“But how is she to meet gentlemen when she is cloistered like a nun on your father’s estate? Doesn’t she need Seasons like every other young lady? To show herself off?”
And to make herself available to Phineas again. He didn’t want to wait another decade for an invitation to come to Sudbury Manor so he could be seduced by the quiet Amazon. He wanted to seduce her himself, at his leisure, in his own bed, with no brother or father nearby.
Edmund grimaced. “She’s no longer a young lady. She’s nearly thirty. The marquess says she has missed her opportunity.”
Phineas was astounded. Her father had kept her here, away from society, running his house, out of selfishness. And Caro might not be in the first flush of youth, but for her own father to say she was undesirable because of her age? The marquess was a cruel man. And wrong. Because she was very desirable.
The look on Phineas’ face must have communicated something to Edmund.
“I know,” Edmund muttered, looking down. “I have been inattentive and not done my brotherly duty. I must have a word with the marquess about it. But he and I don’t really rub along very well, as it is. Both of us with our vile tempers. We’ve come near blows in the past. So I stay in town, and he and she stay out here. The two of them get along.”
Phineas clapped Edmund on the back. “I’m glad you know your sister deserves more. And you are resolved to speak to your father on the matter.”
That was enough for now. If he pushed the issue, he might betray his very real interest in getting Caro to town. And into his bed.
A tasty luncheon to savor back at the manor and again, the lady of the house was absent. George Danforth perked up a bit, saying he was anxious to get home tomorrow and see what the post held. Still hoping for a letter from Lady Phoebe, no doubt. And William Dagenham tried to make wagers on the afternoon shooting, who would get the most birds,et cetera, and there was some good-natured laughing and joking, even from Sir Matthew Elliot who had done very well that morning for a man who had lived in London for most of his life. Sir Matthew said he was well-rested and had slept like a bear in his winter den last night and weren’t stag house parties ideal?
Phineas, after much mockery from the others about his sudden interest in reading about the training of young women, remembered to take his gun out for the afternoon and bagged two dozen brace of grouse.
The pleasure of his successful shooting was diminished, however, by the knowledge that he was not going to be able to boast to Lady Caroline about his prowess. Because, of course, she was not at the dinner table.
And then there was a long night by himself in that very comfortable bed with a new set of fresh-smelling sheets where he was not able to demonstrate his prowess to her in other ways. Surely, a second time, he would have been able to contain himself longer. And he couldn’t stop thinking about putting his tongue on her tidbit and what she might do and the sounds she might make when he did so.
He had several wild moments during the night when he almost crossed the gallery to her bedchamber. No, even without the danger, it would be madness. To invade her bed with no encouragement from her? He would be a villain, and he rather liked thinking of himself as a lovable rogue instead.
Thank God the men all planned to travel back to town the very next day. He had not been sure how long his control would last. Another night of obsessing over Caro, knowing she was just yards away, would have been unbearable. He would have found himself breaking down her door at midnight like some kind of Norse berserker, only coming to his senses again once he had spent inside her.
He had to find some legitimate way to get to her. So he could make her crave him as he was craving her right now. He had managed to induce cravings in dozens of women. Why should she be any different?
He had to visit Burchester in October to pay some much-needed attention to his estate. Meanwhile, for the next several weeks in London, he would work on getting Edmund to bring his sister to town for a visit. Because if she were in London, Phineas would find a way to get Caro into his bed.
And there was something else he should do upon his own arrival back in town. It would be unpleasant, but necessary. His time away—and yes, his assignation with Lady Caroline—had tipped him over into making a decision he should have made a month ago. He did so hate upsetting the applecart. He liked things to be smooth and easy. But this was inevitable and he might as well face up to it.
He shared a carriage back to London with George Danforth. And, yes, with Sir Matthew Elliot, but the blond baronet fell asleep as soon as they left the environs of Sudbury. The man could sleep anywhere, anytime.
Another carriage was behind them, carrying William and Edmund. Edmund’s size had necessitated the extra carriage; it would have been hellishly crowded if he had tried to squeeze in with the four other men. A third carriage, with all five of the men’s valets, trailed behind.
“George,” Phineas said in a low voice.
A bleary baron turned from the carriage window. He looked exhausted, and his eyes were sunken. Poor, wretched fellow.
“Sorry to add to your burdens right now, but I felt I should apprise you,” Phineas said.
“Apprise me of what?”
“I intend to end my arrangement with Lady Starling upon my return to London. We don’t suit, as it turns out.”
“I could have told you that. But I didn’t. On purpose.” George smiled thinly.
Phineas winced. “Yes, just deserts and all that. But I wanted you to know she’ll be on the hunt, wanting some conciliatory male attention. She might come looking for you since you were her last before me.”
George ran his hand over his shiny pate. The young man had finally given up wearing a wig this summer. “Thank you for the warning.”
Phineas chuckled. “Maybe you should take Horatia up on whatever she might offer. Get your mind off the bright little bird known as Lady Phoebe Finch?”
George scowled. “You have no idea what you’re saying, Phin. Just shows you’ve never been in love.”
Phineas shrugged. “I’ve said it many times. Love is for other men.”
