“Because we went to call on you.Simmons told us where you were and that your mother had also just been there.”Louis signaled for two more glasses.
Wesley turned his glass on the table.“She thinks Thea is unsuitable and wants me to reconsider Lady Caroline.”
“That's not new.Thea is way more entertaining, and your mother hates anything that resembles joy.”Louis poured the whiskeys, and then paused when he watched Wesley’s face.“Did something happen?”
Wesley didn't answer right away.He stared at the empty chair across the table.Kit's chair.Thea's chair.
“If I tell you this, it stays between us.Not a word to anyone.I mean it.”
Louis set down his glass.Even Max straightened in his chair.They both nodded their agreement
“Kit is Thea.”
The silence lasted three full seconds.Louis looked at the empty chair, then back at Wesley, then at the chair again.
“Kit.”Louis's voice was flat.“That very Kit?”He stopped.His mouth twitched, and then he started laughing.Not a polite laugh—a full, helpless bark of laughter that drew looks from the far tables.
“It's not funny.”
“It's the funniest damn thing I've ever heard.”Louis pressed his fist to his mouth, trying to compose himself and failing.“She's been sitting right there, beating you at cards, and you had no idea.Christ, Wes.She’s brilliant.She fooled all of us.”
Max hadn't laughed.He was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, and nothing but admiration written in his features.“How long has she been coming here?”
“Over a year, from what I understand.”
“So what heavy-handed thing did you do when you found out?”Louis had stopped laughing, his expression sharpening.He knew Wesley well enough to read the guilt underneath the anger.
Wesley couldn't look at either of them.“I told her to stop.I told her Kit was done, and that she was going to be my duchess and I wouldn't allow it.”
The silence at the table was worse than Louis's laughter.
“That can’t have gone over well.”Louis's voice was mocking.“Even your little Wayward Dukes friends won’t be able to dig your foot out your mouth with that one.”
“I was angry.”Wesley admitted, spinning his Wayward Dukes signet ring on his finger.There was nothing the alliance could do to get him out of this one.“But I’m not wrong either.It’s dangerous for her to come here.What if she were found out?”
Max leaned forward.“That’s a real concern.But need I remind you that you are a bloody duke?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“God, you listen to your mother too much.It has everything to do with it, Wes.”Max tapped his fingers on his glass.“If someone found out, you could make the talk disappear.You have the title, the connections, and enough influence to silence half the ton if you wanted to.If you love her enough.”
“Of course I love her.Don’t ever suggest I don’t love her.”Wesley slammed his fists on the table, drawing more attention to them.
“Then get over yourself.”Louis cut him off.“And bring her back here so I can play her in another hand.I especially want to beat her now.”
Wesley's jaw tightened.He wanted to argue, but the words wouldn't come because they were right.
“Get your mother’s voice out of your head.”Max downed the rest of his drink.“I understand wanting to protect Thea and your future.But won’t it make marriage more entertaining if you can enjoy reckless antics together from time to time?”
Wesley couldn’t deny that just thinking about sneaking around with Thea made his cock hard, which was not ideal surrounded by tables of men.“I suppose.”
“Just admit it.”Max laughed and motioned for the bottle to refill his glass.“You have been uptight and miserable since you took the title.It’s high time you remember that life is meant to be lived.”
Thea had said something similar.He wasn’t certain that she wasn’t putting herself and their futures in danger, but what he did know was that living a life without Thea wasn’t an option.
Wesley rose from his chair.“I must go.”
“Good man,” Louis said, holding up his glass and then clinking it to Max’s.
