“It’s going to take six hours just to inch out of Marrywell,” observed Donovan, standing in front of the inn.
“It was worth it,” gushed his sister-in-law, gazing up at her husband, whose arm she clutched adoringly.
Bernard responded with an indulgent kiss to the tip of Sorcha’s upturned nose.
She smiled at him, then turned her started gaze toward Donovan.“At least, I hope it was worth it for all of us.Did you gentlemen find what you came for?”
“I certainly found… a big part,” Geoffrey responded with a straight face.“A very big part.”
Good breeding prevented Donovan from favoring his valet with a sharp elbow to the ribs.
“What about you, brother?”asked Bernard.“Did you find the woman of your dreams?”
“Not yet,” Donovan replied carefully.
“Oh, Southbury.”His sister-in-law placed a consoling palm on his arm.“I’m so sorry.”
“Please do not be.I am perfectly happy.”
“You know… I think you might be,” Bernard said in surprise, tilting his head as he peered at his brother.“I’ve seen you smile more today than I have in the past decade, and I haven’t seen you all week.”
“Perhaps that’s why he’s finally happy,” Sorcha whispered.“Without his overbearing little brother around to henpeck him.”
“Me?’Bernard sputtered.“Youare the one who insisted we should not rest until Southbury was settled as happily as you and I.Why, the night before Mother’s supper party, it was you who turned to me and said—”
“Look, our carriage is ready.”Cheeks flushing pink, Sorcha dragged her husband toward the waiting coachman and waved her fingers over her shoulder at Donovan and Geoffrey.“Thank you for a lovely week!”
Donovan watched them go in wonder.He had assumed his family would be upset—or at least deeply concerned—if he did not marry, but if Bernard didn’t give a fig, and all Donovan’s family wanted was for Donovan to be happy…
He turned to Geoffrey.“What do you think it was that Sorcha said to Bernard?”
“‘I’d wager ten quid the duke’s valet has a raging cockstand when he bathes his master.’”
Donovan pushed Geoffrey up into the coach.“She hadn’t met you at that point.”
“It doesn’t matter.She should have extrapolated from context.One look at your muscular form, andanyman with a cock could reasonably find it difficult to keep his pants buttoned.At least, that’s been my experience whenever I’m in the same room as you.Oh, look, we’re sharing the same space right now!”He fluttered his eyelashes in faux surprise.“There grows my cock.”
Donovan’s throat dried.Could that be true?Had Donovan been desperately tamping down his own erections for years, never realizing the valet beside him suffered from the same condition?In that case, it wasn’t the alcohol that had set the night’s activities in motion.It was Donovan himself.Geoffrey had been interested all along.
Head spinning, Donovan banged on the connecting panel to signal the driver before settling back on the squab.
Geoffrey took the seat opposite him.
These were the same positions they’d assumed on the journey west, but the atmosphere inside the carriage felt different this time.Cozier, perhaps, as though they were a comfortable married couple relaxing before a fire, instead of the usual master-and-servant on tenterhooks, viscerally aware of each other, yet forbidden from acknowledging the electricity crackling between them.
“I hope you brought lukewarm tea in a whiskey flask,” said Geoffrey.“And a heavy stack of accounting journals.Lord, do I love relaxing with four hundred pages of spindly columns of endless numbers.Especially if I have a carrot stick to munch on, as if I were a horse.Nothing is more satisfying than—”
“I did bring a gag this time,” Donovan warned him.“Don’t tempt me.”
“I bet you didn’t,” said Geoffrey.
“It’s my cravat,” Donovan countered.“I will shove it into your mouth at the least provocation.”
“And ruin my craftsmanship?”Geoffrey gasped.“You monster!”
“Like I said.”Donovan lifted his chin.“Don’t tempt me.”
“Or what?”Geoffrey asked innocently.“You’ll shove something else into my mouth?”
