“You mean Mother.”
“And Pere, and all the other ladies.”
Edwin set his cup down.“I’m not sure what Mother was thinking, inviting all those young women.It’s going to be bloody irritating.I already told her I plan to leave betrothed.”His eyes lifted and speared Henley, his words a targeted shot.
Henley nodded.“I assumed that was your plan.But with any ideas, they can certainly change.”He leaned back on the sofa, faking confidence he didn’t feel.
“Or become more certain.Depends on your level of delusion.”Edwin scoffed.“Don’t you dare do anything to hinder my plans either.No little stunts like last week where you dodge my questions and then show up exactly where you don’t belong.”He snorted.“It made you look like a fool, which, because you’re unfortunately my blood relation, reflects badly on me.”
“And everything is about you.”
“Yes, right now, it is.And it would do well for you to remember that.No one, and I mean no one, expects her to do anything other than marry me.It’s all the gossip, and if she doesn’t…” He opened his hands wide and shrugged.
“If she doesn’t?”Henley leaned forward, brows knitting.
“If she doesn’t, then people will wonder why.And they will whisper about… her.Ruining her.You don’t want that for her, do you?Do you really want to be the reason people whisper behind her back?Question what’s wrong?”
“And automatically, everyone would assume it’s her problem, and nothing to do with you?”Henley asked, sarcasm evident in his tone.
Yet Henley understood his brother’s words.It wasn’t how the ton worked, ferreting out truth.They wanted the most delicious morsel of gossip, the most lurid.Lady Anna failing to hold the affections of the one clearly courting her?It was a done deal.They’d question why.
And it wouldn’t look good for her.
How he hated the validity of his brother’s words, but hell if he’d let it show on his face or admit it with his words.
“Be that as it may, I do believe it is still undecided at the moment.”
“So you’ve mentioned.”Edwin sighed, leaning back and closing his eyes.“It’s too bloody quiet here.”Edwin took a sip of tea and frowned.
“Pardon?”
“There’s no noise, just the damn birds.”
“I believe birds qualify as noise,” Henley added.
“And I’ll be away from the city for two weeks.”
“And the city holds a special fondness for you?”Henley asked, though he was beginning to understand where his brother’s thoughts were leading.
Edwin opened one eye and speared Henley with an irritated gaze.“Yes.It has far more… opportunity.”
“Said like a true rake.”
“No.”Edwin sat forward.“A rake doesn’t care about his actions—he’ll do whatever, whenever, with whomever.”
“A glowing character report.”
“I am selective.”
“Which makes it so much holier.”Henley rolled his eyes.
“No, but I’m not trying to be holy.It’s a delicious, and rather selective, way to be wicked.”He winked at his brother and leaned back, resting his eyes.
“Good chat.So thankful to be part of that tender moment,” Henley replied.“On that note, I think I’ll find my rooms and take a short rest before the theatrics begin.”
“Pere?”Henley asked.“She is rather dramatic at times.”
Edwin sat forward once more.“You know, I rather thought she’d be married already.”
