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HARRY PICKED UP HER brandy from the desk and took the seat next to her, hoping it would appear to her brother-in-law as if nothing untoward had happened in this room. Of course, if he had to stand, Raynerson would be blind not to notice the painful erection pressing against his breeches.
Dammit, what had he done? If not for the interruption, he might have made love to her against the desk. Then he would have been forced to marry her and ruin her life for good. God, he was a fool around her.
The door to the study hurled opened with such force that it hit the wall.
“Jack?” Louisa said in mock surprise. “What are you doing here so soon? You had said you would give me an hour.”
“My wife should have a better concept of what can happen in an hour when a man and women are alone in a room.”
“Or forty-five minutes to be exact,” Louisa commented, glancing at the mantel clock.
“Raynerson, good evening,” Harry said with a nod. “Help yourself to a brandy if you wish. Although it would have been pleasant if you had given us enough time to finish our conversation before barging into my home.”
“Conversation?” Jack said, suspiciously glancing about the room.
“Yes, as I told you and Tessa, I needed to speak with His Grace alone about some personal business.” Louisa rose and looked over at Harry. “I suppose you now realize that we must be more circumspect due to Emma and Bolton. Most people cannot fathom how a man and woman could be such good friends without something scandalous going on between them.”
“Of course,” he said without emotion.
“We mustn’t meet on the terrace or gardens during balls. I took a risk even coming here tonight. We should only speak when accompanied by others.”
“I do understand, Miss Drake.” He stared at her eyes now welling with tears and wanted to throw Raynerson out of his house and hold her, tell her everything would be fine. Even though he knew nothing was fine or good without her. And he could never have her the way he wanted. “Good evening.”
He watched as she followed her brother-in-law out of his study. “Like bloody hell I understand,” he whispered before gulping down the rest of his brandy. “I don’t understand a damned thing.”
How could he have done such a foolish thing?
She deserved someone so much better than him. A man who would think of her reputation and that of her family, not a man who could destroy her name just by association. And not a reprobate who came far too close to taking her on top of his desk. He knew they shouldn’t see each other again. He had to keep her away.
Marrying Louisa would ruin her life with the association of his family name. As he’d destroyed Sabita’s life.
And he would never allow that to happen.
Chapter 15
HARRY SIPPED HIS BRANDY as the sun rose in the sky, lighting his study in pink hues. After Louisa left last night, he hadn’t moved except to refill his snifter. What the bloody hell was wrong with him? After spending all night in his cups, he’d understood that there was only one option. He had to leave her alone. Not see her beautiful face any longer. Forget this idea to have her find him a wife. Louisa was right. The best thing to do was stay away from each other.
There were any number of unmarried ladies from which to choose. Even Simon had said Harry could have any lady he wanted, and the woman’s family would be thrilled. He rather doubted most families would be elated to have a possibly insane duke marry one of their daughters. But some men would not care as long as their daughter became a duchess.
“Where the bloody hell is he?” a feminine voice sounded from the front hall.
“My lady, let me introduce you,” Jenkins said as the door to the study opened.
“I believe my brother knows who I am, Jenkins.” Daphne sailed in the room and then stopped short. “You look like shit, brother dear.”
“And you still have a mouth like a sailor, Daphne. How does your husband deal with that?”
Daphne laughed before taking a seat near him. “He loves it when I curse...at least in the bedroom.”
Harry shook his head. “I did not need to hear that, Daph.”
“So, long night or starting early?”
“Why are you here?”
“I believe you know why I am here,” she replied, softening her voice. “This must stop, Harry.”
Damn. Was his sister here to scold him now? “To what are you referring?”
