The Duke I’m Going to Marry (Farthingale Series Book 2) (9 page)

That was it. That was his family.

And his friends wanted him to save Dillie? Chances were, he’d be dragging Dillie into his little acre of hell.

Gabriel shot him a pained grin. “Our wives were hoping you would court her.”

Ian’s breath caught in his throat. He paused a long moment, and then threw his head back and laughed. “You’re jesting. Right? They want her saved, not ruined. She’ll never escape the tarnish if her name is ever associated with mine.”

“She only needs to be courted by you long enough to discourage Ealing. Once he’s out of the way, the plan is to have Dillie break off the courtship. You’ll quietly retire to nurse your wounds and Dillie will be available once again.”

“I can think of a hundred reasons why the plan won’t work.”

Graelem drained his glass of whiskey and poured himself another. “Such as?”

“Everyone knows that I don’t intend to marry, so my intentions toward Dillie will be suspect.” He raked a hand through his hair, wondering why they were even having this discussion. “Everyone knows what I am, so how can my attentions ever be considered honorable?”

Gabriel nodded. “I was never keen on the idea either. That, coupled with your stay in Dillie’s bed last November—”

Graelem shot out of his chair. “What?”

Ian set down his cue and took a step toward Gabriel. “What the hell? Who told you that?”

Gabriel shrugged. “George did. Yesterday. He was in on the discussion with Dillie’s sisters.”

“
Hell and damnation!
And now her sisters know?” He shook his head and groaned. “They’re not looking for my help. They want me to marry Dillie.”

Graelem’s hands were fisted at his sides as he approached Ian. “Can you blame them? You were in Dillie’s bed.”

“What’s wrong with you? She wasn’t
in
it at the time. I filed a complete report with the Prince Regent. Read the damn report. George can verify every word of it. I’m not marrying Dillie.”

Graelem’s expression remained ominously dark. “She never mentioned a word about you to her sisters. What does that signify?”

“Nothing, because there’s nothing to tell,” Ian insisted. Thank goodness, she hadn’t blabbed the rest of it. If a Farthingale sneezed, the entire clan, from as far south as Portsmouth to the far north Scottish Isles learned of it within the hour. Farthingale news traveled faster than a North Sea wind. Farthingales did not keep secrets. Farthingales had diarrhea of the mouth.

Graelem wasn’t halfway convinced. “Game over, Ian. Have a seat.”

Ian could have told him to go to hell, that he was through with this conversation, but Graelem was big. Strong. And Gabriel was also frowning. He could take on one Dayne, but that would still leave the other.

He pulled back one of the chairs and sank into it. “As I just said, read the bloody report. Dillie and George saved my life last November, as you well know since the two of you have been investigating the matter. What is not relevant, and no doubt why no one mentioned it, is that George stitched me up in the only available bed at that moment. Dillie’s bed.” He glanced from one to the other. “Again, Dillie wasn’t in that bed with me. Satisfied?”

Graelem’s hands balled into fists. “Not nearly. What else haven’t you mentioned?”

He wasn’t insane. He wasn’t about to let them know he had been naked in her bed. Or that Dillie had seen him naked. He wouldn’t get out of White’s alive if that little detail ever slipped out. “The point is, even a pretend match between me and Dillie is a bad idea.”

He couldn’t mention the kiss either. Or the one that had happened two years ago.

He turned to Gabriel. “Dillie has already had one dismal encounter with Lady Withnall. The old harridan will never let up if her name is ever associated with mine. You saw how Dillie responded at Daisy’s tea. She’s an innocent. Lady Withnall is a wolf on the prowl. She’ll eat Dillie alive. So you see, putting us together in any way is a bad idea.”

He sensed Gabriel was wavering, so he pressed on. “Are we done now? Good. Go back to your wives and tell them not to meddle in Dillie’s affairs.”

Though Graelem’s eyes were still blazing, he finally cracked a smile. “Spoken like a confirmed bachelor. Tell Laurel what to do? Not if I value my life—or my husbandly rights. No way in hell. I’m keeping my mouth shut and letting Laurel do whatever she feels she must do to protect Dillie.”

Ian rolled his eyes. “And you, Gabriel? Are you as big a coward as your cousin? Does Daisy rule your household?”

“I’m utterly whipped and proud of it. Submission has its rewards.”

