Case strolled through the halls of White’s seeking out Penroth among the many gentlemen sitting around the gaming tables. “There you are, Penroth,” he called out as he spotted him a few tables away.
“What do you want, Devlin?” he demanded, a scowl crossing his face.
“I heard you took up residence in Lady Jillian’s townhouse on Mount Street.”
“So?” he said sullenly. “It’s my house as she is my wife.”
Several around him nodded in agreement.
“Well, I would be quite in agreement were it actually her home, but as it now belongs to me I must take exception to your presence there. I’ve no wish for tenants.”
Penroth’s face became mottled, his eyes bulging as he sought to control his outburst. “I didn’t agree to any such thing, therefore it isn’t legal.”
“Oh, but it is.” Case arched a bow. “I take offense at your suggestion that I would be party to something illegal. I purchased the residence from Jillian last November.” He flashed a document before Penroth’s face. “You see, it is quite legal. Now, I understand if you’ve no wish to sell it, but as I have already paid a handsome sum for the property, I would demand full recompensation of the purchase price before I relinquish the deed.”
Penroth exploded in anger, and he ripped the document into pieces, spewing obscenities. “You won’t get away with this, Devlin. Everyone knows she was your whore before she became your brother’s.”
“You will apologize for your insult at once or name your seconds,” Case growled.
Penroth laughed uneasily. “I know what you are trying to do, and it won’t work. You won’t goad me into a duel so that you may be rid of me.”
“Then I suggest you keep your insults to yourself,” he warned. “I won’t tolerate it again, you may be sure of that.
“You have until tomorrow morning to be out ofmyhouse, or I’ll have you thrown out.” He turned on his heel and stalked from the room, the sound of his boots echoing through the now silent room.
He was almost to the door when a voice stopped him. “Devlin, a moment please.” Case turned around in surprise. He smiled broadly as he saw a man resting casually against the wall just outside the gaming room. He walked forward out of the shadows.
“Hawk! When the hell did you get into London? Does Justin know you are here?”
He didn’t answer, but instead said, “Quite a mess my oldest cousin’s gotten himself into, from what I’ve heard.”
“I’m on my way over to Justin’s now. Why don’t you come with me,” Case invited.
“I’ve a bit of news for Justin, so yes, I’ll come along.”
Case raised an enquiring eyebrow, but Hawk remained silent.
The two men climbed into Case’s carriage and set out for Justin’s. “I see being a second son isn’t completely without benefits,” Hawk said, surveying the plush interior of the carriage.
Case laughed. “Those of us not born in the right order must find alternative means of accumulating wealth.”
“Hear, hear,” he muttered, stretching his legs across the aisle.
“You’ve been away a long time, cousin,” Case remarked, looking curiously at the man so close to his own age. Hawk had practically grown up with him and Justin. Their mothers were sisters, and the duchess had taken in her younger sister and her son when they had fled her abusive husband. Later she had gone back to him, but Hawk had remained at Whittington. Case wasn’t sure Hawk had ever forgiven his mother for that.
“I’ve been to the continent on business,” he said vaguely, looking out the window as they approached Park Lane.
As forthcoming as always, Case thought with frustrated amusement. His cousin was a complex individual with a multitude of secrets. In all the years since they left school, he had gone about his own way, and Case was hard pressed to say exactly what he was doing at any given time. Or where he was for that matter. “Justin will be glad to see you,” he said as the carriage came to a stop.
The two men entered the house and settled into Justin’s study and waited for Edward to summon him. A few moments later he came in, looking only a little better than he had earlier that morning. His eyes brightened when he saw their cousin. “Hawk! Wherever did you find him, Case?”
He embraced his cousin warmly. “It’s good to have you home, Hawk. Let me get you a drink, and you can tell me what brings you to London.”
“I’ve brought some bad news I’m afraid,” he admitted, accepting the drink Justin poured. “I was at court this morning long enough to hear the latest gossip.”
Justin and Case threw each other a puzzled look. What was their cousin doing at court?
“News of this whole affair with Penroth and his wife has reached Prinny. Many influential lords want him to act on this. They’re afraid if this is left alone, it will send the wrong message to women.
