“With what?” Griffin asked. He was lazily sipping his drink in front of the fire while watching Caleb with relaxed interest.
“This courtship. It is likely to make me lose my mind.”
“Mama and I have noticed an increased tenseness about you these past few days. You are easily annoyed.” Griffin set his glass aside while Caleb drained the last of his drink. “You know the cause, I assume?”
Of course he did. He poured himself another measure of brandy and raked his fingers through his hair, disturbing the neatly combed locks. “The lovely Miss Clemens,” he murmured. Hell, his blood stirred just thinking about her. She would be here soon, and then another round of torture would begin as he did his best to behave while she, temptress that she was, lured him with her deep green gaze.
“You need to bed her, Caleb. You’re like a pair of lusty cats, circling each other, unsure of who should pounce first.” He glanced at Caleb. “With her age and situation taken into consideration, I would think it possible for you to get a head start on your wedding night – release a bit of the tension.”
Caleb shook his head. “She’s a respectable woman, Griffin. I will not risk ruining that just because I can’t keep my needs in check.”
“No one has to know,” Griffin murmured. “I could make arrangements for you if you like. Under my name.”
Caleb stared at his brother, tempted beyond belief to accept his offer. But reason pushed the idea aside. “I would know. And besides, it is not just about the risk of being found out, it is also a matter of gaining her trust and proving to her that my affection is real – that it is not based on sexual desire alone.”
“Thus the courtship.”
“Precisely.” Caleb inhaled deeply and drank his brandy. “I also wanted the chance to show her that things don’t have to change between us just because I’m a duke. I want her to fall in love with me without being influenced by lovemaking.” Or kisses. Which was why he’d ensured they were no longer left alone.
Griffin barked with laughter. “Are you so adept that you fear she’ll lose her heart to you after a night of passion?” He turned instantly serious. “Miss Clemens strikes me as a sensible woman, Caleb. I think it would take more than that to win her heart.”
“Precisely. But it is not unheard of for someone to fall into lust with a person, and I worry she’s not experienced enough to know the difference.” It had, in fact, become something of a concern for him after noticing how eager she was for his touch. The little whimpering sounds she’d made when he’d kissed her in the park had almost resulted in a very indelicate situation.
“You know,” Griffin drawled. “I feel for you, Caleb. How agonizing it must be to have a beautiful woman eager for you to make love to her.”
“It is rather,” Caleb muttered.
The door opened that second, and their mother walked into the room. She still wore black, as she would continue to do until a year had passed since her husband’s and son’s deaths. “So, what are you discussing?” she asked.
Griffin stood and went to the sideboard, deliberately avoiding her gaze. “Sherry?” he asked.
“Yes, please.” She looked at Caleb and instantly chuckled. “Oh, I see. One ofthoseconversations was it? If it pertained to Miss Clemens, I think—”
“How was your day, Mama?” Caleb asked, cutting her off before she managed to make him blush.
The duchess started. “Rather pleasant, I suppose.”
Griffin handed her the drink he’d prepared for her. “I spent the afternoon at Gentleman Jackson’s,” he said, directing the conversation further away from Caleb’s carnal desires and his constant longing for Mary. “Met a few people I hadn’t expected to see, like Gregory Hemstead. Remember him? Apparently he’s the Earl of Tyrone now.”
Caleb sent his brother a grateful nod and joined the conversation with what little he remembered about Griffin’s friend. Their mother followed every word and added the knowledge she had about Gregory’s family, his father’s death a few years ago, and his current attempts at getting his sister settled.
“Your guests have arrived,” Murdoch announced a few minutes later when he entered the room. “Mr. and Mrs. Clemens; their daughter, Miss Mary Clemens; and her friends, Lady Cassandra and Miss Howard.” He waited until the group had entered the parlor before hurrying out to answer a knock at the front door.
Griffin, who’d risen upon their guests’ arrival, clasped his hands behind his back and smiled. “What a pleasure it is to see you again, Miss Howard.” His gaze lingered ever so briefly on the pretty brunette before sliding toward her friends. “Lady Cassansdra Moor, and my brother’s favorite, Miss Clemens.”
Caleb cleared his throat and tightened his muscles. Apparently, his brother had managed to accomplish what their mother had been prevented from doing, for there was a very distinct bit of warmth creeping into his cheeks. Ignoring it, he stepped forward to greet the small group. Unlike his brother, he began with Mary’s parents, whose eyes searched the room with uncanny interest.
Next, he welcomed Lady Cassandra and Miss Howard, and finally Mary. He reached for her hand and raised it to his lips for a brief yet very deliberate kiss. When he straightened, he found her cheeks pink and her eyes slightly glazed. Satisfaction stirred in his belly, prompting him to lean closer to her. “I cannot stop thinking of you,” he whispered. “Thank God you’re finally here.”
“Indeed, Your Grace.” She allowed him to lead her further into the room and toward her friends who had both received a glass of sherry, courtesy of Griffin. Mary accepted one as well, and Caleb watched while she set her mouth to the edge of the glass and carefully sipped the fragrant wine.
He flexed his fingers and caught Griffin’s gaze, frowning in response to the knowing look in his brother’s eyes. The parlor door opened again, and Murdoch returned to announce the Aldridges’ arrival. For a second, Caleb wondered if he might have erred by inviting the viscount and his wife, Vivien, since he’d not discussed it with Lady Cassandra and wasn’t sure if she’d even contacted her brother upon returning to London.
But when she rushed forward and flung her arms around her brother, who laughed with startled surprise while his wife looked on in amusement, Caleb knew he’d done the right thing.
It was a happy reunion, Caleb was pleased to acknowledge, the light in Lady Cassandra’s eyes bright and vibrant as she proceeded to quiz Aldridge about his new daughter and his reasons for being in London this time of year when she’d thought he would be away in the country.
“Inviting Aldridge to join us was a lovely surprise,” Mary said as they walked in to dinner. “Cassandra is thoroughly pleased.”
