“It was the last month of the Season.”
“I’ll rephrase.” His brother took another drink. “When have you ever rejected the offer from a willing widow when you weren’t trying to please father by making a halfhearted effort to find a wife?”
Emory had to think back over his life and could not recall one instance. He rather liked intimacies with widows. Many of them were lonely and wished for a bedmate without commitment.
“As you’ve not answered, I assume you’ve not rejected any offers,” Liam determined and took another drink of his brandy. “Final question. Did you know all of those widows better than you know or remember Mrs. Wilder?”
Some Emory barely recalled their name. They were intimacies in short duration. Not the physical act itself, as he prided himself on delivering and receiving as much pleasure as there was to be had. If he were to be honest, many of those widows were very recent acquaintances, who sought him out for the purpose of a delightful diversion, given his reputation as a willing participant, and he knew them as little as he knew or recalled Mrs. Wilder.
“I’m happy to give you her direction.” Liam tossed back his brandy.
“That’s not necessary,” Emory answered. A month ago, or less, he would have accepted eagerly and willingly, but for the moment, he had no interest. “Pour me a glass as well.”
Liam turned away, but not before Emory noticed a smirk.
“What?” Emory demanded.
“I said nothing.” Liam poured the brandy for Emory, then refilled his own before returning to the table.
“I know you, and there is something on your mind,” Emory insisted.
“Why aren’t you interested in visiting Mrs. Wilder? You have to admit, that it is unlike you?”
Emory wasn’t going to answer the question, as it was a subject he didn’t wish to discuss. Not even with his brother.
“Could it be because of Lady Violet.”
Emory knew she was partly to blame, though it wasn’t her fault. “It would be ill-mannered of me to call on the widow at night while courting Lady Violet during the day, especially as all of Laswell knows of my courtship.’
Liam snorted. “That wouldn’t have bothered you in London.”
“I didn’t court anyone in London,” Emory reminded Liam.
“True, though I doubt that you would have shown such concern.”
“Laswell isn’t London, as you know, and I’d not shame Lady Violet in that manner.”
There was truth to his words, but it wasn’t the whole of it. He simply wasn’t interested in visiting a willing widow, which disturbed him far more than he wished to admit. Especially since he recalled Mrs. Wilder as being quite pretty, and well-formed, and pleasant.
What the blazes was wrong with him?
Chapter 19
“We’reoff to the park today,” Lady Esther announced, startling Violet the moment she stepped out on the walk where Lady Esther and Lord Ferrard waited for her arrival.
“I’ve a book that I must finish. Now, come along.”
Violet and Lord Ferrard shared a humored glance as he offered his arm after Lady Esther bustled past them. She barely spared a glance when crossing the street, and as soon as she found a vacant bench, settled herself upon it and withdrew her book.
“I must inquire as to the title.” Lord Ferrard chuckled. “I’ve never read anything that I couldn’t easily put aside.”
“Lady Esther enjoys mysteries and would work for the Bow Street Runners if they’d have her,” Violet confided.
“If her sisters worked with her, they might solve most of the crimes in London.”
“I find I must agree with you, Lord Ferrard. They are quite a tenacious trio.”
They navigated around the dry fountain until they were opposite Lady Esther, who was reading and paying them no mind.
