“Then it’s a good thing I’ll be leaving in the morning to find new lodgings.”
“Whatever for? I don’t understand why you aren’t living here permanently. This house is huge and usually unoccupied except for the servants.”
“I’m used to smaller accommodations and no servants underfoot.”
“If you tell me you can’t afford—”
“Not a’tall, I just prefer to do for m’self, a habit from my days in the army. I can even cook, you know.”
“Gads, Mother would be appalled, so we’ll keep that tidbit to ourselves. But Father will be angry if you aren’t here when he arrives.”
Montgomery chuckled. “And whose fault will that be, traitor? You shouldn’t have sent for him, so it’s only fair you deal with him. Now I’m off for an evening of revelry. I’d invite you to join me, but your wife would probably object. Don’t wait up, Brother. I expect to be late.”
“You will send us your new address when you get one?” Andrew said as he followed him downstairs.
“Not bloody likely. But I’ll keep in touch.”
He didn’t like leaving his brother frustrated, but since he was leaving London specifically to not be found, he could provide no further explanation. Perhaps someday, when George was king and his brief courtship with scandal was long forgotten, he could at least share his misadventures with Andrew—or not. It wasn’t as if scandals, true or mere rumor, stayed very long in the gossip mill when so many new ones arrived to supplant them.
Before he reached the front door, it opened and their sister Claire swept in. The younger and more petite of his two sisters, Claire took after him with her auburn hair and dark green eyes.
“Monty!” she exclaimed as soon as she noticed him, and opened her arms for a hug. “Is this where you hide? Father will be so pleased to know.”
“Sorry to disappoint, but it’s just a brief visit.”
“And where’s my hug?” Andrew asked Claire.
“I saw you just last week, but I haven’t seen the scamp for months.”
“What are you doing here?” Andrew queried.
“Escaping Father’s nagging about my marital state,” she replied as she removed her fancy bonnet.
“I thought you were separated—”
“Yes,” she cut in. “That state.”
But Andrew continued. “—from the cheater, as you’re now fond of calling your husband.”
“There’s no fond left wherehe’sconcerned.”
“He swears he’s innocent, Claire.”
She humphed. “He swears to lots of things that aren’t true. He’s very good at that—or thinks he is.”
“Well, you’ve come to the wrong place to escape,” Montgomery warned. “Andy sent for Father and expects him in the morning to chew on my ear.”
She grinned. “Better you than me, darling brother!”
He grinned back. “Ah, but I won’t be here to receive the tirade, so you’re welcome to it.”
“How unchivalrous of you—chew on you, why?”
“No time to explain,” he replied, kissing her brow before heading to the door. “Andy can tell you if he must, but it’s all lies and will have a quick demise if left alone, so leave it alone.”
He quickly got into his waiting carriage but still heard his sister yell through the open door, “Gossip! No, no, there can be no gossip!”
Montgomery rolled his eyes but wasn’t going to worry about his siblings undoing his sacrifice. There had been eyewitnesses, as he’d intended, so the gossip about him wasn’t going to be easily dismissed until something new took its place, especially since he would be adding to it tonight. . . .
