Page 35 of The Duke of Pain

So, he made an escape.

Coward.

His cold, indifferent heart made up the essence of Lord Craven, the nickname he despised. The name spoke to his sexual cravings, not for its meaning of possessing a timorous nature.

But for once, he lived up to the true gist of the word.

His selfish, sexual appetites fueled his existence these past several years. As long as he received pleasure in his debauched adventures, he did not give a hang for anyone else.

Yes, he was a miserable excuse for a human. A complete cad.

Until he met Olivia, who, it turned out, was as deeply unhappy as him.

Gideon took a swallow and let the single malt burn down his throat. The alcohol hit his empty stomach in a fiery, raw blast of heat. His weary eyes cracked open as he wondered if she was still at Hyde Park Corner. Perhaps she’d left.

He wouldn’t blame Olivia if she had.

Sighing wearily, Gideon emptied the glass and set it on the table. The liquid courage was not working. He would have to dig deep and find it without the inducement of alcohol. Considering his arrogance and self-confidence in most situations, this should not be a difficult task.

Where Liv was concerned, all previous actions and behaviors had been thrown out the window.

The door swung open, and Christian Bamford, the Duke of Allenby, Asher Colborne, Baron Wenlock, and Damon Cranston, the Marquess of Brookton, strode into the room.

Oh, God. Brookton.

Gideon thought back to last autumn, just before the delivery that shook their club to its very foundations.

They were all sitting around the table, and the subject of illegitimate children came up. Brookton gave a decided, fierce opinion on the subject. Not like him at all.

“Yes, children. Avoid at all costs. If it does happen, however, never deny the child. Never refer to him or her as a mistake. Or a by-blow, God, I loathe that term. A child is not to be shunted about, lost in the morass of society, or tossed aside like rubbish. This child will be of your blood and deserves care and acknowledgment. At the most, love and acceptance.

I’m extremely cautious in my carnal dealings. My father, the duke, not so much. There are at least three siblings of mine out there in the world, borne from three different women of various classes. I’ve tried to find them.”

Three siblings?

Was Olivia part of that three, or part of the dozen or so others Brookton had alluded to before? But a more interesting question might be: why was Brookton looking for these people? One thing Gideon would do here and now, banish thinking of illegitimate children as by-blows. Brookton was right. It was a loathsome term.

“Tolwood was correct. Watford is drinking himself to oblivion,” Christian said to the other men. Then he turned and gave Gideon an arch of his eyebrow. “I had one of my footmen bring food and strong coffee. William will bring it up directly.”

“All of you, leave me alone,” Gideon growled.

As usual, his fellow rakes ignored him and sat at the table.

“This is playing out almost exactly like my situation. Brooding and drinking over a woman. It is a woman, is it not, Gideon?” Asher asked, his voice soft with empathy.

He could be the cold, ruthless bastard he had always been and dismiss the overture.

But Olivia had changed everything.

“Is this the part where you order us to leave, so you can wallow some more? No woman is worth such bother and attention,” Brookton said, sarcasm lacing his voice.

There have been many times through the years Gideon had wanted to plow his fist into that handsome face and silence Brookton’s sardonic tone forever. He wanted to do it as recently as a couple of days ago. But that would require an emotional response, so Gideon had never bothered to do it earlier.

Before he met Olivia.

However, now was not that time.

Gideon shot out of his chair and gave Brookton a glancing blow across the cheek.