He took another drink.
This shouldn’t be so difficult. Except, when he bedded a widow, it was because she had come to him. In fact, he hadn’t needed to pursue a widow for some time. They pursued him.
Her words came back to him, and Angelo couldn’t help but grin. I want a man who not only knows how to find pleasure but how to give it as well. If Angelo knew one thing, it was how to pleasure a woman until she was sated and exhausted.
“The list, as you requested.” Shrewsbury slipped a piece of parchment across the table to Angelo.
He glanced over the names. Some were familiar and others were not. However, he would not pursue either Lady Aurora or Lady Sabina simply because he planned on bedding their older sister and did not wish for that to be secret knowledge at future family dinners. “Those who are enjoying the first or second Season will not be considered.”
“How do you know how old they are?” Shrewsbury asked.
“I do not, but is that not why we have Debrett’s?”
Angelo turned the parchment over where more names were listed. There must be three dozen eligible misses and ladies. It would take time to work through them all. Hopefully after he learned ages, he would be able to cross several off the list and then he would make the acquaintance of those who remained to see who might suit.
“The list should be shorter by June or July, and I will make my selection then.”
“June or July?” Shrewsbury questioned. “I thought you were to wed.”
“I must wed by Christmas, so it is not necessary that I waste the early weeks of the Season pursuing a future wife.” Instead, he would be enjoying widows.
When he settled in to review Debrett’s, Angelo would not only be learning of the eligible misses but making a list of widows that he’d not enjoyed as well. “You are smiling,” Shrewsbury said, almost as if he were accusing Angelo of wrongdoing. “Why are you smiling?”
“Because, I have a plan to make the most out of this Season.” Angelo emptied his glass of brandy. “But first, there is research to be done.”
Chapter 3
As predicted, invitations piled upon Leopold’s desk, which he gathered and took to Octavia and Lavinia to decide which events they would attend with their younger sisters and Augustus to watch over them.
“What of you?” Octavia had asked.
He speared her with a cold look of disdain. “I attended a ball, for my brother. I see no reason to attend another unless a sibling decides to wed, and it is required of me.”
“Your presence is important for Aurora and Sabina,” Lavinia reminded him.
Leopold closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Not all, but some,” Octavia amended.
Her brother blew out a sigh. “Very well. You determine which would be in their best interest that I attend. However, there will not be above four a sennight.”
“Four?” Lavinia cried.
“Four!” he clarified with intention. “I know very well that it is not my presence that is requested but the eligible Duke of Claybrook.”
“You are the Duke of Claybrook,” Octavia snorted.
“I am aware,” Leopold bit out. “Yet, when I am present, all anyone sees is a title, a duke to be gained with little thought to me.” He then turned on his heel and exited the parlor.
While she understood his concerns and knew that he was correct, Octavia was not finished with her younger brother. He may be a duke, but she was still older. “If you will excuse me.” She rose and followed Leopold into the library and grasped the door before he could close it.
“A word,” she ordered.
Leopold blew out a sigh. “I will not change my mind, Octavia. Four entertainments!”
He crossed to the sideboard and poured a glass of brandy.
Octavia closed the door behind her. “I do not intend to argue with you regarding your decision because I know how much you dislike Society.” Heaven knew he had little reason to trust anyone. It had been difficult enough when he was a child, but when Leopold had become the Duke of Claybrook at the age of eighteen, everyone wanted to curry favor and manipulated, from mothers with daughters fresh from the schoolroom to lords who thought Leopold too young to know better or understand grave issues to vote as they would. Had they not condescended to Leopold, he may have given the time and consideration and listened to their reasoning, but as soon as he was treated as an ignorant lad, Leopold disregarded. The mistake of those older was not realizing Leopold’s intelligence and his deep understanding of the issues most important to England.
