Gerald kept his distance, looking from his spot in the room, sipping on his brandy. He saw that Morgan was completely devoted to being seduced by two women who were whispering in his ear.
He was ready to leave for the night when a daring blonde woman saw him standing in his corner, and her eyes went wide. She probably didn’t know who he was because she gravitated closer to him.
She strutted his way, eyes hooded, body swaying openly. Gerald felt all his senses go up in alert; his back went stiff, his eyes narrowed, and his fingers tightened around the glass. He thought that the look he threw at that woman would deter her, but she was determined.
“My lord,” she said in a saccharine voice, “you are in need of diversion.”
“I am not.”
His tone was cold, sharp like a knife. He was also dressed in fine clothes, and the woman saw the money she could extract from him, so she became bolder. Her hand went to his arm, softly, seductively.
“Surely,” she leaned in, her perfume wafting to his nose, something heavy and irritating, “a gentle man does not come here for billiards alone.”
Gerald felt repulsion rise inside him, so he took one step back. He dropped his chin and looked at the intruder with a menacing look.
“I do not need to be told how to amuse myself,” he growled.
The woman probably did not value her dignity since, instead of leaving, she touched his bicep and pulled closer.
“Perhaps, you would like to go somewhere more private, my lord?”
Gerald felt disgust rise in him. He grabbed that insolent hand and removed it with such force that the woman took a few steps back.
“You presume far beyond your station,” he growled lowly.
Morgan ran over and helped her. He looked at his friend, then back at the startled entertainer.
“You must excuse my friend, he had too much to drink.”
Throwing one fearful glance at the Duke, the woman scurried away to join other, more eager company. Taking the hint, thelittle party left the private billiard room, leaving behind an echoing silence.
Gerald was still shaking with nerves and poured some more brandy. Morgan simply watched him for a while.
“What exactly was that? Have you lost your mind completely?”
“I am perfectly sane.”
“Act like it then! A beautiful woman threw herself at you, and you behaved like a brute.”
“As if I would ever trust such a woman.”
“Now you are just being paranoid.”
“And you are being naïve. Or have you forgotten all the times my… family tried to ensnare me in a scandal? From bribing the papers to write disreputable things about me, to the attempt regarding Dowager Redwood. To name a few.”
Morgan looked at the door, the one entrance where the happy entourage had invaded moments ago.
“You mean…” Morgan couldn’t even finish his thought.
“It wouldn’t be beneath them to use such… women, for their purpose. Lady Redwood may have held a title, but she wasdeploying the same means to gain my attention, under my brother’s guidance. And manipulating that simpleton, Miss Eugenia, to find me unchaperoned at that ball.”
“I remember. You wiggled your way out of that one by the skin of your teeth.”
Morgan’s face softened.
“I am sorry this is happening to you, Gerald. It must be too difficult looking over your shoulder all the time.”
Gerald’s look hardened, and his jaw ticked at remembering all the times he had to fend off these attacks from his family. He hated being on the defensive. He wanted to crush them, eliminate this threat to his reputation.
