Page 41 of The Duke of a Thousand Desires

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His shoulders stiffenedas Ravenna turned, her fan closing with a quiet snap. The earl bowed before her; she responded with a politely impersonal smile. Bruxton was a year younger than Simon, wiry and well-educated, a nobleman who to all appearances possessed everything except the political power he coveted and a loving wife. He was an avid huntsman and had once hosted well-attended house parties. Now he rarely entertained. One could almost feel sorry for his lonely widowhood.

He smiled back at Ravenna with convincing warmth. “An engagement after only a week in London, Simon? Well, now that I’ve seen the lady for myself, I understand the rush. Congratulations to you both.”

This confrontation could not compare to the physical brawls she had interrupted in her youth. Still, she was determined to stand as a buffer against the tension that rose between the two men. Whereas moments before she had felt Simon harden in attraction to her, it was anger that clenched his body now. She preferred his explicit sexuality to his wounded rage.

“Guard her with your life,” the earl said unexpectedly. “I’d give everything to go back in time to save Susannah.”

Ravenna hazarded a look at Simon. By some force of will he masked the bitterness she knew tormented him. “I would do the same,” he said succinctly.

Bruxton disengaged. His manner cooled. “I’ll excuse myself to play cards. My best to you both again. I would not turn down an invitation to your wedding.”

Simon remained silent. Bruxton bowed again and took his leave. Ravenna refused to release Simon’s arm. She would have kissed him on the spot to prevent him from seeking a confrontation. They would never again be the carefree boy and girl whose greatest danger was to hide from wayward relatives.

“I want to kill him,” he said simply. “He took her life. He doesn’t deserve to draw another breath.”

Heath strolled up behind him, pausing to assess the mood. “This isn’t the place to plot,” he said. “We will build a case. I swore I would help. Count on me.”

“And on me,” she said.

He laughed ruefully. “Am I that pitiful?”

“Not from my perspective,” said a soft voice at his back. Julia had abandoned her chair to join her husband. She smothered a yawn behind her gloved hand and slipped her arm into Heath’s. “I gather it’s time to go home. We’ve had a long day. Let us end the night quietly.”

No gentleman would refusethe request of a lady carrying her first child. Heath located a servant to fetch their outer clothing, made his excuses to the host, and led the group to the hall to await the carriage.

Simon had subsided into silence. He was relieved to remove Ravenna from the party and felt at war with himself. He did not want his wife to protect him from his own anger. He only wanted to avenge his sister. Julia attempted to lift his spirits on the short ride home. Clearly he was not as adept at concealing his thoughts as he believed himself to be. But then he was among his most trusted friends.

Dear God, how good it felt to count on their support. He relied too much on his own insight.

“I can breathe now,” Julia said with a relieved sigh. “The still air in the ballroom fatigued me. Shall we play cards over a pot of hot chocolate? We ought to celebrate our good conduct. Glynnis was disappointed, I think, when Grayson’s carriage collected her a few minutes ago and she had no gossip to share with her maid.”

Heath smiled. “It’s a good thing she wasn’t wearing her glasses tonight.”

They arrived at the townhouse three minutes before the stroke of one. Heath’s personal footman and bodyguard approached the carriage, a hat in his broad hands.

“My lord,” he said to his master. “Perhaps we should retire to your study. There is a slight concern.”

“Oh, out with it, Hamm,” Julia said, handing a maidservant her gloves and mantle.

The servant answered in hesitation. “The marquess has asked the gentlemen of the family to convene tomorrow morning in regard to a family incident that occurred earlier today. I was on the way to the party to deliver the message in person. We would have missed one another in passing.”

“Is anyone dead?” Julia inquired. “Or fatally wounded?”

“No, my lady.”

“Then Ravenna and I shall take chocolate upstairs and talk about happier things.”

Grayson summonedthe gentlemen of the family who were currently in London into his library after breakfast the next morning. Simon glanced around the room at the select male assembly present. Who had sinned this time? He grinned at Rhys. Then he nodded cordially to the rest of the group: Grayson’s younger brothers, Heath, Drake, and Devon. A fourth chair sat empty next to Devon. Simon understood it was reserved for the lost and youngest brother, Brandon, until recently presumed dead. To the family’s agony, he was still missing and his whereabouts remained a mystery.

Also present were three Enfield cousins, as well as a Scotsman whose name Simon didn’t catch. They would be his relatives soon enough, and one of them -- Rhys? -- had misbehaved.

“I shall be brief,” Grayson said. “I have called you here to declare a five-day moratorium on scandal. Surely that is not too great a sacrifice to ask?”

“Simon and I escorted the ladies to the museum and a supper dance yesterday,” Heath said. “It could not have been more uneventful.”

“I trust the statues in the exhibit hall sustained no damage?” Grayson said, clearly still miffed about his garden ornament.