“Well, she is…she’s more beautiful than ever,” Stenfax admitted softly, images of her spinning up in his mind. “She’s just the same as she was three years ago, and yet she’s even better. I knew it was wrong, but I touched her and then…then it spiraled out of control.”
Gray’s eyes went wide. “I see. So you made love to her.”
“Took her is a more apt description,” Stenfax said, his tone grim as he thought once more of his ungentlemanly actions. “I know I shouldn’t have. But it was magnificent. And yet how could I? How could I do such a thing?”
“You judge yourself but not her?” Gray asked.
Stenfax shrugged. “My actions are the only ones within my control, so they are all I choose to judge. I should have walked away the moment she came into the room. But I didn’t. So I…I went to her home on Tinley Square this morning.”
Gray threw up his hands. “Lucien!” he burst out. “Goddamn, it is bad enough you did something so foolish at Vivien’s, but to follow Elise across town?”
“I know, I know,” Stenfax said, waving off his brother’s sharp disapproval. “I just couldn’t stop myself. I needed to apologize for my behavior. But the new duke came in, interrupted us. It’s Kirkford’s cousin—Ambrose, I think his name was.”
“Yes, I heard he won the battle for the crown,” Gray said. “Buffoon that he is.”
“Well, he is a buffoon with power. And he seems to be wielding it over Elise. So I want to know more about him.” He finished the sentence and heard it ring in the air around him. He heard the desperation to his tone, the protectiveness that should not have been reserved for Elise after all she’d done.
And even if he hadn’t heard it, he certainly saw all those things reflected in Gray’s expression. His brother moved toward him, catching his arms and staring up into his eyes.
“Listen to yourself,” Gray said softly, almost gently. “Damn it, Stenfax, listen to your words and remember the past. If you aren’t capable of doing so, then listen to me. Elise pretended to be something she wasn’t. She pretended to care not just about you, but aboutallof our family. She wound her way into our lives and our hearts, none more than you. But she was false, Lucien. The moment she was offered a higher title and a larger purse, she turned away from you, from all of us.”
“I know,” Stenfax said, fighting the urge to defend Elise from his brother’s accusations. After all, they were true.
“You know, but you don’t seem to recall the consequences of her actions.” Gray backed away. “I saw what it did to you, I saw what it did to Felicity. Elise’s betrayal came so quickly after Felicity was widowed, after she escaped that bastard she married. She needed Elise and it broke her heart nearly as much as it broke yours. I watched what that woman did to you both. And she didn’t give a damn about your feelings.”
Lucien shook his head. “Yes, I realize everything you’re saying is true. And I understand exactly why you and Felicity despise Elise. Why you wouldn’t want to see me ensnared in her trap once again.”
Gray stared at him for what felt like forever. “You understand, but you still want to know more about the new Duke of Kirkford.”
Stenfax pressed his lips together. “Yes,” he whispered at last.
Gray sighed, shoving a hand through his hair as he paced away to the fire. He stared at the dancing flames for a moment before he turned back. “Marina and Folly are back in Town. She is related to Kirkford, third cousins or something to the effect. We could ask them.”
Stenfax nodded slowly. “Yes. I’m certain she would know something about the man. Arrange the meeting if you would. I’m certain the two of them would love the chance to go through all my mistakes on this subject just as you have.”
Gray gritted his teeth. “It’s not a matter of going through the mistakes, Lucien, it’s fearing the costs if you forget the past. Don’t forget, we were all there that night. We all know what we almost lost thanks toher.”
Lucien bent his head. “I understand.”
Gray moved toward him, wrapping an arm around him. “It’s out of love that I worry,” he reminded him. “And it is out of love that I ask that you don’t see her again, Stenfax. Please.”
Stenfax sighed heavily. Then he nodded. “I won’t.”
He felt his brother relax with that vow and Gray stepped away. But as Gray changed the subject of their conversation to far less explosive topics, Stenfax couldn’t help but feel guilty. The fact was, he had just lied. He had every intention of keeping a close eye on Elise.
He just hoped he’d be able to control himself while he did it.
Chapter Five
Elise sat at a corner table in Vivien’s club, suitors surrounding her. She forced a smile at one of the men who was talking to her, even as her mind wandered.
In truth, this process was not that different from the courtships she saw in Society. Of course, the setting was vastly different, with couples openly displaying and often openly relieving their lust. And the men were more obvious with their intentions and desires when they spoke to her.
But otherwise, they circled her, chatting with her mindlessly, peacocking around her with displays of how they would take care of her financially or physically.
She let out a long breath as her closest companion leaned in. It was the Viscount Highbridge who showed her the most attention and demanded the most from her in return. She observed him a bit more closely.
He was older than she was by at least twenty years. She thought that at one point he might have been a friend of her late father’s, for she felt as though they’d met a long time ago. That didn’t seem to dissuade him. He kept leaning toward her. Kept letting his hand rest on hers as they spoke.
