Page 55 of How to Ruin a Rake

Max met his father’s gaze. “I think I’d like to choose my own bride, thank you.”

“You will be consulted, but the final decision must be mine.”

“That’s rather high-handed of you.”

There was a knock on the door, and Stephen came back in. “I apologize for disturbing you, your grace, but your next appointment has arrived.”

“May I take this?” Max gestured at the map, and the duke nodded.

Max rolled it up and tied the ribbon around it before bowing to his father. “Thank you for this opportunity.”

His father nodded, his attention already on his next appointment. Max left the library and was just about to leave when his brother George came charging down the stairs toward him.

“Max!”

“What’s wrong?”

George was breathing heavily. “There are some terrible rumors circulating about you.”

“There always are,” Max said. “I usually pay them no heed.”

“No, this is bad. I thought Landon and Roberts were your friends?”

Max’s blood turned to ice. He had a terrible sensation that he knew exactly what Landon and Roberts were saying. “Where did you hear this rumor?”

“At our club. I’ve literally just come back.”

“Thank you.” Max patted his brother on the shoulder. “Please do your best to ensure that Father hears nothing of this.”

He left the house, went around to the stables to collect his phaeton, and drove straight off to White’s. As soon as he entered the main hallway, all the conversations stopped, the whispering began, and he knew he was in deep trouble. He pushed through the crowd and eventually tracked Landon down in one of the salons. It wasn’t even lunchtime, and his ex-friend was obviously drunk.

“Ah, there he is!” Landon saluted him with his brandy glass. “The bridegroom himself.”

“What on earth are you talking about?” Max adopted a casual tone. “You’re drunk.”

“Just celebrating your downfall, dear one.” Landon finished the brandy and let the glass drop to the floor. “Couldn’t have wished it for a better chap.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Max maintained his calm. “I know you’re still annoyed because I made you pay up for the damages to my carriage, but—”

“You should pay me back!” Landon pointed threateningly at him. “You’re a liar.”

“I beg your pardon?”

The room went silent as Landon blinked at Max. “You didn’t have Lady Carenza Musgrove in your carriage.”

“I know,” Max said. “I borrowed one of the maids. We’ve already discussed this.” He half turned away and raised his voice for the benefit of the many onlookers. “Does anyone actually believe the drunken rants of a man who is displeased because he was asked to pay his debts?”

“Roberts said he saw you, you know.”

“Roberts who?” Max looked puzzled. Some of the men in the room began to move away as if bored with the conversation. “I know several gentlemen with that name.”

“Sebastian Roberts.”

“What about him?”

“He says he saw you in Suffolk.”

“He did. We had dinner together and played cards,” Max said. “As I recall, it was a very pleasant evening.”