Ian groaned. “Bloody hell. I don’t wish to hear any more. It’s obvious you both lost your testicles when you acquired wedding bands.” He polished off his glass and rose to leave. “There is a reasonable compromise to be had, however. I’ll keep an eye on Dillie and Ealing. She did save my life, after all. I owe her. But I’m not going to court her.”

***

Hellfire.

Ian grabbed his cloak and had just walked out of White’s when Gabriel came chasing after him. “Hold on, Ian. We have to talk.”

Ian turned to face him on the busy street. The sky was darkening and a cool breeze swirled around them. Ladies and gentlemen passed by with heads ducked against the wind, hands on their hats and fisted about their cloaks to hold them down as they hurried to their destinations. Had he been a little faster, he could have drawn his own cloak and disappeared into the crowd, just another gentleman hurrying down the street before the April skies opened up. “Didn’t we just finish talking?”

Gabriel nodded and drew him aside. “We’ve been friends for a long time, been through some very bad times together. Friends look out for each other. You like her, don’t you?”

“Who?”

Gabriel arched an eyebrow. “Dillie, of course. But she scares you.”

Ian tensed. “If you knew me as well as you claim, you’d know that nothing scares me.”

“I know. Not even death,” Gabriel said with an indulgent nod. “But we aren’t speaking of death here. This is far more serious. What you feel is something far more frightening. I know that look. Same look I had when I first met Daisy.”

“You’re wrong.” Gabriel had been ready to marry. Meeting Daisy had made him realize how much he’d wanted to find love. Ian wanted to run as far away from love as possible. Love brought pain and disappointment.

He turned to walk away, but Gabriel held him back. “Why are you really in town?”

“I’ve already told you. Business.”

Gabriel regarded him thoughtfully for a long moment. “If you have no intention of courting Dillie, then you can help her best by keeping away from her. Disappear for a while. Surely you have estate affairs to keep you occupied up north.”

“I don’t. Can’t leave London for at least another month.” Outright lie. He’d never lied to Gabriel before. Dillie was in London and he wasn’t leaving. He needed to see her. He’d keep his distance. He just needed to see her openhearted smile. He needed her warmth to pierce his cold heart. Just once. Perhaps a little more than once. Maybe a dozen times. She had a great smile. She also had the gentlest hands. They’d felt so good against his skin. That’s all he wanted, just a little more time with her. “Why are you now asking me to leave London? A moment ago you were asking for my help.”

“Our wives were asking,” Gabriel corrected, and leaned forward so that his voice would not carry on the blustery wind. “Frankly, I thought it was a decent plan, but I’m not so sure anymore. Don’t get me wrong, Graelem and I would be delighted to have you as a brother-in-law. But your feelings for Dillie are dangerous. Something’s going on between the two of you, whether or not either of you realize it or are ready to admit it. Your manner changes when you speak of her.”

“My manner? What the hell does that mean?”

“I don’t quite know. It’s different, that’s all. So I don’t think you can manage a pretend courtship with her. More important, if you court her, I’m not sure she’ll rebuff you.”

“I’m the one who declined to court her, if you will recall. In any event, it won’t come to that.” Ian frowned. “I thought you said she liked Ealing.”

Gabriel sighed. “She does. But he isn’t you. And Dillie never said a word about caring for you in her bed. Not to anyone, not even to her sisters.”

Second time he and Graelem had mentioned that. Ian understood that the Farthingale girls were close. They had a big, loving family. He’d wished for that when he was a boy.

It hadn’t happened.

When his father died, his mother had summoned him. He’d gone to Edgeware ready to console her. She wasn’t sad. “I hate you,” she’d told him. “I wish you were the one dead.”

She’d thought it important for him to know. He knew it, all right. He’d known her feeling

 in town.”

“Ian’s mother?” Dillie’s heart began to beat a little faster. This was her chance to learn more about him. Not that she wished to pry, but he had a penchant for getting into trouble, and it would be helpful to know whom to summon to his side the next time he lay close to death. Of course, this time she’d make certain he was dressed for visitors—even if she had to dress him herself.

Though it seemed an awful pity to cover up his gloriously hard body.

