AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I invited him,” Louisa replied tightly. “Well, no matter, you both must come inside this moment. I will have rooms made up for you.”
Simon held out his arm for her and half-expected Miss Drake would ignore him, but she didn’t. She hooked her arm with his and politely let him lead her into the house. Just the sensation of her delicate hand on his arm was enough to spin his desire upward. He would never last the week he’d planned to stay with her so near.
He slid a glance over at her and noticed the bright stain on her cheeks. Could she be recollecting her offer of a kiss? He doubted she recalled much of anything from the night she went to Hell. Truth be told, he’d enjoyed himself immensely that night. Drunken Emma Drake was intriguing, to say the least. Perhaps while they were both here, he could discover what she’d meant by scratching off numbers two and three.
Once inside, she separated herself from his arm as swiftly as she could manage. “Thank you, Mr. Kingsley.”
Simon nodded at her with a slight smile. He wasn’t sure why, but he found the entire situation rather humorous. Obviously, neither Louisa nor his brother had told the other they that he and Emma were accompanying them for the fortnight. Louisa appeared to be glaring at Harry as she fought for control of her emotions. She directed them both to their rooms as the footmen were dispatched to collect their belongings.
Simon followed a footman up the stairs but glanced back to see Louisa and Harry glowering at each other. Miss Drake trailed behind, looking slightly pale and out of sorts. What an interesting week this would be.
After washing and changing into clean clothing, he proceeded to find his dear brother and discover what had happened. Hearing raised voices, he headed toward the library only to find Miss Drake already there eavesdropping on their conversation.
“How could you have invited her when I had invited your brother?” Louisa asked.
Miss Drake gave him a quick nod and put her finger on her lips to keep him quiet. She leaned against the door frame with a look of concern as she listened to the conversation.
“Oh Lord,” Louisa said in a quiet voice. “I do not like the idea of them being here together. I love your brother, but...”
“I know he is not an appropriate suitor for your sister,” Harry said in a low voice. “But I also highly doubt he is interested in being a suitor. And I’m quite sure Emma would never want an untitled gentleman as a suitor.”
Miss Drake glanced up at him and shook her head.
“Your dear brother would never want to leg shackle himself to any woman, much less my sister. He’s far more interested in the less seemly women in Society.”
“He’s not that dreadful,” Harry started. “I know his reputation—”
“Harry, before our marriage when you fled to Worth Hall to get away from me—”
“I wasn’t fleeing,” he retorted. “I had business to attend to.”
“As I was saying,” Louisa continued, “I went to Hell with Emma to discover where you’d gone. We interrupted Simon in the middle of a tryst. She saw him and some wench going at it like dogs.”
Simon had had enough. He pushed the door open and said, “Hardly dogs, Duchess.”
Emma walked in behind him. “This has to stop. I have no interest in Mr. Kingsley, nor does he have any interest in me.”
Well, that might not be accurate, Simon thought. But the inappropriate interest he had in her was better left unsaid. “I agree. It doesn’t matter how we all came to be here. I say we do what we can to take our minds off the past and enjoy the present.”
“Well said, Simon.” Louisa smiled over at him in approval. “Now, what shall we do for the fortnight.”
“One week,” both Simon and Miss Drake said at t
he same time.
“I can only stay a week,” Simon said with a casual smile. “Someone has to run Hell.”
“I must attend the Lancasters’ ball a week from tonight,” Miss Drake added quickly.
“Very well,” Louisa said with what looked like a forced smile. “What shall we do for the next week?”
“I believe I shall work on my sketches until dinner.” Miss Drake waved her hand at them all. “I will be in the conservatory.”
Miss Drake made her speedy escape from the tense room. With Harry and Louisa still annoyed, Simon thought Miss Drake had the right idea.
“I think I shall take a walk to ease my muscles from the ride here.”
Simon strolled out of the room and then quickly out of the house. After inhaling a deep breath of country air, he walked through the gardens. For the first time since Simon discovered he was the son of a duke, he wanted to know more about the house and his family.
