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“There’s no need to do all of that. Find out the next social event Sienna Marlborough will be at and make sure I’m there” he told her. Bre gritted her teeth in annoyance.
“You’re the boss,” she said reluctantly, even though she wanted to question what her purpose was if he already had everything planned out.
Harry took a sip of his scotch, “Yes, I am,” he told her smirking.
Chapter Five
“I’d like to say I’m shocked that your mother decided to find you a wife, but frankly, I’m shocked it took her this long to force the issue,” Henry’s best mate Nathaniel said.
Henry needed a change of scenery after spending time with Breanne Reynolds, and Nathaniel could always be counted on for a good time. So, he had his driver drop off Bre, as she preferred to be called, off at her flat, and turn towards London, Nathaniel, and a night full of debauchery.
Now, Henry sat at an exclusive London club, sipping several hundred dollars worth of scotch.
“Your last turn in the papers even made it across the pond. My last date mentioned you were in some gossip rag over there,” Nathaniel said.
Henry groaned aloud. “That damn night is haunting me. My mother caught wind of the other Lord’s agenda to have me unseated, and spun this scheme.”
Nathaniel snorted at his friend’s words. As an earl, his position placed him below Henry, but the fact that his father remained alive meant that he’d yet to feel the pull of the noose that comes with high privilege. “The hypocrisy of our father’s and grandfather’s run deep,” Nathaniel stated.
Henry saluted him with his drink. “Screwing around on your wife with a mistress young enough to be one’s daughter is acceptable, as long as, you keep it out of the papers,” he said.
Arranged marriages were commonplace in their world, but so were mistresses. Marriage did not scare Harry so much, considering that he did not see it as something that would curb his lifestyle. Sure, he’d have to be quieter about his exploits, but any wife he took would understand with her position came specific requirements.
“What women are in the running?” Nathaniel asked.
“Sienna Marlborough.”
Nathaniel raised his brow, “Only one?”
“Of course, I’m not that terrible,” Henry stated. Nathaniel was his best mate and had been since childhood, but Henry did not wish to disclose his entire plan. Doing so would put it at jeopardy. Get a few scotch’s into Nathaniel’s system, and he’d tell you anything.
“Where’d you Sienna’s name?” Nathaniel asked. “She doesn’t exactly run in our circles, and while I know your mother put your PR people on it, I am curious as to who in the hell is there left who you haven’t slept with.”
“Valid point,” Henry pointed out, “Which is why I went to Astrid,” Henry told him. He left out that his conversation with his sister centered around leaving Sienna alone, not marrying her.
“Makes sense. Your sister knows everything about everyone. It’s a shame she spends so much time overseas,” Nathaniel states wistfully. “I still cannot believe that you are getting married.”
Henry snorted. He also failed to mention he had no intention of marriage.
“Be sure to send me off with a killer bachelor party,” he said instead.
“Oh, don’t worry dear Duke, your bachelor party might be the thing to get you kicked out of Parliament, but man, what a way to go!” Nathaniel patted Henry on the back before downing his entire drink. “Let’s head out. This atmosphere isn’t doing it for me,” he said, clapping Henry on the shoulders.
The two friends stumbled out of the secluded club and into the wild streets of London ready to spend money and debauch themselves in every way possible.
Chapter Six
The call came in the middle of the night. A gossip blogger Bre built a relationship with phoned her to give her the heads up. Henry had been seen out and drunk in London. Nothing too terrible, but considering they wanted to reinvent his image, she decided to haul herself into her office at 4:30 am, in an attempt to mitigate the fallout.
That’s how she found herself tip-toeing through the house, trying not to disturb anyone or anything as she made her way towards her office space. Because the front of the manor was closed off in the evening hours, Bre used the family entrance and walked through the interior of the home. She wanted to get to her office as quickly as possible before anyone realized she was there.
“Breanne!” a familiar voice yelled out in the dark. Her heart lept into her throat at the sight of a tall male figure shrouded in darkness.
“Henry?” she questioned squinting in the dark. “What are you doing here?”
Henry was still wearing the suit from the evening before. He looked rumpled as he stumbled towards her, and Bre knew he probably reeked of expensive booze.
“I live here,” Henry stated, stumbling closer to Bre. The hallway lights illuminated his handsome features.
