“What are we going to do?”
“I’ll…investigate.”
“You cannot go like that.”She gesticulated frantically at his nakedness.
“Yes.Of course.”Locating his breeches, he pulled them and then dropped his shirt over his head for good measure.He hesitated.“Maybe he will not come up here.”
“And maybe he will.”
“Right.Right.”He forced his brain to work.He couldn’t let whoever it was discover El.“Stay here.”
Her look stated clearly he was insane if he thought she would do anything other than that.
Shoving his hands through his hair to give it some semblance of order—El loved gripping his hair when they made love—he made his way down the stairs.
The sounds of another person in the house led him to the drawing room.His step faltered.Itwashis brother.He cursed under his breath.This was going to be awful.It had been years since he had been caught by the Earl doing something he ought not and here he was, thirty years of age and about to be subjected to condescension and a lecture.Only for El would he humble himself before his brother.
Entering the room, he announced, “Walking into someone else’s house without announcing oneself is rude, brother.’
The Earl started, surprise written all over his face.“Benedict?What are you doing there?”Taking in Benedict’s dishevelment, he raised a brow.“Or do I even need to ask?”
“I am in my house, where I had an expectation of privacy.However, it appears my brother feels he can enter whenever he likes.”
“I was under the impression you had not accepted this house, as you still reside in mine and remain unwed.”
He refused to cow before his brother.He was a grown man, and what he and El did here was no one’s business but theirs.“Was there a reason you are come to Caraney House?”
“I had a report of trespassing, but it seems my brother is the one loitering.”He raised a brow.“Care to explain?Although judging by your lack of dress, I can surmise why you are here.”
He crossed his arms over his chest.“Well, if you’ve surmised such, you can see for yourself there is no trespassing and can be on your way.”
The Earl ignored him.“I had not heard you had taken a mistress.Does she know you are to marry?”
“I am not to marry, and it is no business of yours if I have a mistress or not.”
“Does Lady Eleanor know of your activities?”
Benedict froze.“What do you mean?”he said as evenly as he could.
His brother regarded him steadily.“You are not fucking it up with her, are you?”
The shock of his brother swearing momentarily robbed him of words.“How would I be fucking it up with her?Fucking what up?El knows I put her above all others.”She did know that, did she not?Christ.Maybe he should tell her, just to be certain.
“God save me from those who wilfully will not see,” the Earl muttered.“Rebecca better bloody appreciate what I am enduring.”Sighing, his brother rubbed his forehead.“Benedict, I will turn a blind eye to this, however I expect you to end this liaison and focus fully on finding a bride.”
“You cannot demand—”
“You will end this, Benedict.I will not have this house used in such a manner.It is for your future bride, not for whoever you are currently fucking.”
“Don’t talk about her like that,” he growled.
The Earl lifted a brow.“I do not know this woman, Benedict.I shall speak of her as I wish.Unless she means more to you than a bedmate?Perhaps she will be your bride?”
He didn’t know how to answer that.
The Earl nodded.“I have previously turned a blind eye to my siblings’ romantic entanglements—I do recall what it is like to be unmarried and unencumbered—but there is only so much I will tolerate.I shall expect you to being courting in earnest at our next event.I will send servants to clean up after you.We will see you at dinner tonight?”
Setting his jaw, he nodded sharply.What else was he to say?
