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“No doubt,” he replied with a grin, despite being rather between mistresses.
In fact, since Blake had become engaged to Demeter Fallon, he’d found himself rather mistress-less. Things had ended quite amicably with Eva but he’d yet to find someone else to fill the spot. He needed someone clever, someone interesting, someone...
The briefest vision of Eleanor Fallon popped into his mind. Clever and interesting yes, but one did not make a mistress of a duke’s daughter, and he rather suspected the woman would rather dance on hot ashes than become his mistress. For whatever reason, Eleanor had yet to be swayed by him, unlike every other lady in polite society, and he could not quite figure out why.
Never mind, he had time. Considering his friend and her sister would be marrying before long.
“I know that look,” Ben said. “You have another woman in mind already.”
“Another?” His mother arched a dark, slender brow. “So you do not have a mistress now?”
He shot his brother an irritated look. The less his mother knew about his life, the better. He’d spent far too many years with her making impossible demands of him. He’d far rather she think of him as a dissolute rake than a lonely bachelor looking for a lover.
Which he most certainly was not. He was just taking his time.
“There will be plenty of ladies there tonight.” She gestured to the butler who hastened to hand over her gloves. She pulled them on, taking her time to do up each button carefully without looking at him as she continued her tirade. “It is time you married, Oliver. It is beginning to look strange. You are theearl. You should have a wife.” She gestured to Ben. “All of your brothers are wed, even Adam.”
Yes. Gordon. All of one-and-twenty and already married to a girl so shy and quiet that neither of them had a word to say to one another. The mere thought of a relationship like that made his stomach curdle. Surely he was better off alone?
“My goodness, even Lady Demeter is due to be married soon. If such a stupid girl can get a husband, then an eligible man like you can get yourself a wife.”
Oliver bunched a fist. In his periphery, Ben’s posture stiffened. “Demeter is far from stupid, Mother,” Oliver said tightly.
She rolled her eyes. “If you are so quick to defend her, why did you not snap her up? A duke’s daughter she might be, but such a brainless spinster would be grateful for your attention.”
“Demeter is not brainless either,” he said through gritted teeth. “She lost her hearing once and you know that well enough.”
He’d grown exceedingly fond of Demeter since she and Blake had courted, and he’d rather jump into the Thames during a winter frost than hear anyone disparage her, let alone his mother.
“Oliver, worry less about defending the poor duke’s daughter and more about your own fate.”
“I am on the verge of having Baines throw you out.”
The butler’s eyes widened.
His mother sniffed. “I would expect nothing less from a disobedient son such as yourself. You are always so determined to wound me.”
“Just as you are so determined to make my life a misery,” he muttered.
“Pardon?”
“I said, I’ll see you tonight, Mother.”
Her eyes narrowed and she gave a quick nod. “Good. And pay attention to the young ladies. There are still some left and I want you to find a wife tonight. Anyone will do, even a dullard.”
Once the door was closed behind her back, Oliver allowed himself a long breath. “One day, I will kill her, I swear it,” he vowed.
Ben shrugged. “How she’s survived this long is anyone’s guess.” He gestured with a thumb in the direction of the library. “Now I was nursing a whisky…do you mind?”
Oliver chuckled and shook his head. He’d grown used to his siblings using his home as an escape from their lives. Their verymarriedlives.
A life he certainly had no interest in leading, no matter what his mother said.
Chapter Two
Anton gave Eleanor a nudge, forcing her to inch two steps closer to the dance floor.
“Anton!” his wife scolded.
