At least, he didn’t think so.
“How can you even be sure?” his uncle thundered back at him. “You can’t even recall making it to your bed last night. For all I know, you lifted Lady Sophia’s skirts in the garden. Fucked her on a bench.”
“No one would believe that of me.” Alexander tried to sound convincing.
“Don’t be an imbecile. No one will believeyou, nephew, over Canterbell. You are an unrepentant rogue. You drink far too much. Gamble away hundreds of pounds. Throw lavish parties attended by half-naked courtesans.”
“What of it? And most of them were completely unclothed. Also Oakhurst—”
“I realize you have little interest in politics,” his uncle interrupted with a snarl. “Nor do you care how Parliament works.”
“I do my part.”
He didn’t. The last time Alexander had attended Parliament and prepared to vote as his uncle requested, he’d been so bored he fell asleep.
Damon snorted. “Allow me to apprise you that Canterbellcontrolsthe House of Lords with an iron fist. He is the Lord Speaker. Nothing is voted on without his approval.” The fingers of Damon’s hands clenched and unclenched. “He dines frequently with Lamb, the Prime Minister. Do you know who that is, Alexander?”
“I’m not a complete idiot.”
“Yes, you are, because compromisinghisdaughter out of all the skirts in London,” Damon fumed. “Was the absolute worst thing you could have done.”
Alexander jerked his gaze to the door. “Timmons, you better not be listening or I’ll have you sacked.”
Quiet footsteps slid away from the drawing room.
“I did not intentionally muck up your grand ambitions, Damon. I would not.”
Damon snorted again.
“But I do not believe I compromised that girl. Or was even at thePerswick ball. I’m sure of it.”
“You’ve no idea what you’ve done.”
Alexander stared down into his snifter of brandy. The guilt returned, stronger than ever. His uncle had devoted his life to the Viceroy name. Damon handled a myriad of responsibilities. Grew the Viceroy fortune and influence. He’d never once asked anything of Alexander except to follow his guidance. No well-bred, virginal young ladies who would require marriage.
He’d never once crossed that line. Until now.
I didn’t touch that chit.
“I’ll fix this, as I did before.” Damon pressed his hand to the glass of the window; gaze fixed on the street outside. “Were she not Canterbell’s daughter, I might have been able to make this entire unwelcome incident go away. Send her to the Continent with money and threats. Canterbell, however, will make sure you wed Lady Sophia.” He tapped a finger on his chin, as if considering. “But you don’t have tobedher.” Damon nodded slowly as if coming to a great realization. “Yes, that’s it.”
“I don’t think I could even if I tried. Her manner puts me off.”
A complete lie. If anything, Lord Canterbell’s daughter displayed a level of insolence and lack of respect for him that Alexander found oddly…arousing.
How horrifying.
“I think I need another headache powder,” he said. “Timmons,” he yelled for his butler.
“Canterbell’s honor,” Damon mused out loud though he seemed to be talking more to himself than Alexander, “Must be satisfied. The gossips silenced. He is correct that spinning a tale of the two of you, a secret courtship, will quiet everyone. And please the queen.”
“No one will believe I would ever secretly court that shrew.”
“Banns can be posted,” his uncle ignored him. “A quick marriage, but not too quick. That will silence Lady Brokeburst. And after a time…six months, I think, but no more than a year, we’ll ask to have the marriage annulled.” Damon regarded him calmly. “Failure to consummate.”
“I don’t feel well, uncle.” Alexander looked up at him.
“Exactly. Canterbell won’t disagree.” Damon’s mouth curved into a smile. “On the contrary, he’ll thank me.”
