“I wish you to admit that you feed information to the lowest sort of beings—primordial beasts that seek to destroy those more privileged than they are for the right sum.”
The earl rubbed his hands together, the denial Alonzo hoped to hear left unsaid. “I have never exchanged information, as you call it, for money.”
“The right sum does not necessarily mean monetary gain. Which brings us back to my original claim…”
“A blind eye,” Ganes stated uncomfortably.
“Yes.”
“You could destroy the reputations of innocent people at this house party if you choose to act as you normally do.”
“I am not heartless, Alonzo.”
“But you are shrewd. And what benefits you is always at the forefront of your mind, not what aids the rest of us.”
“Perhaps… under normal circumstances.”
“What is it you require to keep silent?” The duke came straight to the point. “Friend or not, I cannot trust you to be honorable without offering you recompense.”
Ganes rubbed his chin, obviously thinking. The two had been friends, more like brothers, since childhood, yet always in competition for everything. Women. Praise. Talent. Fame. Fortune. It was an endless list. And both were equally blessed in life with good looks, intelligence, and wealth. The only thing that raised Alonzo above him—his title. For a duke overshadowed an earl, and his friend had never taken it lightly.
“You will seduce Julia Castle?”
“I will invest my time and attention in her, if that is what you are implying.”
“What has happened to you, old friend?” Ganes wondered aloud. “Whenever a woman caught our unbridled attention, none of us ever kept it from the other.”
Alonzo could only guess he meant their intimate group of associates that met at White’s whenever possible, or at other places about Europe where they often assembled while traveling. It was a tradition kept out of some kind of unspoken, sacred duty. The unusual group of men alike in every way—titled, rich, and talented—blessed with the abilities to sing, write, play an instrument, and even act upon the stage.
Shakespeare would have called them a noble brotherhood. But as of late, Alonzo considered them a pack of spoiled lads up to no good. There were no formal agreements between them, only men who understood what it was like to be famous and wealthy and in high demand by the peerage. They provided friendship to one another, helped each other live out their dreams.
Alonzo blamed Julia Castle for his guilt—making him feel filthy in a way no other woman could, even though he had just bathed and dressed. No, this layer of grime sank below the surface, in places only a pure-hearted woman could see.
“I’ll not have you spying on me, Ganes. Troubling Lady Julia with your uninvited presence. I know what you’re about.”
This time his friend rewarded him with an uninhibited smile. “I believe you might be accusing me of something unsavory, perhaps even criminal.”
Alonzo rolled his eyes. “Predatory is a better description of your character. Name your price.”
“Would it trouble you to give me some time to think about your offer?”
Alonzo walked to the table where the bottle of brandy waited and refilled his glass. “What do you need time for?”
The earl’s smile faltered momentarily. “To be honest, I like the idea of you being indebted to me.”
“I am not a patient man with such trivial things, Ganes. And you are not a man in need. Trifling with me for the sake of doing so will only make me less likely to be generous and understanding of your exploitative nature. Do we understand each other?”
The earl staggered to his feet from the deep, cushioned chair he had been sitting in. He smelled as if he had bathed in the expensive brandy he drunk. “We are friends, Alonzo—surely that means something.”
“It always has.” The duke grasped his shoulder. “It always will, but someday, someone might mean more, if you can understand such a notion.”
Ganes remained silent and undoubtedly drunk but cognizant of the situation. Perhaps he imbibed in order to live with the consequences from his debauchery—from taking what he could from the unsuspecting people that admired him, that wanted and often begged to be a part of his life.
Of all the members of their group, Ganes had the most to lose, had committed the most sins. But as they grew older and the demands of their positions became clearer, even undeniable, the earl would have to choose a path, just as Alonzo was forced to do now.
“I understand perfectly,” the earl muttered. “You are evolving.”
“Into what, precisely?”
