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As a gentleman of one and thirty with numerous duties and responsibilities, especially to his family and estates, William was not a gentleman who was ever undecided about anything. Yet as he stared at his three sisters, in their various states of déshabille sprawled upon their bellies in the drawing room of his townhouse playing cards and laughing and chatting, he could not dismiss Lady Philippa from his thoughts.
Simply forgetting her was more complicated than he’d thought possible. William had never before decided something and struggled with it, ever. He held himself still, absorbing that awareness. He took a sip of the brandy he’d poured himself, staring into the flickering fireplace as if it would provide him with the answers this night. Perhaps he was foolish to dismiss a night in Vinnette’s bed when it was that sweet release of hot pleasure he needed to chase instead of thinking about a particularly fine pair of violet eyes, a stubborn chin, and fiery courage.
William scrubbed a hand over his face. How old even was the chit? Now he understood why his good friend Oscar, the Earl of Wycliffe, had ignored his young bride of seventeen years at their marriage because he was more than a decade older. At the time, William had mercilessly chided Wycliffe for his restraint in taking his wife to his bed, but now William felt distinctly disturbed to recall Lady Phillipa’s slim curvatures and those pouting lips. Especially as the memory pricked a place of want never before felt.
“You cheat, Juliette,” Sophie, his youngest sister of thirteen years, cried, tossing down her cards and glaring at her.
Juliette laughed, came up on her knees and tossed her fists into the air as a sign of triumph. “I’ve won again! Sophie, you owe me your lace shawl and Elizabeth, you owe me three shillings.”
The girls started to argue without real heat, and a most complex emotion clutched his chest. Elizabeth was the eldest at seventeen, and she would experience her first season in the following year. A libertine like Viscount Shuttleworth could act dastardly toward her, and because of fear and doubt, she would hide it from him and suffer in silence.
The very idea was insupportable and unbearable.
He must have made a noise, for his sisters glanced around where he leaned against the wall by the entrance, three bright pairs of gold eyes glowing with their pleasure to see him.
“You did not announce you are home,” Juliette said, grinning. “Mama was waiting for you earlier but has retired to bed. She believes we must return to the countryside and our studies, so sadly, dear brother, you will be missing us soon.”
William padded over, lowering himself to the carpet. He emptied the glass of brandy before setting it aside. He ruffled Juliette’s hair, and she glared at him. Since she had turned fifteen last month, she often glowered at him for ruffling her hair. In truth, the things she enjoyed, like climbing trees and fishing with him, had been set aside for more ladylike pursuits. She often spoke about her season and many romantic nonsenses.
“What would you girls do should anyone accost or threaten you?”
They sobered and shared speaking glances with each other. His sisters had that talent where they silently communicated with accurate precision.
“Do you mean a gentleman?” Elizabeth, the gentlest of the three, queried.
“I mean anyone,” he said flatly. “Should anyone hurt, threaten, or impugn your reputation or honor, what would you do?”
“First,” Sophie piped up, narrowing her eyes in serious contemplation, “we would tell you about it, William.”
They nodded in unison, pinning him with their bright stares.
“Would you?” he said, leaning over to tuck a wisp of hair behind Sophie’s ear. “You would inform me even if the situation is most ruinous and scandalous?”
“Yes,” she said, smiling sweetly upon him. “You would stick a knife in the gullet of anyone who dared hurt us and make him bleed.”
William arched a brow, recalling his conversation with Oscar only a few weeks ago in his study. “Were you eavesdropping, Sophie?” he mockingly growled.
“No.” she waved a hand to encompass her sisters. “We all were.”
William laughed, ruffling her hair. Sophie did not pout like Juliette, not yet at the age where she resented being treated like the baby of the family.
“Promise me,” he said, meeting each of their gazes. “Should anyone harm you in any way, you will tell me. I would never force you against your will or wishes.”
They nodded solemnly, and William grunted when Juliette hurled herself into his arms and hugged him. He said nothing when Sophie and Elizabeth followed.
“What do you think of us staying up for a few more hours?” Sophie whispered.
The little minx. “That decision is entirely up to you girls,” he said, knowing it was well after midnight. “However, know I shall not save anyone from our mother’s wrath.”
They laughingly complained, and after chatting with them for several more minutes, William made his way from the drawing room and outside. He lifted his face to the sky and took a deep breath of the night air into his lungs before slowly exhaling. His actions might very well spark a scandal but given the ruthless manner in which he planned to deliver his message to Viscount Shuttleworth, the man would be wise to remain silent.
William took his time and strolled from his townhouse in Grosvenor Square until he reached Upper Wimpole Street, where the viscount resided. The rumor said his new wife was with child and confined in Derbyshire, while Shuttleworth enjoyed the frivolities of the season alone. William opened the small wrought iron gate, went up the set of steps, and knocked on the door. It took a few minutes before the door was opened by the butler, who appeared in want of sleep.
“Inform your master the Marquess of Trent is here to see him.”
The butler straightened his spine, a mask of professionalism settling about him. “Lord Shuttleworth is not yet home, my lord.”
Ah, so the bounder was still unconscious under the shrubbery. “I will await him in the drawing room, and when he arrives, you will inform him right away that I await his presence,” William said, expecting to be promptly obeyed.
