He lunged toward her, his fists at his side. “Tell me. Now.”
Finally, he had gotten through to her. Her eyes widened and her mouth went slack. “I, uh—that is, I have taken up with Phineas Edge. You’re so serious, George, and you know I must have a bit of fun.” She trilled a nervous laugh. “I couldn’t help myself. He really is so much fun.”
“Phineas?”
“Yes, the Earl of Burchester and I were in Brighton this last week. Together. Such an unfashionable time to be there but it gave us wonderful cover. It was a trial period, you see? Just like you and I had. Now don’t be testy. I’ll talk to Phineas and see how he feels about my splitting my time between you two. He is a most accommodating gentleman.”
He felt nothing but relief. He would be rid of Horatia, thank God. He hadn’t even thought ahead to her return and that he must break it off with her. Immediately. And now the problem he had not even considered had been solved for him.
He kept his face menacing and his voice harsh. “Yes, I know you must have your fun, Horatia. And I acknowledge Phineas Edge is the perfect man for that. But I don’t fancy sharing your favors. Go, be happy. I give you my blessing.”
Lady Starling was unsettled by his response, he could tell.
“Your blessing?” she spat out finally as she grabbed up her hat. “I don’t want or need your blessing, you bookish, bald, old man. Yes, old! You’re old before your time. Phineas may be almost a decade your senior but he has given me more pleasure in the last five days than you have given me in the last five months. I have grown sick of your pedantic ways, your limited repertoire in bed given that you insist on keeping your wig on. And your sister? An attention-seeking cocktease. And that little friend of hers we all know you teach chess to? She’d be perfect for you, George. I’m surprised you haven’t taken up with her. Thank God, Thornwick will save that poor thing from having to play chess with you any longer. He won’t stand for it.”
George seized Horatia’s elbow and propelled her toward the door.
“We have established you’re well shut of me, Lady Starling. Now I will bid you adieu.” He pushed her out and shut the door and waited.
He heard a muffled “Arsehole”and more muttered curses as Horatia descended the stairs in high dudgeon. He didn’t breathe until he heard the door at the bottom of the staircase slam shut.
He turned and with his back to the door, he sank down until he was sitting on the floor with his knees up near his chin.
He was going to have to speak to Alice yet again and find a way to curb her behavior. Reduce her hat and glove allowance to pennies. He hadn’t known others thought of her or spoke of her as—the words were scorched into his brain—an attention-seeking cocktease. Hellion, yes. Cocktease, no. At this rate, she would never get married.
And then he was struck by the last thing, savearsehole, that Horatia had said. There would be no more chess with Phoebe in the future if she married Thornwick.
Yes, George had already realized he would not couple with her again if her engagement led to marriage. But the loss of her as a chess partner? He had never thought . . . he couldn’t imagine . . . it would be a death blow. Playing chess with Phoebe had been one of the best things in his life for fourteen years.
Stop lying to yourself, George Charles James David Danforth.Phoebe Finch has been the single best thing in your life forherwhole life.
But after she married Thornwick, she would be subservient to the duke, no longer guided by her indulgent father who saw no harm in her playing chess with her childhood friend.
Thornwick would well be within his rights to forbid the Monday nights.
For a moment, he was torn. Which would he prefer to give up? Copulating with her or playing chess with her?
He could not decide.
God damn it.
Neither.
He forced himself to stand. George would end this engagement between Thornwick and Phoebe if it was the last thing he did. And then he would woo her himself and secure the right to play with her, both in bed and over a chessboard, for the rest of his life.
Twelve
Phineas Edge, the Earl of Burchester, was sitting inthe chairand reading a newspaper when George entered the reading room of the club. But he leapt up immediately as George stalked toward him.
“George. Perhaps we should take this somewhere else.” Phineas slipped off his spectacles and put them in a tailcoat pocket.
For the second time today, George was horribly confused.
Oh. Oh. Phineas thought George was seeking him out for a confrontation about Lady Starling.
“It’s all right, Phin. Today, you can havethe chair.” George leaned forward and put his mouth to Phineas’ ear. “And you can have Horatia, too. I wish you luck.” He straightened up and held his hand out.
“Truly? No hard feelings?”
