Vander pushed his hair back from his face, leaving it artfully tousled. “TheRake Reviewis the most popular gossip sheet at the moment. It’s published on the first day of each month, and it features one of London’s most eligible bachelors.”
David snorted. “It features one of London’s most debauched wastrels, more like.”
Lucian took another sip of his drink. “I do remember that. A few issues came out before my departure. I can’t say I’m surprised I appeared in it.” Lucian grinned at Vander as something occurred to him. “I take it you were also featured?”
Vander made an elegant sweep of his hand. “You have the honor of addressing the inaugural Mr. May.”
“In a fantastic twist,” David said, “every single rake who has been featured has found himself caught in the parson’s mousetrap in short order.”
Lucian reached for the decanter, topping off his friends’ glasses before refilling his own. “A tradition I mean to continue. As you saw tonight, I’ve already secured myself a bride.”
Vander and David exchanged a quick glance. “We’ve been wondering about that,” David said.
Lucian snorted. “IfVandercan transform himself into a respectable married man, then surely there is hope even for me.”
“Touche.” Vander propped a booted foot on his opposite knee. “But Lady Rosalie is… a curious choice.”
Lucian tapped the side of his glass. “She’s a beautiful woman, and the daughter of a duke. What man could resist?”
“She was also all but betrothed to Lysander,” David noted. “A betrothal that fell apart as soon as he lost his title.”
Vander gave him a shrewd look. “One cannot help but wonder if you are claiming not merely Lysander’s title but also his viscountess for the purpose of rubbing salt in his wound.”
Lucian smirked. He could certainly see why his friends had formed that impression.
If only they knew. His actual reasons for marrying her were ten times as shocking.
He flashed his friends a bland smile. “Would I do such a thing?”
David leaned forward. “Look, Lucian. We’re friends. You know that. I know you hate Lysander with the heat and intensity of the noon sun over the Sahara. And I understand why. Really, I do. But Lady Rosalie has been a loyal friend to Emily.”
“Letty, too,” Vander added.
David’s expression was pained. “Most people believe she’s too forthright by half, but from what I can tell, she’s one of the few decent people in theton. And she deserves better than to be shackled to a man who’s only marrying her to spite his cousin.”
“Never fear,” Lucian said, setting his now-empty glass aside. “I’m not marrying Lady Rosalie merely to spite Lysander. Although I will admit, it is a very welcome addition.” Vander started to speak, but Lucian raised a hand to stop him. “There is nothing you can say to dissuade me. I mean to marry Lady Rosalie.”Whether she likes it or not, he added silently. “But rest assured, I intend to make my bride deliriously happy.”
“In bed,” David noted dryly.
Lucian smirked. “In bed, and out of it. On that note, I find myself in need of a spectacular engagement ring so I can startworming my way into her good graces. Who would you say is the most reputable jeweler in town?”
“The person you want to talk to is my mother.” Vander leaned forward, pointing to the stickpin gracing his cravat. It was a rich purple stone the size of a tuppence coin, and even in the candlelight, Lucian could see that it was of exceptional radiance and clarity.
“She helped me have this made,” Vander continued, “as well as a matching ring for Letty. She has a better eye for gemstones than most jewelers. She might even pull some stones out of her personal collection. She’s always liked you.”
Lucian inclined his head. “I should like nothing better than to pay her a call.” It was true. His parents had died of a swift-moving fever while Lucian had been away at Cambridge. He’d been twenty at the time, so no longer a boy, but still, it had been a brutal blow.
Thank God he’d still had Grandfather. And when Vander’s mother had started fussing over him a bit, mending his shirts, sending him packages of tea and ginger biscuits at school, and reminding him to get his hair trimmed… he hadn’t minded.
“I will call on her tomorrow,” Lucian said.
“So,” David said, “Croatia. What were you getting up to there?”
The conversation moved on. It was good to see his friends after such a long absence.
But Lucian’s thoughts never strayed far from Rosalie. Tonight had merely been the beginning.
He hadplansfor Rosalie de Lacy.