She let out an
eep
and forced herself to pay attention as Rose replied. “s for him since he was a child of four. That’s when his brother had died. That was the first time she’d told him that she hated him. That’s the last time she’d ever held him in her arms. And the last time his father had ever spoken to him.

“I won’t hurt her, Gabriel. In truth, I’ll do my best to keep away from her. But if Laurel and Daisy are worried that Dillie’s about to do something foolish, let me know. I’ll do what I can to help—short of marrying her, of course. I’ll be available if they need me. As I said, I just can’t leave London at present.” Yet more lies told to his best friend.

The conversation put Ian on edge. Dillie wasn’t in any danger of losing her heart to Ealing. She couldn’t be, could she? And what of Ealing? He would have to be an utter clunch to resist Dillie, probably was already deeply in love with her. Hence the impending marriage proposal.

Ian’s insides twisted. What could he offer Dillie? He had no intention of ever marrying. No, he was just that damn dog in the manger, ready to bite anyone who came too close to Dillie.

She wasn’t his. He had no right to interfere with her happiness.

But he was going to do it anyway, just for this month.

He’d be careful.

No one would be hurt.

***

Dillie set down the book she was reading and looked up as Rose burst into the Farthingale library, her eyes sparkling and her breaths coming in soft gasps, as though she’d run the entire distance across the park that separated their fashionable neighborhoods. “Dillie, there you are! I’ve been looking all over the house for you. What are you doing hiding in this musty library? Have you heard?”

Dillie closed her book and rose to greet her sister. “I love this room. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s the coziest in the house. What’s the important news?”

“It’s about the Duke of Edgeware. His mother, the dowager duchess of Edgeware, is Eloise was paying a call on us when Lady Withnall stopped by with the news. Goodness,” she said with a roll of her eyes, “that woman hears everything. I haven’t a clue how she manages it, but she has everyone with secrets quaking in terror. She’s worried about Edgeware.”

Dillie tipped her head, confused. “Lady Withnall? I didn’t think she cared about anyone.”

“No, not her. Lady Withnall hurled that fireball, then dashed off to tell the rest of the world.
Eloise
is the one who’s worried. She wouldn’t say much, other than to reveal that there’s bad blood between him and his mother. They don’t get along. In fact, his mother detests him. She refuses to be within a hundred miles of him.”

Dillie frowned. “Then why is she here?”

Rose shook her head and sighed. “I don’t know. To cause mischief? Because she wishes him ill? I wonder what happened between them. No doubt his fault. He must have done something to insult his mother.”

“Why would you ever suggest such a thing?” Dillie’s frown deepened and she felt the urge to clench her fists. Instead, she clasped her hands behind her back to hide her anger. “He helped us immensely when Lily was abducted, stayed beside us the entire time. He did everything for us, even used his vast resources to help track down her abductors. He didn’t ask for a single thing in return. He calmed Mother and Father. He was strong and protective, stayed by my side even as I fell apart. If his mother hates him, it must be her fault. Ian isn’t a beast. He’s... nice.”

Rose’s eyebrows shot upward. “Holy crumpets!”

“What?” But Dillie felt the heat rise in her cheeks. She’d said too much. Now her entire family would know that she felt something for Ian. She didn’t quite know what that something was, but he didn’t deserve to be thought of as a horrid beast.

Rose raised her hands as though in surrender. “Daisy and Laurel said you liked him. I don’t think they realize quite how much.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” But her ears were burning and so were her cheeks. Why had she defended him? She didn’t know anything about him or his family. In truth, the little she knew of him was bad. He was a rakehell. He seduced other men’s wives. He ran with a fast crowd.

On the other hand, Gabriel and Graelem liked him. More than that, they considered him a loyal friend. He was also very brave, having worked with Gabriel and Graelem to protect king and country from Napoleon’s army, quietly risking his life and making no fuss about his valor.

She hadn’t pressed Gabriel or Graelem about their exploits during the war years, for neither liked to speak of those difficult times. Still, she could ask them about Ian’s exploits, couldn’t she?

She dismissed the notion at once. No, not a good idea.

She wanted to believe Ian was a dissolute rakehell, because if Ian was something more, something better... well, she’d be utterly lost. Ian made her heart flutter.

A noble, heroic Ian... oh, she’d lose her heart to him faster than a hummingbird could flap its little wings. Fast and hard, that’s how she’d fall for him.