“Not at all,” Laurence said with a snort of derision. “I tried to ask for Elizabeth’s hand regardless, but the earl’s approval mattered to her father. He felt he had to refuse in order to remain in Lord Heathfield’s good graces. This is, after all, one of his minor seats, even if I hold it as heir. Grandfather still has a large amount of control over what occurs in this area.”
Alexander could barely hear him anymore over the racing of his own heart. But he didn’t need to because the plan, cruel and vile as it was, was becoming clear as crystal.
“So you announced the engagement to Julia. To force the earl’s hand,” he whispered. “You were playing a cowardly game with him. Who would raise their pistol to the sky in surrender first.”
“An apt description,” Laurence said. “And it’s working. Grandfather has been negotiating with me for the last week, via letter. I made a move last night that I think will end the game. His next missive will approve the match and this can end.”
Alexander glanced toward the bedchamber again. The tangled sheets. “You went to bed with Miss Garrington.”
“I did. Would you like to know the details? It isn’t often one gets to deflower a virgin.” Laurence smiled.
Alexander rubbed a hand through his hair, trying to keep his roiling stomach from depositing its meager contents on the rug. “No. I don’t want to hear about your conquest.”
Laurence’s face fell. “I suppose, she’ll get better at it. I enjoyed myself, at least.”
Alexander turned away. “I’m afraid I know the answer to this, but I must ask. Is Julia aware of this plan?”
“Of course not!” Laurence twisted his face. “God, no.”
Alexander squeezed his eyes shut as clear images of what this would do to Julia rushed through his mind, twisting everything in knots. His voice trembled as he said, “So you have ruined Julia, and ruined Miss Garrington, all for the hopes of gaining our grandfather’s approval? All for your own selfish design?”
“Don’t be a child,” Laurence said. “You cannot ruin a whore.”
Something broke in Alexander at that harsh judgment of the one person fully wronged by his cousin’s machinations. He didn’t think, he didn’t plan, he merely cocked a fist back and punched Laurence as hard as he could. Laurence fell backward, crashing against a side table near the settee before he fell to the ground and stared up at Alexander in shock.
“You struck me. Over a courtesan.”
“Over the honor of a woman who you made promises to, yes, I most certainly did.” Alexander shook out his stinging hand as he loomed over his cousin and was pleased that at least Laurence flinched slightly. “You will tell her. Now.”
“Absolutely not,” Laurence said. “I won’t tell her a damned thing until it’s finished.”
Alexander grabbed his lapels and yanked him back to his feet to give him a harsh shake. “You’ll bloody well tell her or I will.”
Silence followed, but for their panting breaths. Then Laurence pulled himself from Alexander’s grip and smoothedhis jacket. He arched a brow at him. “It seems like my fiancée has made quite the impression. Do you have ulterior motives, cousin?”
“I swear to everything holy that if I punch you again, I’ll break something,” Alexander said, managing to keep his tone quiet when what he wanted to do was scream the very house down.
Laurence seemed to consider that and then he nodded. “Fine.”
He crossed to the doorway and yanked the bell-pull. While they waited for a servant to arrive, they only glared at each other. Alexander could scarcely breathe. He and Laurence had been raised up next to each other, he had been told to serve and protect his cousin. But in this moment, all he felt for Laurence was distaste. Disdain.Hatred.
Laurence’s valet appeared in the doorway. “Good morning, my lord. Are you ready to dress?”
“No. Have Miss Comerford sent for. She can meet me here in my sitting room in a quarter of an hour.Alexandercan help me dress.”
Alexander turned his face. That was meant to be a humiliation, he supposed, but he was just as glad to stay and be a witness. Not because he wanted to see Julia’s pain, but because he didn’t trust Laurence not to lie or manipulate if he wasn’t there to manage this.
The servant bobbed away and Laurence shut the door. “If you are going to tear down this house I’ve built, you will bloody well see the result,” he said. “Now be a good little servant and fetch me trousers and a waistcoat.”
Alexander didn’t rise to the bait, but turned on his heel and went into his cousin’s dressing room. He didn’t care about whatever disgrace this was an attempt to heap on him. He only cared in that moment about the one Julia would feel in a fewshort moments. The one he couldn’t prevent. The one he’d have to witness.
Julia clung to her aunt’s arm as they made their way to the master’s chamber in the family wing of the estate. Although this would one day be her room and she had to admit she had been curious about it, she was troubled.
“Why would he call me to his chamber sitting room?” she asked, and not for the first time.
Caroline covered her hand gently. “It isn’t usual, but perhaps he hoped to discuss something private with you. Or he wishes to let you see the viscountess chamber so you can request changes to the décor before the wedding. That would be kind.”
“It would,” Julia said, but in her heart she couldn’t imaging Laurence would do such a thing. He hadn’t even given her a tour of the house in over a week since her arrival. It was as if he didn’t picture her living here at all.
