Unlike Mansfield. The words hovered, unspoken, in the air between him and the duke.
Clarington leaned back in his chair. “Their wives are also fond of you.”
A frisson of alarm streaked through him. “I assure you that my actions have been honorable. I would never?—”
Clarington let out a bark of laughter. “No, no, I didn’t mean to insinuate otherwise. Besides, they’re all happily married and it’s clear they want to see you similarly settled.”
“To be completely honest, when I was here before your ball, I had no intention of seeking a wife this season. It did occur to me that perhaps that time was drawing near, but it wasn’t a priority.”
There was a knowing smile on the duke’s face. “What changed?”
“I had the pleasure of sitting next to your sister during that dinner and getting to know her better. And somehow by the end of the ball the next day, I realized that I wanted to get to know her much better.”
He wondered if Clarington was aware that his sister was seeking a lover. But he wasn’t foolish enough to voice the question.
Clarington’s smile was now a grin. “And you’ve decided that you want to marry my sister.”
Holbrook nodded. “I’m not ready to offer for her. She’s not there yet, but I plan to sway her to my way of thinking. We need to get to know one another better first.”
“You’re going to find it difficult to convince Lucy to give marriage another try. Mansfield was a bastard.”
Holbrook wholeheartedly agreed. He’d heard enough rumors to have a vivid impression of just what type of man Lucy’s husband had been.
“I will do everything in my power to change her mind.”
Clarington’s eyes narrowed again. “I’ll be watching you.”
Holbrook nodded. “Your sister has already suffered through one unhappy marriage. I would think less of you if I believed you were willing to allow her to enter into a second one. Especially since it’s clear you, yourself, are very happily married.”
Clarington nodded and stood. He held out his arm. Holbrook rose to his feet and shook his hand.
“We are in agreement then. I will kill you if you hurt my sister.”
Holbrook nodded. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Good. We should make our way back before Lucy barges in here. She’s informed me that I have exactly five minutes to speak with you. Any longer and she’ll assume I’m torturing you.”
Chapter 11
Lucy needed to know what was happening in her brother’s study. If not for Charlotte, she’d be outside the room right now, her ear pressed to the heavy wooden door. But her best friend was adamant about Lucy leaving the two men to their discussion.
She rose to her feet and began to pace. Charlotte watched her—no doubt to ensure she didn’t storm into the study—but said nothing. She couldn’t explain why she was so worried.
She glanced at the clock over the fireplace mantel. They’d left the room two minutes ago, and she was beset with worry about what was happening. Alex was being insufferably overprotective of her. She could understand why, but that didn’t mean she had to like it.
Perhaps she should have told her brother that she was the one who’d propositioned Holbrook. And that he’d turned down her suggestion they have an affair, insisting instead that he wanted to court her.
No, she couldn’t do that. She wouldn’t be the reason Holbrook was ostracized from his circle of friends.
But maybe her brother wouldn’t care as long as Holbrook made her happy.
“You’re making me dizzy,” Charlotte said, intruding on her spiraling thoughts.
“I’m a widow, for heaven’s sake. Holbrook shouldn’t need to ask for permission to court me.”
Charlotte was clearly trying not to laugh at her very real concern. “I doubt very much that Holbrook is asking for permission. But I can’t guarantee that Alex won’t threaten to call him out if he hurts you.”
Lucy threw herself onto the settee next to her friend.
