Prologue
“They’re twins, you know. Miss Kitty Ridlington and Mr. Richard Ridlington.”
“I’ve heard.”
The two gentlemen exchanging these comments were sprawled in large leather chairs, enjoying the heat from a blazing fire. Brandy glasses sat at each man’s side, and the scent of cigar smoke added a rich layer of fragrance in the room, complementing wood smoke and the aroma of money.
For these gentlemen were rich—rich to the point of absurdity. They could buy whatever they wanted on a whim, take what they could not purchase with little or no repercussion, and generally live the kind of life to which ninety-nine percent of the world aspired.
They were, however, very different in many ways. Their acquaintance had begun several years before, but mostly they travelled in different circles; certainly neither would call the other a close friend.
“I shall have her, you know.”
“Kitty?”
“Oh no. Too town bronzed for my tastes.”
In other words, she’d see through your pretenses.Max Seton-Mowbray kept his face expressionless as his companion took a lazy sip of his brandy and grinned into the flames.
“I want the other one. Hecate. She likes to pretend such calm sophistication, but her eyes give her away.”
“Really?” The drawled question was part boredom and part curiosity. “I’ve often wondered about that turn of phrase. Do they have some warning written across them? Some declaration of prevarication on the part of their owner?”
“Don’t be an arse, Max. Of course not.”
“Then how, pray tell, do they give her away?”
“I have yet to grasp the details,” he replied vaguely. “But I can assure you they do.”
Max contemplated the light shining through the brandy in his glass. “There’s no money there, Dancey. As I understand it, the Ridlington estate was rolled up, foot and guns, by the time the present Baron inherited.”
Dancey Miller-James snorted. “Ain’t going tomarrythe gel.”
“Ah.”
“M’mother has someone in mind. Got to increase the family coffers with marriage. And get an heir with excellent breeding.” He shrugged. “I have no idea who, nor do I care, particularly. Men like us must marry for the right reasons. Lust…” he grinned, “ain’t one of ‘em.”
“But you lust for Hecate Ridlington?”
“I do indeed. That white skin—that gold hair. Imagine what her pussy looks like. Pink, gold, ivory…” he fidgeted. “Demme, m’prick’s hard just thinking about it.”
“I must confess,” said Max, choosing his words carefully, “I cannot see Hecate readily falling into your bed as your mistress. Which is the path I presume you have chosen to follow?”
Dancey’s handsome face creased into a smile, tinged with something else that made the back of Max’s neck itch a little. “Oh she won’t know a damned thing about it, Max old boy. She’s stupidly naive and she’ll believe I intend marriage.”
“That’s hardly the thing, Dancey. You could face a lot of repercussions from such a stratagem.”
Dancey laughed aloud, then finished his brandy. “Not me. I’ll be free and clear, once I’ve made sure everyone knows she willingly went with me. Spent the night with me.” He rose from his chair. “Not even sure I’ll take her as a mistress. Once I’ve stripped her naked, had that precious virginity of hers…well, do I want to spend the next few months instructing an innocent in how to best pleasure me?” He considered the matter as he attempted to straighten his shirt and cravat. “Probably not. Easier to stay with an experienced cunt who already knows. I have one of them already.”
Max swallowed down the distaste that had formed a lump in his throat. “I see.”
And indeed he did. The true nature of Dancey Miller-James had just revealed itself; it was dark, unpleasant and not something Max approved of in any way, shape or form. At that moment, he determined this would be the last time they met.
“I’ll be off then.” Dancey managed his cravat as best he could. “There are women waiting out there for me.”
“Would Hecate Ridlington amongst them?” He glanced at the clock. “At this hour?”
“God no. Good little virgins are sound asleep.” He snickered as he shrugged into his jacket. “I’m talking about other kinds of women. Ones who know what I like.”
