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Alex narrowed his eyes on Marc, something he was doing too frequently these days. “Don’t be evasive. Why is Simmons working forCaroline?”
“You should askhim.” Marc shrugged as a lie easily slipped from his lips. “Apparently, she offered him better compensation than I did. Still trying to replace thetraitor.”
“He was with you for so long.” Alexfrowned.
“Longer than anyone should have to be,” Simon agreed, which earned him a scowl from Marc inresponse.
“Isn’t it nearing your bedtime?” Marc asked. “Don’t you have to be up bright and early to run your Londonoffice?”
“I’m waiting on Peasemore.” Simon glanced toward the front of the club as though speaking the man’s name could make him walk through thedoors.
“Why the devil would you do anything withPeasemore?” Marc grumbled. Just hearing the man’s name irritated him to no end. Swooping down the other day as though he was Caroline’s knight in shining armor. Thebastard.
“What’s wrong with Peasemore?” Simonasked.
There were a great number of things wrong with Peasemore. He was a blood relation to Carraway, whom Marc actively disliked. He seemed rather disingenuous in his own right, however, as though his charm went only as deep as the surface. And he had quite a reputation for bedding widows and unhappy wives. And…well, if he thought he was going to bedCaroline… “He’s a smugjackass.”
Simon shrugged at that. “The same could be said about anyofus.”
And while that was true, Marc didn’t feel inclined to elaborate on his dislike of Peasemore, mostly because he felt certain Alex would see through him ifhedid.
“Oh, there he is,” Simon said. Then he nodded to Marc and Alex. “Well, see you later…” He shrugged. “Or whenever Her Grace lets you out again.” Then he made his way across the club to where Peasemore had just arrived before Alex couldthrottlehim.
“Smug jackass, indeed,” the dukemuttered.
And Marc agreed with alaugh.
Alex leaned back in his chair and regarded Marc quietly for a moment as though he wanted to say something but was warring with himself aboutdoingso.
“If you have somethingtosay….”
Alex heaved a sigh. “Tomorrow evening Livvie, Poppy, and I are headed to Astley’s with Caroline and her daughters.” He shrugged. “In case you should find yourselfthere.”
And that was why Alex had come to White’s. He was a good friend. The best Marc had. Still, he blew out a breath. Though there was nothing in the world he wanted more than to find himself wherever Caroline was at any given moment, doing so now would only incite her anger after their encounter this week. And that could lead to a rather quick end to Simmons’ tenuous position in Staveley House. Marc couldn’t let that happen. Her safety had to come before anything else. “I can’t imagine Her Grace would be happy to know you’d offered such aninvitation.”
Alex seemed to bite back a smile. “Things would be much better if she liked you even a little,youknow.”
“Yes, well, to steal a phrase from Simon’s profession: I believe that ship hassailed.”
“It could always returntoport.”
“And house catscouldalways carry Prinny’s carriage, but the likelihood isnothigh.”
Alex simply shook his head inresponse.
“But do keep an eye on Caroline for me?” he asked, but only because it was Alex, who didn’t know most of Marc’s secrets, but he did know how much Marc lovedCaroline.
“You could keep an eye on her yourself,” his friend saidsoftly.
“I don’t think she’d allow that.” Even if shehadseemed impressed by his stature the other day when she’d barged into his bedchambers. She still blamed him for Staveley’s death, however. She probably alwayswould.
“Perhaps not,” Alex agreed. “But it doesn’t seem like you togiveup.”
It wasn’t like him at all. Though at the moment he didn’t have much of achoice.
Chapter5
Marc stood justinside the threshold, wearing a dark robe, loosely knotted at his waist, his bare skin beckoning Caroline forward. Her pulse pounded. If she could just slide her hand inside his robe and brush her fingers across hischest…
