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“I believe you are acquainted with a Miss Alice Hathway?” Rafe said.
Lord, please tell me I am not about to face another confrontation over Alice.
He considered denying it. But if this young man knew enough that he and Alice had met, then denying it would simply reinforce the belief that there was something between them.
“I met her at her debut,” Harold said.
“A very admirable young lady,” Angelo said with a strong Italian accent.
Harold wondered if he were being led to an admission. If these two young men were digging for gossip.
“And one for whom you broke your usual rule of refusing invitations,” Max said. “I must take some credit for that. But, after what I have heard, I begin to question how much credit I should be taking.”
“And what have you heard?” Harold said. “Am I the subject of gossip?”
“Not at all, Your Grace,” Rafe said. “I heard, from a reliable source, that you had spoken to Miss Hathway.”
“Alone,” said Angelo.
Harold caught a look that passed between the two young men. It was a warning given by Rafe to his friend and which prompted the Italian to look away.
And none too happy either. What is going on?
“I took refuge from a tedious evening in the library. So too did Miss Hathway for a time. And that is as much explanation as I care to give to anyone on that subject.”
“Nor would we ask more,” Rafe said in a placating tone.
Max was watching Harold with narrowed eyes, as though seeing something that he had not expected. Harold looked back, flatly.
“I too had heard that rumor. And dismissed it,” Max said thoughtfully.
“Is there something between you?” Rafe asked.
Harold’s head whipped around. He glared at the young man.
“An impertinent question,” he snapped.
“One Shilling member to another,” Rafe said boldly.
“Touché,” Max chortled. “You know the rules, old chap. What is said within these walls, stays there.”
“What is your interest?” Harold asked Rafe.
“My father has been speaking to the Viscount Lindley. He is keen for me to marry. Lindley is keen for his sister to marry.”
“And you consider me a rival?” Harold asked.
“I would step aside in deference to a man of your rank,” Rafe said quickly.
That took Harold by surprise. He had expected Rafe to be a young hothead, spoiling for a confrontation over a woman. But it seemed that he was looking for a way out of the engagement into which his father was trying to push him.
“I do admire Miss Hathway,” Harold admitted.
The look of relief that passed across Rafe’s face was mirrored on Angelo’s. Max continued to watch his friend speculatively.
Well, for all my reluctance to behave impulsively, I have just added fuel to the flames. Shilling Club convention or not, word will spread that the Duke of Redwood admires Alice Hathway.
CHAPTER18
