“Good God. Whether it is or not, wouldn’t you at least like to be able to converse with your chosen partner?”
“One doesn’t marry to gain a partner,” Lucien argued. “One marries to gain an appropriately well-bred vessel on which to get an heir. And, if circumstances require it, one also marries to gain enough wealth to continue maintaining one’s estate.”
Robert narrowed his eyes. “Look. Just because your father—”
“My father was a whoremonger who married to beget a legitimate heir. Other than those few necessary moments of marital coitus, he didn’t allow it to interfere with his life.”
The viscount stood. “I pity any woman who might end up with you.”
“So do I.” Lucien made a show of yawning. “Sit down and play piquet with me, Robert. And talk of something more pleasant, will you?”
Belton obviously had nowhere else to go this evening, because after a show of reluctance, he seated himself again. “Deal the damned cards, then.”
Lucien obliged. “How was Calvert’s affair?”
“Deathly boring. You’re practically the only badtonin London now. Once the Season begins and the rest of the nefarious nobility arrives, though, I’m certain I’ll hardly miss your presence at all.”
The earl stifled a grin. “Once the Season begins, I’ll join you in the debauchery.”
“Are you certain of that? King of diamonds.”
“King of hearts, seventeen pips. What are you talking about now?”
“Your point. I heard that you’re going to attend the Howards’ dinner party on Thursday.”
Damnation. “Ill news travels fast. Yes, I am. What of it?”
“If Calvert’s is too boring for you, an hour in Lord Howard’s company will kill you, Lucien.”
“If I’m to marry off the devil spawn, I can’t very well do it at Calvert’s.” Lucien gave Robert a speculative look. “Why don’t you join us at the Howards’?”
“What?”
“You want to get married, and so does my adorable cousin. What could be better?”
“Your adorable cousin, ‘the incarnation of hell on earth’? I thought we were friends, Kilcairn.”
“Even sight unseen, you have to admit she meets most of your requirements.”
“Other than being of good family, which requirements were those, precisely?”
“You’ll have to join us at the Howards’ to find out.”
Robert regarded him speculatively. “All right, Kilcairn. I’ll attempt to get myself invited. But you’d best not disappoint me.”
Feeling that he’d boxed himself into a corner, Lucien nevertheless managed a dark smile. “I never disappoint.”
“How did you find the park this morning, Miss Gallant?”
“Lovely. Thank you, Wimbole.” Alexandra tried to hide her subtle glance down the hallway past the butler, and her resulting disappointment, as she handed him her shawl. The earl hadn’t returned home by the time she went to bed last evening, and she had hoped to see him this morning.
She didn’t miss him, of course—neither his arrogance nor his inappropriate conversation nor his knowing gray eyes—but she needed clarification on several instructional points for Rose. That was the only reason she wanted to see him. Alexandra turned to her walking companion. “Marie, thank you for venturing out with me.”
The maid curtsied. “My pleasure. His lordship said Sally or I should go with you whenever you wanted to go walking.”
“That was thoughtful of him, but I’m sure you must have more pressing duties elsewhere.”
“Not when you wish to go walking, miss.”
