his earlier question, and instead he grinned widely. ‘That would be very ungentlemanly of me!’

Lucian smiled mockingly. ‘I do not remember that ever bothering you in the past.’

‘Perhaps the example of your own and Hawk’s happiness has made a reformed character of me?’

Lucian gave a disbelieving snort. ‘That is more likely to have been the cause of your hasty withdrawal from Society!’

‘Well, there is this certain Countess—’

‘Good Lord, I hope you do not refer to the Countess of Morefield?’ Lucian deliberately referred to a widowed lady of their acquaintance, whose bedchamber they had vied to occupy the previous year, completely unaware of the fact that their arrogantly haughty older brother had already beaten them both to it!

‘Certainly not.’ Sebastian grimaced in horror. ‘No, this is quite another Countess. I tell you, Lucian, I have never seen anyone as lovely as she. She is…’

Sebastian’s conversation was diverted to Lucian’s satisfaction, and Lucian allowed his thoughts to dwell on Grace and the gulf that seemed to be ever widening between them. It would no doubt continue to widen when he could not be completely truthful with her.